Billy Norris Sherrill

Billy Norris Sherrill, the groundbreaking producer and songwriter whose polished and sophisticated recordings enhanced the sound and scope of country music, died Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at age 78, in his Nashville home. The son of a traveling Alabama preacher, Sherrill’s musical journey began with piano gigs at his father’s church services. It was there a young Billy once played “Bye Bye Blues” at a funeral and “That’s Where My Money Goes”, while his dad was taking up the offering. “Got my butt whipped,” recalled Sherrill in 2011. Called “the little genius” by vocal great George Jones, just one of the legendary artists who trusted Sherrill to guide his recordings, songs written and produced by Sherrill topped the charts for nearly three decades for such diverse and iconic artists as Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Bobby Vinton, Andy Williams, Elvis Costello, Barbara Mandrell, Tanya Tucker, David Houston, Marty Robbins, Johnny Paycheck, Emmy Lou Harris, David Allen Coe, Cliff Richard, Johnny Duncan, Lacy J Dalton, The Staple Singers, Janie Fricke, Shelby Lynne, Johnny Rodriguez, Jim and Jesse, The Remains, Gene Watson, Jody Miller, Al Hirt, Peaches & Herb, Andy Griffith, Jim Nabors, and Donny Osmond. Sherrill received multiple Grammy and Academy of Country Music Awards, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, was a recipient of the Academy of Country Music’s Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, the BMI Icon Award, and the BMI Songwriter of the 20th Century Award. Always avoiding the limelight, after his retirement, Sherrill said he had “turned doing nothing into an art form,” preferring to spend his time with family and friends on his boats in Nashville and in Florida. Preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Ora Sherrill; brothers, Hollis and Cullen; and sister, Rita Chalakee. Sherrill is survived by his Most Beautiful Girl of 54 years, Charlene, daughter Catherine Lale and husband George, and two grandchildren, Samantha and Matthew. Visitation will be held from four o’clock in the evening until eight on Thursday, August 6, 2015 at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN; and a second visitation will be held from two-thirty in the afternoon until four-thirty on Friday, August 7, 2015 with a graveside service to follow at five o’ clock in the evening in The Garden of the Grand Tour at Woodlawn Memorial Park for family and friends. The family sends a special thank you to Comfort Keepers and Alive Hospice for their loving care. Pallbearers: George Lale, Matthew Lale, Jay Broughton, Kenny Campbell, Joe Chambers, and Drew Harris. Honorary Pallbearers: Jack Norman, Jr., Curly Putman, Norro Wilson, Herbert Pickle, Dr. Lee Tucker, and Al Cravens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nashville Humane Association, nashvillehumane.org or Nashville Alive Hospice, alivehospice.org.