Billy Sherrill

Billy Sherrill ( born November 5, 1936 in Phil Campbell, Alabama) was in the 1960s and 1970s, one of the most influential producers of country music. Also, as a songwriter, he was extremely successful. In addition to numerous number 1 hits he was involved as a co-author of the World Hits The Most Beautiful Girl and Stand By Your Man.

He grew up in rural Alabama son of a preacher felt initially attracted to jazz and blues. He learned several instruments and joined after leaving school at different bands. In an independent label, he recorded several singles in the late 1950s, but remained largely unnoticed.

In 1962, he moved to Nashville, where he opened a small recording studio with friends. Eventually, he was hired by Sam Phillips as manager for his Sun Studio. Sherrill then moved as a producer for the newly founded record label Epic Records.

Career

The first artist with whom he worked was, David Houston, who had two years earlier landed Mountain of Love his first hit, but since then had remained unsuccessful. Already the first single, Livin ' in a House Full of Love in 1965 was also placed at number three on the country charts. The next song, Almost Persuaded, in which Sherrill co-author was, reached number one and kept this position nine weeks.

A year later he took at that time entirely unknown Tammy Wynette under contract that had been previously rejected by several other labels. Both Houston and Wynette were able to record several top hits, including the common duet of Houston and Sherrill 1967 My Elusive Dream. 1968 Sherrill wrote with Wynette whose greatest success Stand By Your Man. Sherrills next protege was Charlie Rich, with whom he had previously worked together at Sun Records. The greatest common hit was The Most Beautiful Girl, which could be placed both in the country and in the pop charts at number one and has been covered by numerous musicians.

Billy Sherrill became an important protagonists of the Nashville Sounds. Without the classical instruments such as fiddle and steel guitar to displace all, he mixed often subsequently string sections or background choirs and thus created a sound that caught on and outside the country scene. A highlight of his work was the series of duets with Ray Charles and the superstars of country music like Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson. The next performer, he brought up were Barbara Mandrell and Tanya Tucker. 1971 joined George Jones to Epic, with whom he also began a successful collaboration.

Sherrills winning streak continued until the early 1980s. Produced by him or composed songs rarely reached after topping the charts. In 1980, he became vice president of the Nashville section of Columbia ( CBS), the parent company of the Epic label. In 1984, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. It was just one of many awards he received during his career.

• American musician
• Music producer
• Country Singer
• Country musician
• Born in 1936
• Man