Remembering Songwriter Kim Williams, Who Penned Hits for Country Stars

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On February 11, 2016, acclaimed country music songwriter Kim Williams died at the age of 68 in Panama City, Florida. Williams co-wrote numerous hit songs for major country artists in the 1990s and early 2000s, including Garth Brooks' "Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up" and Randy Travis' "Three Wooden Crosses."

Why it matters

Kim Williams left an indelible mark on country music through his songwriting, penning some of the genre's most iconic and memorable hits during a prolific career. His passing 10 years ago was a significant loss for the country music community, as his songs became staples on country radio and defined the sound of 90s and early 2000s country.

The details

Williams grew up in a musical family and began writing songs and performing with local bands as a teenager. After a near-death experience in a fire, he moved to Nashville and signed on as a staff songwriter, going on to co-write major hits for artists like Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Joe Diffie, and Reba McEntire. Some of his most well-known songs include Brooks' "Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up" and "Papa Loved Mama," as well as Travis' CMA and ACM Award-winning "Three Wooden Crosses."

• Kim Williams died on February 11, 2016 in Panama City, Florida.
• Williams co-wrote his first major hit, Joe Diffie's "If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets)," in 1991.
• Williams co-wrote several signature Garth Brooks hits in the 1990s, including "Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up" and "It's Midnight Cinderella."