BILLY SHERRILL

Famous as songwriter and producer, Billy Sherrill came to
Country Music form an upbringing in tent meeting gospel and a
youth devoted to sax playing and piano pounding in rock 'n' roll bands.
The Phil Campbell, Alabama native moved to Nashville in
1961, where he established an independent recording studio. The
next year he joined Columbia/Epic Records as a staff producer,
and by 1966 his star began to rise with the huge success of a
Grammy winning wong he wrote and produced for Epic's David
Houston, "Almost Persuaded". That same year he signed Tammy
Wynette to Epic Records, like himself a native of Alabama, and
their association was to prove legendary.
Sherrill wrote and produced most of the songs that are synonymous 
with Wynette's career: "Stand By Your Man", "I don't Wanna play House",
"Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad", "My Elusive Dreams", "He Loved Me All
The Way", and "The Ways To Love A man" among them.
When Epic Records signed George Jones to a contract in 1972, Sherrill's
production credits expanded to include more unforgettable hits:
"A Picture Of Me (Without You)", "The Grand Tour", "The Door",
"He Stopped Loving Her Today", and all of the great Jones/Wynette duets:
"We're Gonna Hold On", "We Loved it Away", "Golden Ring", "Near You",
"Southern California", and "Two-Story House".
Sherrill produced Tanya Tucker's early hits, the award winning 1970s work 
of Charlie Rich, hits by David Allan Coe, the celebrated Ray Charles duets 
and countless others during his long association with CBS.
Architect of much of the 1970s Nashville Sound, Sherrill's major honors
include election to the NSAI Sonwriters hall of Fame (1984), the Musical 
Creator's Award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (1985) and the
Master Award from the Nashville Entertainment Association (1986). In
addition to his 1966 Best Country Song Grammy, he received the award in
1974 for "A Very Special Love Song". In 1995 he received the Lifetime
Non-Performing Achievement Award and Induction into the
Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

	Phil Campbell native Billy Sherrill entered the music business
as a performer moving on to become a session musician, engineer,
producer, and record executive. It was through his work as a
songwriter and producer that he gained industry immortality.

	 Sherrill is known for his lavish orchestrated productions,
while maintaining the country music instruments. This sound,
dubbed "Countrypolitan",  expanded the base for Country music by
creating a crossover to the Pop market. 	

	The tide of hits began when he co-wrote and produced David
Houston's number one hit, "Almost Persuaded" in 1966. It was
Sherrill who discovered Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Janie
Frickie, and Lacy J. Dalton. In 1968 he co-wrote and produced
"Stand By Your Man" with Tammy Wynette. 

	He produced hit recordings for others such as  George Jones, 
Charlie Rich, Marty Robbins, Barbara Mandrell, Johnny Cash,
David Allen Coe, and Elvis Costello.

	As a songwriter Sherrill holds the record for winning the most
awards in the history of BMI, and has earned more than 50 number
one hits and dozens of gold and platinum records.

	Billy Sherrill is the 1995 Lifework Award for Non-Performing
Achievement recipient.


	Phil Campbell native Billy Sherrill gained industry immortality
for his work as a songwriter and producer. 	

	Known for his lavish orchestrated productions, dubbed
"Countrypolitan",  Sherrill expanded the base for Country music,
allowing for a crossover to the Pop market. 	

	He co-wrote and produced David Houston's number one hit,
"Almost Persuaded" in 1966. It was Sherrill who discovered Tammy
Wynette, Tanya Tucker, Janie Frickie, and Lacy J. Dalton. In
1968 he co-wrote and produced "Stand By Your Man" with Tammy
Wynette. 

	He produced hit recordings for others such as  George Jones, 
Charlie Rich, Marty Robbins, Barbara Mandrell, Johnny Cash,
David Allen Coe, and Elvis Costello.

	As a writer Sherrill has won the most awards in the history of
BMI, earning more than 50 number one hits and as a producer,
dozens of gold and platinum records.

	Billy Sherrill is the 1995 Lifework Award for Non-Performing
Achievement recipient.





Back to Music Achiever Index

Back to Inductees

Back to Awards



Career Milestones


1959: 1st Published Song - "Your Sweet Love" recorded by Bob
Beckham

1959: Signed with Tree Publishing

1963-65: Became a Producer at Epic Records

1966: Became Executive Producer at Epic Records

1966: 1st Number One Song - "Almost Persuaded" recorded by David
Houston

1968: Appointed Director A&R Columbia and Epic Records, Nashville

1974: Best Country Song - NARAS - "A Very Special Love Song"

1984: Induction to Nashville Songwriters Assoc. International
Hall of Fame (NSAI)

1985: Alabama Music Hall of Fame Music Creators Award

1986: Masters Award - NARAS

1995: Induction to Alabama Music Hall of Fame 




Back to Music Achiever Index

Back to Inductees

Back to Awards



SONGWRITER AWARDS


1966, Grammy Award, Songwriting, "Almost Persuaded"

1966, Robert J. Burton Award (BMI), Most Performed Country Song, 

	"Almost Persuaded"

1966, Nashville Music Industry Award for #1 Single, "Almost
Persuaded"

1974, Grammy Award, Songwriting, "A Very Special Love Song"

1974, Billboard, Top Country Song of the Year, "The Most
Beautiful Girl"

1974, BMI, Most Performed Song of the Year, "The Most Beautiful
Girl"

1975, Golden Tree Award, #1 Nationally, "My Elusive Dreams"

1977, Tree Publishing Co., Million Airs Club, "My Elusive Dreams"

1972-82 Tree Publishing Co., Decade Award, "Almost Persuaded"

85 Writer Performance Awards from BMI

10 One Million and Multi-Million Performance Awards

Ranked #1 on the BMI list as the songwriter with the most
performance awards





Back to Music Achiever Index

Back to Inductees

Back to Awards



PRODUCER AWARDS


1973, Academy of Country Music, Single of the Year, "Behind
Closed Doors"

1973, Academy of Country Music, Album of the Year, Behind Closed
Doors

1973, Country Music Association, Single of the Year, "Behind
Closed Doors"

1973, Country Music Association, Album of the Year, Behind
Closed Doors

1974, Country Music Association, Album of the Year, A Very
Special Love Song

1980, Country Music Association, Single of the Year, "He Stopped
Loving Her Today"

1980, Academy of Country Music, Single of the Year, "He Stopped
Loving Her Today"

35 Producer Awards from the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers



Back to Music Achiever Index

Back to Inductees

Back to Awards


SONG CATALOGUE



	Song Title				Recorded by

	Almost Persuaded				David Houston



	The Most Beautiful Girl			Charlie Rich



	Stand By Your Man				Tammy Wynette



	My Elusive Dreams			David Houston & Tammy Wynette



	A Very Special Love Song			Charlie Rich



	Too Far Gone				Emmylou Harris



	Your Good Girls Gonna Go Bad 		Tammy Wynette



	Sugar Lips				Al Hurt



	This Time I Almost Made It			Barbara Mandrell



	Livin' In A House Full Of Love			David Houston



	Kiss Away					Ronnie Dove



	With One Exception				David Houston



	Have A Little Faith				David Houston



	Soul Song					Joe Stampley



	He Loves Me All The Way			Tammy Wynette



	Bedtime Story				Tammy Wynette



	Till I Can make It On My Own			Tammy Wynette



	I Don't Wanna Play House			Tammy Wynette

	

	You And Me				Tammy Wynette



	My Man					Tammy Wynette



	Another Lonely Song				Tammy Wynette



	Singing My Song				Tammy Wynette



Back to Music Achiever Index

Back to Inductees

Back to Awards


ARTISTS PRODUCED 



	Nancy Ames				Nashville Strings

	Gene Austin				Patti Page

	Avant-Garde				Johnny Paycheck

	Ray Charles				Jimmy Payne

	David Allan Coe				Peaches & Herb

	Elvis Costello			              The Poppies (Melba Moore)

	Lacy J. Dalton				Sandy Posey

	Steve Davis				Don Potter

	Johnny Duncan				Pozo Seco (Don Williams) 

	Barbara Faichild				Vivian Reed

	Vicky Fletcher				Charlie Rich

	Janie Fricke				Johnny Rodriguez

	Goldberg Blues Band			Troy Seals

	Andy Griffith				Shel Silverstein

	Merle Haggard / George Jones 		Brenda Smith

	Stan Hitchcock				The Staple Singers

	David Houston				Glenn Sutton

	George Jones				Ted Taylor

	Lois Johnson				Tanya Tucker

	Debbie Lori Kaye				Jerry Vale

	Merle Kilgore				Bobby Vinton

	Kris Kristofferson				Charlie Walker

	Major Lance				Freddy Weller 

	Bob Luman				Andy Williams

	Shelby Lynne				Otis Williams

	Barbara Mandrell				Chuck Woolery

	Jim & Jesse McReynolds			Tammy Wynette

	Jody Miller

	Jim Nabors