The country star was known for his mellow sound and for his soft, rich, graceful delivery.<\/b>
\nNASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 Don Williams, an award-winning country singer with love ballads like \u201cI Believe in You, \u201d has died. He was 78.
A statement from his publicist Kirt Webster said he died Friday after a short illness.
Williams had 17 No. 1 hits before retiring in 2016. His mellow sound influenced a later generation of singers including Joe Nichols and Josh Turner and Keith Urban has said Williams drew him to country music.
Williams, nicknamed \u201cthe Gentle Giant, \u201d had a rich voice, gentle delivery and storytelling style. He toured sparingly, did few media interviews and spent much of his time on his farm west of Nashville.
His hits included \u201cI Believe in You, \u201d \u201cLord, I Hope This Day Is Good, \u201d \u201cYou\u2019 re My Best Friend, \u201d \u201cSome Broken Hearts Never Mend, \u201d \u201cTill the Rivers All Run Dry\u201d and \u201cBack in My Younger Days.\u201d At least one duet with Emmylou Harris made the charts, \u201cIf I Needed You\u201d in 1981.
\u201cDon Williams offered calm, beauty, and a sense of wistful peace that is in short supply these days, \u201d said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, in a statement Friday.
\u201cHis music will forever be a balm in troublesome times. Everyone who makes country music with grace, intelligence, and ageless intent will do so while standing on the shoulders of this gentle giant.\u201d<\/p>\n

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