• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Engineer Jim Williamson Passes

January 24, 2011/by Sarah Skates

Jim Williamson, the recording engineer known for work with Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, passed away at his Nashville area home on Jan. 20. He was 75, and died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Williamson played a role in recordings classics such as Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man,” Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” and Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde album.
In fact, Williamson was behind the board when Dylan recorded “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.” He handled it with ease when Dylan insisted on recording the song in a single take, in the dark.
Williamson ran the boards for Country Music Hall of Fame producers Don Law, Owen Bradley, Ken Nelson and Billy Sherrill. He is also credited with being one of the first Nashville engineers to provide musicians with headphones during the recording process.
Williamson also helped a young Kristofferson, working as a studio janitor at the time, record the demos that ultimately led to his signing at Monument Records.
“He was a great listener and a father figure to a lot of people,” says hit producer Garth Fundis. “He was a really awesome man—honest to a fault.”
“He was one of the finest engineers I ever worked with in Nashville,” agrees Haggard, who enlisted Williamson for more than 10 years.
Williamson was a devoted family man who would have celebrated his 50th anniversary with wife Edith this year. He is survived by Edith; daughter Debbie Williamson, of San Diego; daughter Suzy Pender, of Nashville; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son, Jimmy Williamson.
Williamson’s body is being cremated. Per his wishes, services will be private. No public memorial will be held.

Jim Williamson and granddaughter Claire Pender on Easter Day 2010.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has been a writer and editor in the music business since 2004. She is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Sarah Skates
Latest posts by Sarah Skates (see all)
  • Parker McCollum Sells Out Ascend Amphitheater, Celebrates Double Platinum Single - May 23, 2022
  • CMA Presents Triple Play Awards, Honors Bob DiPiero - May 13, 2022
  • Breakout Artist, Nashville Native Jelly Roll To Headline Bridgestone Arena - May 13, 2022
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png 0 0 Sarah Skates https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png Sarah Skates2011-01-24 10:25:312011-01-24 10:25:31Engineer Jim Williamson Passes
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

RECENT NEWS

  • Industry Ink: Clint Black, Moe Bandy, Cassadee Pope November 30, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: Tim McGraw Delivers ‘Downright Inspirational’ New Track November 30, 2023
  • ONErpm Launches Two New Entities, Bringing Company Total To Five November 30, 2023
  • BREAKING: Carson James & Chris Poole Exit BBR Music Group/BMG Amid Restructuring November 30, 2023
  • Date & Lineup Set For 24th Annual ‘Nashville Unlimited Christmas’ Benefit November 30, 2023
  • Elle King & ET’s Rachel Smith To Host ‘New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash’ November 30, 2023
  • Jordan Minton Inks Deal With Sony Music Publishing Nashville November 30, 2023
  • Neon Coast Appoints Janie Whitefield As Director Of Digital November 30, 2023
  • Date Set For 2024 SOURCE Hall Of Fame Awards November 30, 2023
  • Ian Munsick Plots ‘Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour’ For Spring November 30, 2023
  • Charlie Worsham Announces The Compadres Fund November 29, 2023
  • 2024 Dates & Ticketing Process Updates Announced For Tin Pan South November 29, 2023
  • AIMP To Celebrate The Season With Holiday Parties November 29, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Commands Spotify’s 2023 Year-End Lists November 29, 2023
  • Reba McEntire Appoints Justin McIntosh As Manager, Among Other Team Changes November 29, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top