Country singer Bill Phillips dies at 72: updated

Country singer Bill Phillips dies at 72 : updated


Published by Peter Cooper on August 24, 2010





Bill Phillips, a country singer known for his yearning, emotional vocals and for his role in introducing
Dolly Parton to the record-buying public, died Monday, Aug. 23 at age 72.

Born in the western North Carolina town of Canton, Mr. Phillips first came to attention as part of
Miami, Fla. station WMIL's multi-artist jamboree. Two duets with Florida-reared Mel Tillis reached the
Top 30 of Billboard’s country singles chart in 1959 and 1960, but it was not until 1966, when Mr.
Phillips recorded a song by then-unknown Dolly Parton, that he experienced major success.

Parton was living in something akin to poverty when Mr. Phillips heard her demo of “Put It Off Until
Tomorrow,” a song she wrote with her uncle, Bill Owens. Impressed with the composition and also
with the “girl singer” on the tape, Mr. Phillips recorded the song with Parton singing prominent
harmony vocals. (Listen to it above.)

The song became Mr. Phillips’ first Top 10 hit, and it launched Parton’s career. Months after “Put It Off
Until Tomorrow” peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard country singles chart in April of 1966, Parton
secured cuts from Skeeter Davis and Hank Williams Jr., and she soon signed a record contract.

Mr. Phillips’ career did not ascend to Parton’s Hall of Fame heights, but he scored three more Top 10
hits, the last being 1969’s “Little Boy Sad.” Mr. Phillips toured as part of “Queen of Country Music”
Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright’s show from 1969 through 1984, and he was also a part of Wells and
Wright’s syndicated television program.

Visitation will be Thursday, Aug. 26 from 5–8 p.m. at Hermitage Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens,
535 Shute Lane in Old Hickory, Tenn. Mr. Phillips’ funeral service will be Friday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m. in the
Hermitage Funeral Home’s chapel.


SOURCE : HERE


Bill Phillips - Lying Lips (titre de 1958)