THE EXIT OF AN ICON...

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The nation music community is in sadness over the loss of one of the most successful writers and producers. The Scottsville, Kentucky native died on Thursday (June 8) at the age of 79 after a brief illness.

I think there wasn’t a venue in the country scene that Wilson didn’t have success in. One of country's most colorful characters, Wilson enjoyed ten singles on the Billboard charts between 1969 and 1977, and enjoyed a successful career as a song plugger and publisher. He also produced many of the genre’s top artists of all time, including works for George Jones, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, and Charley Pride.

Wilson’s first foray into the music business was as a Gospel singer. He performed in the group The Southlanders, and began to record more often as a solo artist in the late 1960s. In 1969, Wilson made his chart debut with “Only You,” which peaked at No. 68. He did connect with the Country Top 40 three times as a performer, with 1970’s “Do It To Someone You Love” ranking as his biggest success with a No. 20 peak. Incidentally, that led to his being included in the very first New Faces Show that same year. The program continues to be a prestigious part of the yearly Country Radio Seminar. This is a great lost to the music community and he will be ever missed.