The country music world lost an iconic songwriter, producer, and record executive with the Tuesday, August 4th, passing of Country Music Hall of Fame member Billy Sherrill. A two-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Sherrill co-wrote such timeless classics as “Almost Persuaded,” “Stand by Your Man,” “The Most Beautiful Girl,” and “My Elusive Dreams.” As a record producer, his work shaped the “countrypolitan” sound of the late 1960s and 1970s, and as a longtime producer and record executive for the Columbia and Epic Records imprints, he introduced the world to such artists as Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, and Barbara Mandrell. His work with Wynette led George Jones to Epic Records, where Sherrill produced “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and “The Grand Tour” among other George Jones hits. Sherrill crafted an amazing legacy of music that also includes producing Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It,” Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn,” “Behind Closed Doors” for Charlie Rich, and many, many more. For more on the life and enduringly influential career of Billy Sherrill, visit MusicRow.com and CountryMusicHallofFame.org. Billy Sherrill was 78 years old.