Terry Williams is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He formed the band The First Edition with musicians

Kenny Rogers Kenneth Ray Rogers (August 21, 1938 – March 20, 2020) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Rogers was particularly popular with country audiences but also charted m ...

Mike Settle Michael Ward Settle (born March 20, 1941) is an American songwriter, journalist, broadcaster and singer. Settle began his musical career as a solo singer and a member of The New Christy Minstrels. His debut solo album ''Folk Sing Hallelujah'' ...

, and Thelma Camacho. He is the only member of the group other than Rogers to play on every album by the band. Williams grew up in Hollywood, California. His father played

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate ...

for the

Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Thomas Francis Dorsey Jr. (November 19, 1905 – November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor and bandleader of the big band era. He was known as the "Sentimental Gentleman of Swing" because of his smooth-toned trombo ...

and his mother, Bonnie Lou Williams, was a vocalist in Dorsey's band. While working for the promotion department at

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...

, he found he could not play guitar at work, so he joined the New Christy Minstrels. There he met the other members of what would become The First Edition. Williams taught Rogers to play electric bass, as Rogers had only played upright bass before. He co-wrote songs with Rogers such as "Momma's Waiting," and produced many of their songs. After the group released its concept album ''

The Ballad of Calico ''The Ballad of Calico'' is the eighth studio album by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and released as Reprise Records 6476. It reached No. 118 on the albums chart and produced one single, "School Teacher", which reached No. 91. The double alb ...

'' and embarked on a tour of New Zealand. Williams was the last original member to leave the band, leading to its breakup. After the breakup of the band, Williams continued the act as "Terry Williams and The First Edition." He continued to work with Rogers managing his recording studio.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Terry 1947 births American country singer-songwriters American country guitarists The New Christy Minstrels members Kenny Rogers and The First Edition members Living people