Veteran Engineer Billy Sherrill Passes
Billy Sherrill
Billy Sherrill, the engineer who was behind the board for hits recorded by Kenny Rogers, Kenny Chesney, The Chicks, The Marshall Tucker Band and many more, passed away on Tuesday (Sept. 10). He was 77.
Born in west Tennessee and raised for most of his childhood in Paducah, Kentucky, Sherrill was in bands in high school and college. He first got a taste of the recording world when he and the band recorded in a friend’s studio in Benton, Kentucky.
Having connected with Music Row engineer Scotty Morris, Sherrill headed to Nashville after college. Morris introduced him to Thomas Wayne, and Sherrill began to help Wayne set up the studio that became Sound Shop. Soon, Sherrill was making tape copies for publishers on Music Row.
While working at Sound Shop, Sherrill met producer/songwriter Larry Butler, who invited him to work on his first real recording session for Jean Shepard’s “Slippin’ Away” (1973). The record hit the top five on the country charts and garnered more work for Sherrill. It also marked the beginning of his and Butler’s long relationship.
Together the pair worked on hit records for Dottie West, Billie Jo Spears, Ed Bruce, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, Mac Davis, Mickey Gilley, John Denver, Paul Anka and more. When Butler bought Jack Clement’s studio, Sherrill followed him.
Butler produced and Sherrill engineered many of Kenny Rogers’ hits, including “Lucille,” “She Believes In Me,” “The Gambler,” “Love Or Something Like It,” “You Decorated My Life” and “Coward of the County.”
Eventually Sherrill went out on his own. He engineered more hit records such as The Chicks’ Grammy-winning Fly album, and a lot of Kenny Chesney’s early work, like hits “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and “That’s Why I’m Here.” He also served as the sound mixer for the Grand Ole Opry for several years.
In 2019, the Audio Engineering Society (AES) presented Sherrill with a Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in Studio Recording & Mixing. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame the same year.
Billy Sherrill is survived by his wife, Susan, daughter Chandler Nicole and son David.
A visitation for Billy Sherrill will take place on Friday (Sept. 20) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday (Sept. 21) from 2 p.m. until a service will commence at 4 p.m. at Brook Hollow Baptist Church (678 Brook Hollow Road, Nashville, TN 37205).
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Sherrill’s honor to The Musicians Hall of Fame or Brook Hollow Baptist Church.
