Lawton Williams, acclaimed songwriter of ‘Farewell Party’, was born on Monday 24 July 1922 in Troy, Tennessee.
Lawton Williams was the son of a fiddle player and was influenced by Roy Acuff (Tuesday 15 September 1903 – Monday 23 November 1992) and movie cowboy Gene Autry (Sunday 29 September 1907 – Friday 2 October 1998).
Lawton Williams was stationed in Houston, Texas during World War II; it was there that he learned how to write songs from Floyd Tillman (Tuesday 8 December 1914 – Friday 22 August 2003).
Lawton Williams’ first cuts came with performers Cliff Bruner and Laura Lee McBride.
Lawton Williams made early recordings in the late 1940s for independent record labels Sultan Records and Fortune Records. Later, Lawton Williams signed with Four-Star Records, Coral Records and Imperial Records.
In 1961, Lawton Williams charted with Mercury Records with ‘Anywhere There’s People’, which was written by Steve Karliski (Sunday 10 March 1940 – Sunday 7 October 2007); Lawton Williams also charted in 1964 with RCA Records with ‘Everything’s OK On The LBJ’.
A number of distinguished country music artists have recorded Lawton Williams’ songs.
In 1957, Bobby Helms (Tuesday 15 August 1933 – Thursday 19 June 1997) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’, as his first single; it was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart and stayed on the listings for fifty-two weeks.
Bobby Helms’ recording of Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ also reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1957, and was subsequently included on ‘The Best of Bobby Helms’ (Columbia Records, 1963).
In 1958, Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Geisha Girl’, as his first single; the track, which reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1957, and No.66 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1957, was included on Hank Locklin’s ‘Foreign Love’ (RCA Records, 1958).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Foreign Love’ and included the track on ‘Foreign Love’ (RCA Records, 1958).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘Foreign Love’ (RCA Records, 1958); the track was also included on Hank Locklin’s ‘Once Over Lightly’ (RCA Records, 1965).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Bluegrass Skirt’ and included the track on ‘Foreign Love’ (RCA Records, 1958).
Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Paper Face’, which was co-written with Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009), and included the track on ‘Marty Robbins’ (Columbia Records, 1958).
In 1960, Lawton Williams recorded ‘Farewell Party’; the track was the ‘B’ side of ‘Mama Doll’ (written by Lawton Williams), for Le Bill Records, a record label based in Fort Worth, Texas.
Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007) in 1961; the track, which was the ‘B’ side of Little Jimmy Dickens‘ ‘Talking To The Wall’ single on Columbia Records (catalogue number: 4-42013), with Walter Haynes on steel guitar, was recorded on Thursday 2 February 1961 at Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville.
Little Jimmy Dickens‘ recording of Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ was subsequently included on ‘Out Behind The Barn’ (Bear Family Records, 1998).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Foreign Car’ and included the track on ‘Please Help Me, I’m Falling’ (RCA Records, 1960).
In 1961, Kitty Wells (Saturday 30 August 1919 – Monday 16 July 2012) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘I’ll Always Be Your Fraulein’ (co-written with Roy Botkin and Wally Jarvis); the track, which was a follow-up to Bobby Helms’ 1957 Billboard No.1 hit single, ‘Fraulein’ (written by Lawton Williams), reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1961, and was subsequently included on Kitty Wells’ ‘Golden Favourites’ (Decca Records, 1961).
Bobby Bare recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Shame On Me’ (co-written with Bill Enis) and included the track on ‘Detroit City’ (RCA Records, 1963); the track reached No.18 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1963, and reached No.23 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1963.
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’, which was co-written with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and included the track on ‘Loretta Lynn Sings’ (Decca Records, 1963).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Border of The Blues’ (co-written with Frankie Miller) and included the track on ‘This Song Is Just For You’ (RCA Camden Records, 1963).
Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 – Friday 31 July 1964) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Senor Santa Claus’ and included the track on ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ (RCA Records, 1963).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’ (co-written with George Jones) and included the track on ‘Blue & Lonesome’ (Mercury Records, 1964).
Roy Drusky (Sunday 22 June 1930 – Thursday 23 September 2004) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘Country Music All Around The World’ (Mercury Records, 1965).
Roy Drusky (Sunday 22 June 1930 – Thursday 23 September 2004) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Geisha Girl’ and included the track on ‘Country Music All Around The World’ (Mercury Records, 1965).
Skeeter Davis (Wednesday 30 December 1931 – Sunday 19 September 2004) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Lost To A Geisha Girl’ and included the track on ‘Blueberry Hill’ (RCA Records, 1965).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’ (co-written with George Jones) and included the track on ‘Starday Presents George Jones’ (Starday Records, 1965).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Wooden Soldier’ and included the track on ‘My Kind of Country Music’ (RCA Records, 1965).
Dave Dudley (Thursday 3 May 1928 – Monday 22 December 2003) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Geisha Girl’ and included the track on ‘There’s A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere’ (Mercury Records, 1966).
Dave Dudley (Thursday 3 May 1928 – Monday 22 December 2003) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘There’s A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere’ (Mercury Records, 1966).
Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) recorded ‘Farewell Party’, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007), and included the track on ‘Sound of A Heartache’ (Stop Records, 1967).
Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 – Thursday 15 March 2013) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘You Are My Treasure’ (Decca Records, 1968).
Roy Drusky (Sunday 22 June 1930 – Thursday 23 September 2004) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘My Grass Is Green’ (Mercury Records, 1969).
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Just To Satisfy You’ (RCA Victor Records, 1969).
Jan Howard (Friday 13 March 1929 – Saturday 28 March 2020) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Shame On Me’ (co-written with Bill Enis) and included the track on ‘Jan Howard’ (Decca Records, 1969).
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 – Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Alone At A Table For Two’ and included the track on ‘Queen of Hearts’ (Hilltop Records, 1969).
The Nashville String Band, consisting of Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) and Homer & Jethro – Henry D. ‘Homer’ Haynes (1920 – 1971) and Kenneth C. ‘Jethro’ Burns (1920 – 1989) – recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘Down Home’ (RCA Records, 1970).
In 1971, Lawton Williams saw the release of ‘Between Truck Stops’ (Mega Records, 1971), which included the following tracks:
‘Cold Cold Hands’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Asphalt Cowboy’ (written by Lawton Williams and C. Bentley)
‘The Ballad of Jim Blynn’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Headin’ Down The Wrong Highway’, which was written by Ted Daffan (Saturday 21 September 1912 – Sunday 6 October 1996)
‘Tennessee Border’, which was written by Jimmy Work (Saturday 29 March 1924 – Saturday 22 December 2018)
‘I’d Rather Drive A Truck’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Sybil Writes’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Highway To Nowhere’ (written by Jim Hess)
‘Truck Driver’s Blues’, which was written by Ted Daffan (Saturday 21 September 1912 – Sunday 6 October 1996)
‘Big Wheel Cannonball’ (written by Vaughn Horton)
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 – Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Geisha Girl’ and included the track on ‘A Chain Don’t Take To Me’ (Epic Records, 1971).
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 – Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein‘ and included the track on ‘A Chain Don’t Take To Me’ (Epic Records, 1971).
Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘The Late, Great Townes Van Zandt’ (Poppy Records, 1973); this album which was re-issued by Charly Records in 2015.
Narvel Felts recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘When Your Good Love Was Mine’ (Cinnamon Records, 1973).
Johnny Rodriguez recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘Just Get Up & Close The Door’ (Mercury Records, 1975).
David Allan Coe recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘Once Upon A Rhyme’ (Columbia Records, 1975).
Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 – Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘City Lights’ (Playboy Records, 1975); the track was also included on Mickey Gilley‘s ‘Wild Side of Life’ (Hillside Records, 1976).
In 1978, Gene Watson recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Reflections‘ (Capitol Records, 1978); when released as a single (Capitol 4680), the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979. Gene Watson‘s recording of Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ would go on to become his signature tune and the name of his highly acclaimed touring band.
Gene Watson‘s version of Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ is considered by many to be the definitive version of the song, with Lloyd Green playing the legendary steel guitar part – ‘Farewell Party’ was the last Gene Watson track, which Lloyd Green played steel guitar on, having played on a number of Gene’s Capitol Records recordings.
Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ should have been the foundation on which the Gene Watson recording session was based, but the track was apparently a last minute addition to the recording session. Gene Watson also recorded ‘Farewell Party’ in one take.
On Tuesday 27 January 2009, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Reflections‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979), as a special ‘2-for-1‘ CD.
In 1979, Curtis Potter (Thursday 18 April 1940 – Saturday 23 January 2016) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’, as a non-album single, for Hillside Records.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’, which was co-written with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and included the track on ‘Almost Blue’ (United Kingdom: F-Beat Records, 1981 / United States: Columbia Records, 1981); the album was produced by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015).
The Singing Kettles (Bill Kettle, Ross Kettle and Max Kettle) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘The Way It Used To Be, Volume 1 & 2’ (Hadley Records, 1982); the track, which had been recorded in January 1972, was subsequently included on ‘The Way It Used To Be, Volumes 1 & 2’ (Bellbird Music, 2005).
In 1985, Bear Family Records in Germany saw the release of a compilation of Lawton Williams’ recordings; ‘Lightning Jones’ (Bear Family Records, 1985), included the following tracks:
‘Blue Grass Skirt’ (written by Lawton Williams) / this track was previously un-issued
‘Foreign Love’ (written by Lawton Williams) / this track was previously un-issued
‘I’ll Still Love You’ (written by Lawton Williams) / this track was previously un-issued
‘Casino On The Hill’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Train of Thoughts’ (written by Lawton Williams) / this track was previously un-issued
‘If You’re Waiting On Me’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Don’t Burn The Bridge Behind You’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Rhinelander Waltz’ (written by Lawton Williams) / this track was previously un-issued
‘Moon Joe’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Lightning Jones’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Carpetbaggers’ (written by Lawton Williams and Bill Enis)
‘Squawlein’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Stay On The Ball’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Mama, Pinch A Penny’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Everything’s O.K. On The L.B.J., Part 1’ (written by Lawton Williams)
‘Everything’s O.K. On The L.B.J., Part 2’ (written by Lawton Williams)
Nick Lowe recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Geisha Girl’ and included the track on ‘Pinker and Prouder Than Previous’ (Columbia Records, 1988).
Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997) recorded Lawon Williams’ ‘Fraulein’ and included the track on ‘Road Songs’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1994); the album, which was a ‘live’ recording, was released on K-Tel Records in England, which it was distributed by Topic Distribution.
In 1999, Alan Jackson, a long-time admirer of Gene Watson, recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’, with Paul Franklin on steel guitar, and included the track on ‘Under The Influence’ (Arista Records, 1999), an album of country music ‘covers’.
James King (Tuesday 9 September 1958 – Thursday 19 May 2016) recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’, which was co-written with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and included the track on ‘Thirty Years of Farming’ (Rounder Records, 2002).
In 2003, Lawton Williams saw the release of his final album; ‘Mending Fences’ (Tima Records, 2003) included the following tracks:
‘Mending Fences’
‘The Last Trumpet’
‘Lord, Forgive’
‘The McNairy Country Sheriff’
‘Golden Cigarette Lighter’
‘The Sun’s Gonna Shine Again’
‘Neon Nights’
‘Adam & Everett’
‘World’
‘Don’t Play Angel With Me’
‘Every Little Bit Hurts’
‘Mockingbird Mansion’
Joe Nichols, another long-time admirer of Gene Watson, recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Revelation’ (Universal South Records, 2004).
Heidi Hauge recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Country Jewels’ (Showtime Records, 2004).
In 2004, Lawton Williams’ last recording was included on ‘The Influence’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2004), a tribute album, which honoured the music of Floyd Tillman (Tuesday 8 December 1914 – Friday 22 August 2003) – Lawton Williams recorded his own song, ‘It Just Tears Me Up’, with Floyd Tillman.
Floyd Tillman’s ‘The Influence’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2004) included the following tracks:
‘Slippin Around’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Dolly Parton
‘It Makes No Difference Now’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017)
‘I Gotta Have My Baby Back’ / this track featured guest duet vocals from Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013)
‘Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin’ / this track featured guest duet vocals from George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013)
‘I Love You So Much It Hurts Me’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Connie Smith
‘Each Night At Nine’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Willie Nelson
‘I’ll Take What I Can Get’ / this track featured guest duet vocals from Hank Thompson (Thursday 3 September 1925 – Tuesday 6 November 2007)
‘This Cold War With You’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who also added a special guitar solo to the track
‘I’ll Keep On Lovin’ You’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Darrell McCall
‘Let’s Make Memories Tonight’ / this track featured guest duet vocals from Leona Williams
‘They Took The Stars Out of Heaven’ / this track featured guest duet vocals from Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020)
‘I’m Still In Love With Every Girl’ (written by Floyd Tillman) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Justin Trevino
‘Just As Long As I Have You’ / this track featured guest duet vocals from Frankie Miller
‘It Just Tears Me Up’ (written by Lawton Williams) / this track featured guest duet vocals from Lawton Williams
Floyd Tillman’s ‘The Influence’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2004), which was his final album, was produced by Justin Trevino and Tracy Pitcox and was recorded in San Marcos, Texas.
Personnel involved in the recording of Floyd Tillman’s ‘The Influence’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2004) included the following:
Johnny Gimble (Sunday 30 May 1926 – Saturday 9 May 2015) (fiddle, mandolin)
Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) (guitar) / this was Dave Kirby‘s last recording session
Bobby Flores (Sunday 18 June 1961 – Thursday 23 June 2022)
Floyd Domino
Dicky Overbey (Monday 11 May 1942 – Saturday 4 October 2014)
Levi Mullen
John Smiley Reynolds
Leona Williams, Justin Trevino and Frankie Miller (harmony vocals)
Marti Brom recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Alone At A Table For Two’ and included the track on ‘Marti Brom Sings…Heartache Numbers’ (Goofin’ Music Records, 2005).
On Thursday 26 July 2007, Lawton Williams passed away at Harris Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas at 2:00pm CST.
Visitation for Lawton Williams took place on Sunday 29 July 2007 between 5:00pm and 7:00pm in Lourel Land Funeral Chapel at 7100 Crowley Road in Fort Worth, Texas.
Lawton Williams’ funeral service took place on Monday 30 July 2007 at 2:00pm CST.
Patty Loveless recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’, which was co-written with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and included the track on ‘Sleepless Nights’ (Saguaro Records, 2008).
Gene Watson re-recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Timeless Hits From The Past Bluegrassed’ (Cracker Barrell, 2012).
Ike Jonson & Roadhouse Rangers recorded Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’ and included the track on ‘Same Old Town’ (Roadhouse Records, 2015).
On Friday 16 September 2016, John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) saw the release of ‘For Better, Or Worse’ (Oh Boy Records, 2016); one of the included tracks was Lawton Williams’ ‘Colour of The Blues’, which was co-written with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and featured guest vocals from Susan Tedeschi.
On Friday 26 April 2019, Erin Enderlin saw the release of ‘Chapter One: I Don’t Give A Damn’ (Black Crow Productions / Blaster Records, 2019), a 3-track extended play (EP) disc; one of the included tracks was ‘Tonight I Don’t Give A Damn’, which referenced Gene Watson‘s recording of Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party’, which reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979, and No.9 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979.
On Friday 1 November 2019, Erin Enderlin saw the release of ‘Faulkner County’ (Black Crow Productions, 2019); one of the included tracks was ‘Tonight I Don’t Give A Damn’, which referenced Gene Watson‘s recording of Lawton Williams’ ‘Farewell Party‘, which was included on Gene Watson‘s ‘Reflections‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), and reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979, and No.9 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979.
Source
• Tracy Pitcox, Heart of Texas Records, Brady, Texas
• Jim Eaves
• Country Music People