RIP Don Williams

Obituaries and remembrances
of steel guitarists, their friends and families

Moderators: Donna Dodd, Lori Lee Smith

User avatar
Dustin Kleingartner
Posts: 207
Joined: 27 Oct 2015 9:39 am
Location: Saint Paul MN, USA

RIP Don Williams

Post by Dustin Kleingartner »

Don Williams died today at the age of 78. He was the Gentle Giant from Texas. He will be missed.
Proud parent of a good dog.
User avatar
Godfrey Arthur
Posts: 2986
Joined: 12 Dec 2012 5:46 pm
Location: 3rd Rock

Post by Godfrey Arthur »

Godspeed Don.

Your soothing baritone voice warmed and inspired many.

Image
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
User avatar
Don R Brown
Posts: 2937
Joined: 27 Dec 2011 9:20 am
Location: Rochester, New York, USA

Post by Don R Brown »

Damn! I have enjoyed his singing all the way since his Pozo Seco Singers days. Image
User avatar
Georg Sørtun
Posts: 3854
Joined: 2 Jun 2009 9:12 am
Location: Mandal, Agder, Norway

Post by Georg Sørtun »

:(
User avatar
Tony Prior
Posts: 14711
Joined: 17 Oct 2001 12:01 am
Location: Charlotte NC

Post by Tony Prior »

Wonderful country singer and artist, one of my earliest influences. RIP Don
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders , Eastman Mandolin ,
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
User avatar
Per Berner
Posts: 1978
Joined: 10 Aug 2004 12:01 am
Location: Skovde, Sweden

Post by Per Berner »

Very saddening news. He was one the best, perhaps even THE best.

I saw him live back in 1975 when I was just a kid. About 10,000 people at the Scandinavium arena in Gothenburg. Don was singing "I recall a gypsy woman" accompanied by nothing more than a guitar and a harmonica (Jim Colvard and Danny Flowers, I believe). The audience was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop, pure magic.

RIP.
User avatar
Stan Paxton
Posts: 1223
Joined: 25 Sep 2006 12:01 am
Location: 1/2 & 1/2 Florida and Tenn, USA (old Missouri boy gone South)

Post by Stan Paxton »

Oh my, I hate this. Don Williams was one of my favorite singers all the way back. Had a sound & delivery of song that was beautiful, relaxing and enjoyable to the max; nothing tense or nerve jangling or driving to a jarring conclusion. ...Sad I am. ...
Condolences to all who love him ...
Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.-
Paul King
Posts: 5627
Joined: 27 Sep 2002 12:01 am
Location: Gainesville, Texas, USA

Post by Paul King »

Don was a fantastic singer. He was one who just sit down and sing without all the hoopla many do today. I never realized he was close to 80 years of age. He will surely be missed.
User avatar
John Brock
Posts: 312
Joined: 1 Jul 2011 10:45 am
Location: Xenia, Ohio

Don Williams

Post by John Brock »

So sad to hear this . We love to play his songs....we'll be doing that today. RIP Don.
GFI S10 Nashville 400 Epiphone J200 Kentucky BM650 Mandolin Fender 112 Alvarez 5018 12
Rus-Ler Deluxe
User avatar
Walter Stettner
Posts: 5771
Joined: 21 Nov 2003 1:01 am
Location: Vienna, Austria

Post by Walter Stettner »

That is really shocking news. His recordings with Lloyd Green on Steel and Dobro always were among my favorites.

RIP, Don and thanks for the great music.

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria
Art Beard
Posts: 773
Joined: 17 Jan 2007 3:23 pm
Location: Once upon a time out west (deceased)

Post by Art Beard »

ditto Walter on that.. RIP Don thanks
User avatar
Ned McIntosh
Posts: 802
Joined: 4 Oct 2008 7:09 am
Location: New South Wales, Australia

Post by Ned McIntosh »

We have lost a giant in the genre. No one had a smoother voice or better delivery and phrasing. For so many of us Don Williams singing, with Lloyd Green's back-up on steel and Dobro, defines a generation of country music. RIP and thanks.
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being.
Chris Brooks
Posts: 1449
Joined: 28 Feb 2000 1:01 am
Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Post by Chris Brooks »

Am listening to Gypsy Woman right now. I love his sparse arrangements. Lots of space. Piano solo simply playing the melody. Nobody trying to prove anything.

Chris
Al Vesel
Posts: 1888
Joined: 8 Feb 2007 8:02 am
Location: Chisholm, Minnesota, USA

Don Williams Passing

Post by Al Vesel »

I also am sad to see this fine musician leave us. Me and my Wife would love to go to his concerts when he was in the area. Soft beautiful voice that will stand the test of time. I don't believe I ever heard a song of his that we did not like.

RIP fellow musician.

Love Al and Darlene Vesel
Emmons LeGrande SKH D-10 - WALKER STEREO STEEL AMP w JBL ENCLOSURES & TC ELECTRONICS M-ONE XL PROCESSOR, HILTON VP,FURMAN POWER CONDITIONER, SARNO's Steel Guitar BLACK BOX,BJS,ToneMaster bars,FENDER Strat, FENDER & Ovation acoustic's