Country singer, Don Williams, America's award winning ballad maestro, has passed on.

Donald Ray Williams, according to a statement credited to his publicist, Kirt Webster, died on Friday, 8th September after a brief illness.

Williams recorded over seventeen hits before retiring in 2016.

His mellow sound influenced a later generation of singers including Joe Nichols & Josh Turner & Keith Urban has said Williams drew him to country music.

Born in Floydada, Texas, Williams began his solo career, singing popular ballads with smooth semi-baritone voice in 1971.

He won the Country Music Association's awards for best male vocalist & best single for "Tulsa Time" in 1978 & was in 2010 inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Williams' subtle voice, gentle delivery & storytelling technique earned him the name "The Gentle Giant".