“One of country’s most influential producers, Billy Sherrill helped to shape the music’s evolution in the 1970s and beyond”, the Hall said in its biography.
Advertisement
Billy Sherrill, the Nashville producer who pioneered the lush “Countrypolitan” sound and worked with many of country’s great artists, has died. (His impact on country’s sonic landscape was often compared to Phil Spector’s on rock “n” roll.) Among his biggest hits were Wynette’s “Stand by Your Man” (which he also co-wrote) and “D-I-V-O-R-C-E”, Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “The Grand Tour”, and Charlie Rich’s “The Most lovely Girl” – all of which still stand as landmarks of the genre.
Sherrill moved to Nashville in 1962 to work as a producer and engineer for Sun Records, then as a producer for Epic Records.
He began making his mark in country music with David Houston’s 1966 No. 1 country hit “Almost Persuaded”.
Sherrill found a budding star in Tammy Wynette, whose so-called “Queen of Heartbreak” career he helped shape.
Billy Sherrill, a Phil Campbell native and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 78. Sherrill co-wrote the song with Glenn Sutton. He also worked with Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Paycheck and Elvis Costello. Sherrill’s lone solo album was the 1967 oddity “Classical Country”, which reimagined Buck Owens songs with a string quartet and harpsichord.
Sherrill is survived by his wife Charlene, his daughter Catherine Lale and two grandchildren.
The singer was wrong, of course, and the song became a Number One hit, won awards as Song and Single of the Year from the ACM, was the CMA Song of the Year for two consecutive years, earned Jones a Grammy for Best Male Country Performance and was eventually entered into the Library of Congress.
Advertisement
Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
