Billy Sherrill, who produced some of the biggest country crossover and was instrumental in developing the “Countrypolitan” sound, died on Monday after a short illness at the age of 78.
Sherrill was born in Phil Campbell, AL and originally played the saxophone, developing an interest in jazz and blues. He eventually formed his own blues band and, even though he signed to a label as an artist, he found no success as a performer.
In 1961, Sherrill moved to Nashville where he initially managed the city’s location of Sun Studios for Sam Phillips. Two years later, he moved to Epic records as an in-house producer, first working with artists in a variety of genres before starting to do work with the label’s country roster.
In 1965, Sherrill had his first major hit as a producer and a songwriter with David Houston’s Almost Persuaded, topping the American charts for nine weeks. The next year, he began working with a young Wynette Byrd, helping her develop a sound, craft a stage presence and a new moniker as Tammy Wynette. Billy co-wrote her biggest hit, Stand By Your Man.
In 1971, Sherrill took over producing duties for Wynette’s then husband, George Jones, in a relationship that would last for two decades including George’s classic He Stopped Loving Her Today, now considered one of the greatest country records ever made.
It was also during that decade that Sherrill took an artist who had floundered in a variety of styles, Charlie Rich, and turned him into a country star with such records as Behind Closed Doors, The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, which Sherrill co-wrote, and A Very Special Love Song.
In 1985, Sherrill became Vice President-Executive Producer for Columbia/Epic Nashville. Five years later, he left to become an independent producer.
Billy Sherrill is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame (2010) and the Musicians Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Charlene, and a daughter.
Billy Sherrill wrote or co-wrote 63 songs that made it to the top ten on one or more Billboard charts:
Sugar Lips – Al Hirt
Livin’ in a House Full of Love
Kiss Away – Ronnie Dove
Almost Persuaded – David Houston
A Loser’s Cathedral – David Houston
I Don’t Wanna Play House – Tammy Wynette
With One Exception – David Houston
Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad – Tammy Wynette
My Elusive Dreams – David Houston & Tammy Wynette, Bobby Vinton, Charlie Rich
You Mean the World to Me – David Houston
Already It’s Heaven – David Houston
Take Me To Your World – Tammy Wynette
Where Love Used to Live – David Houston
Have a Little Faith – David Houston
Stand By Your Man – Tammy Wynette, Candi Staton
I’m Down to My Last I Love You – David Houston
My Good Woman’s Good to Me – David Houston
Singing My Song – Tammy Wynette
The Ways to Love a Man – Tammy Wynette
Almost Closing Time – Barbara Mandrell & David Houston
I Do My Swinging at Home – David Houston
Wonders of the Wine – David Houston
I’ll See Him Through – Tammy Wynette
He Loves Me All the Way – Tammy Wynette
A Woman Always Knows – David Houston
Maiden’s Prayer – David Houston
Nashville – David Houston
We Sure Can Love Each Other – Tammy Wynette
Sweet and Innocent – Donny Osmond
Good Lovin’ Makes It Right – Tammy Wynette
Reach Out Your Hand – Tammy Wynette
The Ceremony – George Jones and Tammy Wynette
Tonight My Baby’s Coming Home – Barbara Mandrell
We Can Make It – George Jones
Bedtime Story – Tammy Wynette
There’s a Party Goin’ On – Jody Miller
Good News – Jody Miller
Good Things – David Houston
What My Woman Can’t Do – George Jones
Kids Say the Darndest Things – Tammy Wynette
The Most Beautiful Girl – Charlie Rich
Another Lonely Song – Tammy Wynette
The Door – George Jones
Woman to Woman – Tammy Wynette
A Very Special Love Song – Charlie Rich
I Love My Friend – Charlie Rich
(You Make Me Want to Be) A Mother – Tammy Wynette
There’s a Song on the Jukebox – David Wills
Everytime You Touch Me (I Get High) – Charlie Rich
‘Til I Can Make It On My Own – Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers & Dottie West
You and Me – Tammy Wynette
Don’t Let Me Touch You – Marty Robbins
Let’s Get Together (One Last Time) – Tammy Wynette
One of a Kind – Tammy Wynette
Southern California – George Jones & Tammy Wynette
Beautiful Woman – Charlie Rich
Friend, Lover, Wife – Johnny Paycheck
Hello Mexico (and Adios Baby to You) – Johnny Duncan
Red Wind and Blue Memories – Joe Stampley
No One Else in the World – Tammy Wynette
Put Your Clothes Back On – Joe Stampley
Takin’ It Easy – Lacy J. Dalton
The Baron – Johnny Cash
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