NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Country songwriter Bill Owens, who was a mentor and early songwriting companion to his niece Dolly Parton and helped begin her profession in nation music, has died. He was 85.
Parton’s publicist confirmed his demise on Wednesday, and Parton wrote a prolonged eulogy for her uncle, saying I wouldnt be right here if he hadnt been there.
Owens helped Parton on the age of 10 get her first radio efficiency on the Cas Walker Farm and Home Hour radio present in Knoxville, Tennessee. He inspired her to apply her guitar and infrequently drove her to native exhibits the place she may carry out.
Its actually exhausting to say or to know for positive what all you owe any individual on your success, Parton wrote of her uncle. But I can inform you for positive that I owe Uncle Billy an terrible lot.
They wrote songs collectively, together with Parton’s very first single Puppy Love,” which got here out in 1959 when Parton was simply 13. Owens ultimately began taking her to Nashville to pitch songs to document labels and publishing firms.
Owens and Parton have been signed as songwriters by Fred Foster, a legendary nation producer, to his publishing firm Combine Music, and Foster signed Parton as an artist to his Monument Records label in 1965.
Parton and Owens wrote the music Put It Off Until Tomorrow,” which might grow to be a prime 10 hit for Bill Phillips. Parton can be singing backup vocals in that recording. It was named BMI music of the yr in 1966. Phillips would additionally document one other music they wrote known as The Company You Keep.
Owens wrote songs recorded by Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagoner, Ricky Skaggs and Kris Kristofferson. He was additionally a touring musician and backed up Parton in her early years in Nashville.
Owens additionally labored at Parton’s Dollywood theme park as a performer and his ardour was restoring the native chestnut tree to the Great Smoky Mountains area. Parton stated that he and his spouse Sandy planted 70,000 bushes on Dollywood property over his lifetime.
He was humorous, pleasant and beneficiant, Parton stated. He all the time had a form phrase for everyone and gave good recommendation to younger individuals beginning within the enterprise.
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