This Concert Footage Will Make You Fall In Love With Don Williams All Over Again

When the Cowboy Sings / YouTube

Don Williams‘ voice was one of the defining sounds of country music throughout the 1970s and 1980s. His smooth baritone voice brought us some of the greatest hits the genre has ever seen, from “Tulsa Time” to “It Must Be Love.”  

After nearly five decades in the music business, Williams announced his retirement in March 2016. On September 8, 2017, the man country fans knew as “The Gentle Giant” passed away at the age of 78. Williams’ publicist stated that his death was the result of a short illness.

Following Williams’ death, the country music community celebrated his life and legacy with one tribute performance after the other. But nothing beats the sound of listening to “The Gentle Giant” himself, as some uncovered concert footage shows.

In honor of Williams, the classic country-oriented YouTube channel When the Cowboy Sings dug up a complete video of one of his concerts in 1978. Although the concert was only 26 minutes long, Williams managed to fit an impressive total of eight songs in his set.

We’re sure you’ll recognize the names of some, if not all of the songs that Williams sang that day. They were: “Shelter of Your Eyes,” “Come Early Morning,” “Atta Way to Go,” “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “I Recall a Gypsy Woman,” and “I’ve Got a Winner in You.” Two of those eight songs were chart-toppers.

You’ll fall in love with Williams all over again as you watch him sing through his catalog of early hits. His soothing voice will put you at an instant sense of ease as he transports you through the worlds and stories described in his songs.

This old concert footage does a perfect job at showing the depths of Williams’ undeniable talent. Even though he was still in the early stages of his career at the time, he made it obvious he was going to be a star. He ended up becoming so much more than that, as he is now regarded as a country legend.

Tune in to the concert footage below so you can fully appreciate Williams’ talent. There will never be another artist like him, that’s for sure.