Country music loses legend, Billy Sherrill

According to multiple reports, producer, songwriter, arranger and Country Music Hall of Famer Billy Sherrill died in his home late Tuesday morning at the age of 78 following a short illness.

Sherrill, a Phil Campbell native, is a legend in country music, perhaps best known for producing hits like Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” (which they co-wrote), Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors” and George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”

Sherrill was well-known locally, beloved by Rick Hall of FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) Studios in Muscle Shoals, which Sherrill helped to found.

Hall could not be reached for comment before press deadline Tuesday.

Sherrill was born Nov. 5, 1936. Sherrill and business partner Glenn Sutton are regarded as the “defining influences of the countrypolitan sound, a smooth amalgamation of pop and country music that was popular during the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s,” according to a bio for Sherrill.

In 1962 Sherrill was hired by Sun Records’ Sam Phillips as a producer-engineer and moved to Nashville. He later began producing at Epic Records.

One of Sherrill’s most notable partnerships was with Wynette, who he signed to Epic Records in 1966. More than three dozen of her Sherrill-produced, and frequently Sherrill-penned, songs made the Top 10; 20 topped the charts, like “Stand By Your Man.” Sherrill also spent nearly 20 years producing hits for George Jones, including the classic “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Yesterday’s Wine” and “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.”

Sherrill was inducted into three Halls of Fame: the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame and in 2010, the Country Music Hall of Fame. At the time of his death he had been in retirement for several years.

He leaves behind his wife of 54 years, Charlene, his daughter Catherine Lale and her husband George, and two grandchildren, Samantha and Matthew. Funeral arrangements are unknown at this time.