Features
Billy Sherrill Dies
Billy Sherrill, a record producer and songwriter who helped create the “countrypolitan” sound of the 1960s and ’70s, died in Nashville Aug. 4. He was 78.
Photo: nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Sherrill’s production style incorporated over-dubbing, strings and background vocals into country music to encourage crossover success for artists like Tammy Wynette, George Jones and Charlie Rich.
He produced hits like “Stand By Your Man,” which he co-wrote with Wynette, “The Most Beautiful Girl,” “Behind Closed Doors,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
He also worked with Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Paycheck and Elvis Costello. Sherrill worked at Sun Records in Memphis, and then joined the CBS record label in Nashville in 1964.
He won a Grammy Award for co-writing “Almost Persuaded,” in 1966.