Norro Wilson • Poets & Prophets, 2011
Interviews
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1h 22m
Norro Wilson, a leading Nashville record producer and songwriter from the 1970s through the ’90s, talks about his life and career in country music (with a focus on his songwriting) during this 2011 interview, part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s signature interview series, “Poets & Prophets.” Hosted by the Museum’s Michael Gray, the program is illustrated with vintage photographs, film footage, and recordings.
Among Wilson’s many blockbuster hits are “The Most Beautiful Girl,” “The Grand Tour,” and “A Picture of Me (Without You).” Wilson supplied many classic songs to Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Charlie Rich, and others, including eleven #1 Billboard country hits and more than twenty other Top Ten country songs. As a record executive and a producer, he worked with Shania Twain early in her career, and guided recording efforts by Eddy Arnold, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, George Jones, Sammy Kershaw, Reba McEntire, Charley Pride, and Tammy Wynette.
Wilson worked extensively with Tammy Wynette as both a songwriter and producer, and here, talks about their working relationship and her “just knock it right out” vocal abilities. “I loved Tammy so very much,” Wilson says. “She was an angel. What you saw was pretty much what you got with her. She was just a sweet, darling person, and so easy to get along with.”
Wilson also talks at length about George Jones and two songs he co-wrote with George Richey for Jones: “A Picture of Me (Without You)” and “The Grand Tour.” Of Jones, Wilson says: “He never sang anything the same way twice. It didn’t matter how he sang it, it was great every single time.” Wilson also delves into his long working relationship with producer Billy Sherrill on developing hits for Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Charlie Rich, and others.
The program also includes Wilson performing two songs—“The Grand Tour” and “The Most Beautiful Girl”—with piano accompaniment from Gary Prim.
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