Country record producer and songwriter Billy Sherrill, who co-wrote and produced Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” and helped create the smooth "countrypolitan" sound of the 1960s and '70s, has died. He was 78.
Sherrill's son-in-law, George Lale, said he died Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn.
Sherrill's production style incorporated over-dubbing, strings and background vocals into country music to encourage crossover success for artists including Wynette, George Jones and Charlie Rich.
He produced hits such as "Stand By Your Man," which he co-wrote with Wynette, "The Most Beautiful Girl," ''Behind Closed Doors," and "He Stopped Loving Her Today.