By Iminza Keboge
Published September 10, 2017
The singer who has not only inspired ‘one-man-guitar’ performers ad is popular among lovers love ballads, ‘mugithi’, golden hits, oldies, ‘zilizopendwa’ (old school) songs and storytellers in entertainment joints in Kenya is dead.
The musician popularly known as Don Williams but whose real name was Donald Ray Williams died on September 8 after what was described as a short illness.
The award-winning United States of America country singer and songwriter who was in 2010 inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is reported to have recorded 17 number one hits after debuting as a solo musician in 1971.
Some of the late entertainer’s songs that are well loved across generations in Kenya include Senorita, You’re My Best Friend, Some Broken Hearts Never Mend and It Must Be Love.
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Associated Press reports that Williams “spent the early part of his career in rock, country and folk groups…His first No 1 hit was ‘I Wouldn’t Want to Live If You Didn’t Love Me’ and 42 of his 46 singles landed on the top 10 from 1974 to 1991.”
Standing 6 foot 1, the singer with a rich baritone voice was nicknamed The Gentle Giant.
Don Williams, who retired from music in 2016, was born in Floydada, Texas, United States of America on May 27, 1939.
Following William’s death, Kyle Young, Chief Executive Officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, is quoted by Associated Press (AP) as having said, “Don Williams offered calm, beauty, and a sense of wistful peace that is in short supply these days…His music will forever be a balm in troublesome times. Everyone who makes country music with grace, intelligence, and ageless intent will do so while standing on the shoulders of this gentle giant.”
The lyrics of some of the late Williams that were loved in Kenya are listed here below as our tribute to the musician who made works of a universal appeal:
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1). Senorita
Back in the innocent days
There was a young Cowboy
Who was in love with a Mexican girl,
Only she didn’t know it,
And he would watch her when she walked back,
In the cotton dress which danced in the wind
And her eyes held the stars
Now, she was the most beautiful thing
That cowboy had ever seen
Sent down straight from heaven
But he was afraid he would never win her heart
‘Cause of some family scars left by the rain forest
But oww… how he loved her.
Senoritra passing by
Pardon me if I stop and ask you why
Senorita could it be
Someone like you could love someone like me?
So he walked up to her
Tipped his hat and introduced himself
And she looked up at him and didn’t know what to say.
So he told her the story of his family
The trouble that brought the barbed wire
And all the things that he couldn’t change
And then he told her that he loved her
And he studied her reaction
And by the time the spring rains came
They were married
Now, there’s an ol’ song that my family used to sing
‘Bout a young cowboy and a mexican girl
And how they fell in love.
Senorita passing by
Pardon me if I stop and ask you why
Senorita could it be
Someone like you could love someone like me.
Senorita passing by
Pardon me if I stop and ask you why
Senorita could it be
Someone like you could love someone like.
Someone like you could love someone like me…
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2). Some Broken Hearts Never Mend
Coffee black, cigarettes,
start this day, like all the rest,
First thing every morning that I do,
is start missing you
Some broken hearts never mend,
some memories never end,
some tears will never dry,
my love for you will never die
Rendezvous in the night,
A willing woman to hold me tight,
But in the middle of love’s embrace,
I see you’re face
Some broken hearts never mend,
some memories never end,
some tears will never dry,
my love for you will never die.
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3). You’re My Best Friend
You placed gold on my finger
You brought love like I’ve never known
You gave life to our children
And to me a reason to go on.
You’re my bread when I’m hungry
You’re my shelter from troubled winds
You’re my anchor in life’s ocean
But most of all you’re my best friend.
When I need hope and inspiration
You’re always strong when I’m tired and weak
I could search This whole world over
You’ll still be everything that I need.
You’re my bread when I’m hungry
You’re my shelter from troubled winds
You’re my anchor in life’s ocean
But most of all you’re my best friend.
You’re my bread when I’m hungry
You’re my shelter from troubled winds
You’re my anchor in life’s ocean
But most of all you’re my best friend…
