Famed country producer Billy Sherrill dies at age 78

He was known by colleagues, artists and fans of country music as “The Toscanini of Twang”, and helped develop the “Nashville Sound”. One of the primary forces behind the “countrypolitan” sound which smoothed country’s rougher edges with string sections and choirs of the late Sixties and early Seventies, he guided dozens of hits for Wynette and Jones, including “He Stopped Loving Her Today”.

The death of Billy Sherrill means Nashville has lost one of its most influential and powerful producers and songwriters, says Peter Cooper, a longtime Music City insider who covered Sherrill for many years as a journalist.

“Born in Phil Campbell, Alabama on November 5, 1936, Sherrill got his break in 1962 when Sun Records” Sam Phillips hired him as a producer and engineer in Nashville. Shortly thereafter, he became an inhouse producer at Epic Records, and scored his first country smash with David Houston’s “Almost Persuaded” in 1966. “He had a knack for picking songs and he was a great songwriter”, said Bradley. Sherrill co-wrote the song with Glenn Sutton.

With Charlie Rich, Sherrill is credited with taking the jazz, pop and R&B history of the singer and giving it a hard turn into the world of country-pop stardom. Also in 1966, he signed the then-unknown Tammy Wynette to her first contract and suggested she drop her real name, Virginia Wynette Pugh, in favor of the now-famous stage moniker.

Billy Sherrill was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995, a recipient of the Lifework Award. He also worked with Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Paycheck and Elvis Costello.

Country Music Hall of Famer Billy Sherrill has passed away after a brief illness. The song won Grammys for Best Country and Western Song, Best Country and Western Recording and Best Country and Western Vocal Performance: Male. Funeral arrangements are pending.