|
The Man
Behind The Music
by Ed Crabtree
The Ozark Mountains are full of
hidden treasures, no, not silver and gold cached
away in some dark cavern or lost fortunes hurried
buried by someone who fled the hills and intended
to return someday and collect their prize, but
rather the real gems of the region are the people,
both native and recent arrivals, whose achievements
shine so brightly as to make the most dazzling
diamond pale by comparison.
Deep in the heart of Stone
County there is a forest clearing near the shores
of Table Rock Lake, where one such man makes his
home. This man, a real gem of the Ozarks who came
to the hills seeking the serenity and sanctity that
can only be found in this region. With him he
brought a piece of music history and his own
uniquely spiritual wisdom.
Gracing the walls of his home
are frames containing gold and platinum records,
priceless mementos of an outstanding career writing
and performing music, but these relics are
worthless when compared to the memories and
knowledge that this man carries in his soul. This
is the story of Bill Dees, The Man Behind The
Music.
In
the Texas Panhandle town of
Borger, a legend was born on the 24th day of
 January
1939. A boy that grew into a man and brought joy to
the hearts of millions with his work as a
songwriter, singer, and performer. Through his
creative genius, his writing has rewarded both
popular and country artists alike, with numerous
number one records and has even been the basis for
a motion picture.
Bill
set out on his career path, a path that would
eventually lead him around the world, starting with
his brothers as they performed on a radio station
in Amarillo  Texas,
when Bill was still just in grade school. Although
this path would lead Bill to Nashville, his biggest
break was to happen when he met the legendary Roy
Orbison. This meeting was to make history as the
two became lasting friends and they collaborated
together to write the song that was to propel
Orbison to fame, “Oh Pretty
Woman,” a song whose rhythmic drum
beat and catchy guitar riffs, remain popular to
this day. In December of the year 2000, the
Rolling Stone magazine listed
Oh Pretty Woman, as song number 23 on
a list of the top one hundred pop songs since 1963.
Oh Pretty Woman has been performed by
numerous singers over the years, one adaptation
resulted in a copyright infringement lawsuit when
the group, 2 Live Crew recorded an
unauthorized parody of the song. The rap group
prevailed when the case was heard by the US Supreme
court, and in a interview by the Rolling
Stone magazine, in December of 2000, when
asked about the decision of the high court, Bill
Dees was quoted as saying, “If I’m gonna
lose, I’d rather lose on the side of
freedom.”
A
prolific writer of songs, Bill has literally
written hundreds of tunes, some of which have been
used by performers such as Loretta Lynn, Dinah
Shore, Johnny Cash, The Germs, Larry Henley,
Skeeter Davis, Billy Joe Royal, Bob Luman, Frank
Ifield, The Newbeats, Mark Denning, Grover
Mitchell, Clinton Gregory, Glen Campbell, Gene
Thomas, Al Green, Van Halen, Robeson and Jerome,
Ricky Van Shelton, Michael Caine, Gene Pitney, Was
Not Was, and many others.
His works have been performed by the London
Philharmonic Orchestra.
A
partial list of other songs that bill has
performed, written, or collaborated on, include, A
New Star, Bachelor Girl, Blue Teardrops (Are
Falling), Born To Be Loved By You, Child Woman
Woman Child, City Life, Communication Breakdown,
Crawling Back, Drifting Away, Flowers, Go
Away, Going Back To Gloria, Good Time Party,
Growing Up, Heading South, Heartache, How Do You
Start Over, If Only For Awhile, It Ain’t No
Big Thing, It Takes One To Know One, Its Over, Just
Another Word For Rock And Roll, Losing You, Maybe,
Me And Old Crazy Bill, Medicine Man Medicine Man,
My Friend, Never, One Of The Lonely Ones, Only With
You, Pantomime, Pistolero, Ride Away, River, Rollin
On, Satisfy Me And Ill Satisfy You, Shy Away,
Sleepy Hollow, So Good, Sugar And Honey, Talk Back,
That's A No No, The Defector, The Fastest Guitar
Alive, The Loner, This Is My Land, Time To Cry,
Twinkle Toes, Wait, Where Is Tomorrow, Why Hurt The
One Who Loves You, Wondering, Yo Te Amo Maria,
Yesterdays Child,(Say)You’re My Girl, How Do
You Start Over, Borne On The Wind, Blackie Daulton
Was A Gunfighter, Best Friend, Breaking Up Is
Breaking My Heart, Brother Sister, Goodnight,
I’m Gonna Love You A Long Time, Its A Crazy
World, Keep On Humming, Lonely Men Lonely Women,
Loose Lip Lucy, Memories, Rovin’ Lover, She
Was Gone, She Wont Hang Her Love Out On The Line,
Should We Do It, Sugar Man, Tennessee Owns My Soul,
There Wont Be Many Coming Home, This Is Your Song,
Whirlwind, You’ll Never Be Sixteen Again, She,
Walk On, Windsurfer, Sweet Something, Blue Over
You.
Although
Bill’s career path has been one that has been
beset with trials and tribulations, he will be the
first to testify that his perseverance along with
his undying spiritual faith has carried him through
those rough and rocky times. No stranger to hard
work, Bill was at times forced to find gainful
employment as a manual laborer, until his career as
a performer took off. There is no doubt these hard
times were the inspiration for some of his music.
And there have been instances, during Bill’s
career, that unscrupulous people in the dog eat dog
world of the music business have taken advantage of
Bill’s good nature, and denied him of the
financial compensation he deserved, however, Bill
is thankful in all things that ever happened that
led to the now, which he says the happiest time in
his life.
|
Stone
Creek Crossing
