A sad day in country music

by Bobby Inman
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September 8, 2017 will be a day that will go down in history for country music.  Don Williams passed away at 78 years old.  Troy Gentry was 50 years old and was killed in a helicopter crash in New Jersey.  Both performers have been main stays in country music for years, Don Williams as a solo artist and Troy Gentry as one half of the band Montgomery Gentry. 

Don Williams was known as the “Gentle Giant” for his bass-baritone voice an imposing statue.  .  He was born on May 27, 1939.  He grew up in Portland, Texas.  Don began his music career in 1971 as a songwriter with Jack Music, Inc.  A year later, he signed with Jack Music, Inc as a solo country artist.  His first single “I Don’t Want To Live, If You Don’t Love Me,” went to #1 on the record charts.  He continued to have a string of #1 hits from 1974 to 1991.

Don is known for hits like “I Believe In You, Tulsa Time, Good Ole Boys Like Me and It’s Time For Love.  “   Don played himself in the Burt Reynolds’ film “Smoky & the Bandit 2.”   Don was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.  He retired from performing in 2016.

Troy Gentry was born in Lexington, Kentucky on April, 5, 1963.   Troy’s first band was with Eddie Montgomery as well as Eddie’s brother, future country music star, John Michael Montgomery.  After John left for a solo music career, Eddie and Troy renamed themselves Montgomery Gentry.

Montgomery Gentry’s first single was the well know “Hillbilly Shoes” .    Demand for the single was so high that the Recording Company rushed the release of their first album.    Montgomery Gentry released a string of hits such as “Lonely & Gone, My Town.  You Do Your Thing, and What Do Y’all Think About That.”    The duo was voted as “Vocal Duo of the Year” several times.  Sadly, Troy was killed in a helicopter crash in Medford, New Jersey.  The duo was scheduled to perform tonight. 

It is a sad day in the world of Country Music.

 

     Bobby Inman is retired from Law Enforcement after 21 years of Service.  He owns Hammer Down Gun & Pawn located in Sheffield, Alabama.  He has articles published in Law & Order Magazine, Police Marksman Magazine, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement Magazine as well as several published ebooks on Amazon, Kobo Writing, as well as Nook (Barnes & Noble).  He is owner of Poopiedog, an Animal Rescue Dachshund, who is his constant companion.   He is a Senior Investigative Reporter for the Quad Cities Daily

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