By MICHELLE SCHMIDT Inland360.com
The man is country music.
That might be about the best way to describe Don Williams; the country singer is performing Saturday, June 14 at the Clearwater River Casino.
Williams has been performing for more than 50 years. He’s put out more than 20 albums and had numerous hits. He’s been nominated for dozens of music awards. He won the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year in 1978 and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010, according to both his and his label’s websites.
And he just won’t stop singing. Williams has given retirement an honest effort; according to the CMT artist page on him: He has retired twice, in one form or another, but it hasn’t seemed to stick. Williams released his latest album, “Reflections,” in March of this year and has been recently touring in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Williams no longer does interviews, his publicist said, but both his and his label’s website provided plenty of info on him, his life and his career. Whether you’re a longtime country fan or a newbie to the genre, find out how well you know the “Gentle Giant.”
1. Williams won first prize by singing in a talent contest at the age of 3 and received: a) An alarm clock b) A pony c) An autographed photo of the pope
2. Williams is nicknamed the Gentle Giant because of his: a) Abnormal height; he is 6 feet 8 inches tall b) Resemblance to the Jolly Green Giant c) Commanding presence and laid-back, easy style
3. Williams first performed with a folk pop trio called: a) Two and a Half Men b) Rambling Sagebrush c) The Pozo Seco Singers
4. Williams was raised in Texas; he now lives in: a) His boyhood home in Portland, Texas b) Nashville on his 100-acre tract of land c) A tour bus
5. Williams co-starred in two films with: a) Burt Reynolds b) Ronald Reagan c) Tom Cruise
6. When he’s relaxing, Williams enjoys: a) Deep-sea diving and yachting b) Fishing and tinkering with his ’56 Chevy c) Entering national cupcake competitions
7. Memorable hits include: a) “MMMBop” and “Wannabe” b) “Today I Started Loving You Again” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart” c) “I Believe in You” and “It Must Be Love”
(ANSWERS: 1. A, 2. C, 3. C, 4. B, 5. A, 6. B, 7. C) if you go WHAT: Don Williams WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14 WHERE: Clearwater River Casino, east of Lewiston COST: Ticket prices are $25, $40, $55 and $75. Purchase tickets at the casino box office or through www.ticketswest.com Schmidt can be contacted at themichelleschmidt@gmail.com or at (208) 305-4578.
