Billy Sherrill
Billy Norris Sherrill (November 5, 1936 – August 4, 2015) was an American record producer, songwriter, and arranger associated with country artists, notably Tammy Wynette and George Jones. Sherrill and business partner Glenn Sutton are regarded as the defining influences of the countrypolitan sound, a smooth amalgamation of pop and country music that was popular during the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Sherrill also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Stand by Your Man" (written with Tammy Wynette) and "The Most Beautiful Girl" (written with Rory Bourke and Norro Wilson).
Billy Sherrill
Billy Norris Sherrill
November 5, 1936
Phil Campbell, Alabama, U.S.
August 4, 2015 (aged 78)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Early years[edit]
Born in the town of Phil Campbell, Alabama in 1936, the son of an evangelical preacher, Sherrill was attracted to jazz and blues music, learning to play the piano and, in his teens, the saxophone.[1] During his teenage years, he led a jump blues band, and toured the southern states playing in R&B and rock 'n' roll bands. He signed a solo record deal with a small independent label, which had little success.[2]
Early career[edit]
In 1962, Sherrill moved to Nashville, where he was hired by Sam Phillips to manage the Nashville studios of Sun Records.[1] When Sun sold its Nashville studio the following year, Sherrill moved to Epic Records, as an in-house producer. Given his limited exposure to country music, his production incorporated many elements of pop music production, creating his own style of sweeping productions, influenced by Phil Spector, Don Law, and Chet Atkins. His sound has often been described as a country equivalent to Spector's Wall of Sound. He chose many of his artists' songs, rewriting them in some cases to suit the singer's style.[2]
His first success was with David Houston. Houston's recording of Sherrill's and Glenn Sutton's composition "Livin' in a House Full of Love" reached #3 on the country chart in late 1965, and followed it up with "Almost Persuaded", also written by Sherrill and Sutton,[1] which spent nine weeks at the top of the U.S. country charts in mid 1966.[3] The song won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Song, and was later recorded by Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, and Etta James among others. Sherrill continued to write and produce for Houston until the 1970s.[2]
Work with Charlie Rich[edit]
Another artist who benefited greatly from his association with Sherrill was Charlie Rich.[1] Rich had been a marginally successful performer of blues and early rock and roll, scoring a minor hit with the tune "Lonely Weekends", but it was his early 1970s work with Sherrill, particularly the countrypolitan hits "Behind Closed Doors" and "The Most Beautiful Girl", that brought Rich to national and international prominence.[1] Along with songwriter Norro Wilson, Sherrill won a Grammy Award in 1975 for Best Country Song for Rich's version of the song "A Very Special Love Song".[5]
Later career[edit]
By 1975, Sherrill was regarded as "the most reliable hitmaker in Nashville".[2] Other artists with whom Sherrill worked included Barbara Mandrell -- whom he signed to Columbia Records in 1969 -- Sandy Posey, Shelby Lynne, Marty Robbins, Ray Charles, Johnny Paycheck, Tanya Tucker, Johnny Cash,[6] Janie Fricke, Lacy J. Dalton, Ray Conniff, Bobby Vinton, Bob Luman, Johnny Duncan, Jim and Jesse, Jody Miller, Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, Charlie Walker, Barbara Fairchild, Andy Williams, Cliff Richard ("The Minute You're Gone"), Grand Funk Railroad (the LP Phoenix), Mickey Gilley, and David Allan Coe. In 1981, he produced Elvis Costello's album Almost Blue,[2] although the friction between Costello and Sherrill was aired in a British television documentary.[1]
In 1980, he was appointed Vice President of CBS in Nashville. After leaving to become an independent producer, he returned in 1986 before retiring a few years later.[2]
Influence and awards[edit]
In the 1981 made-for-television movie based on Tammy Wynette's book Stand By Your Man, Sherrill was portrayed by James Hampton.
In 2008, Billy Sherrill was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN.[7] On February 23, 2010, Sherrill was selected for induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame along with Don Williams, Ferlin Husky, and Jimmy Dean.