Epilogue: The Cellar Tapes Announced — A New Don Williams Collection Arrives May 29

A new chapter in the legacy of Don Williams begins with the announcement of EPILOGUE: THE CELLAR TAPES, a collection of previously unheard recordings arriving May 29 via Craft Recordings.

Drawn from multi-track tapes discovered in the cellar of the Williams family’s rural Tennessee home, the collection captures Don during a defining stretch of his career from 1979 to 1984. These recordings, restored and completed with care by longtime collaborator Garth Fundis and Executive Producer Tim Williams, present the Gentle Giant in his artistic prime—his unmistakable voice intact, steady, and timeless.

“These songs Dad recorded are—as music can be—a time machine,” says Tim Williams. “In working on this project, we tried above all to stay true to how Dad approached production… and then just to stay out of the way of the music.”

“Don liked every one of these songs,” adds Garth Fundis. “I think he’d be thrilled to know that people could hear him sing these new songs they didn’t know existed. I’m certain Don would be proud of this album.”

The album’s first single, “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight,” is available now alongside an official video, offering a fresh take on the song written by Rodney Crowell. While previously recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys and Emmylou Harris, Don’s version brings a characteristically relaxed precision to its quick rhythm and storytelling. Speaking to Billboard, Crowell reflected, “Don Williams’ version of ‘Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight’ outshines my version by a mile. It brought me close to tears. I’m humbled by the simple truth and beauty of his performance. And sad that he’s no longer with us. He was truly one of a kind.”

EPILOGUE: THE CELLAR TAPES will be released on vinyl, CD, and digital formats, with several exclusive vinyl variants available through retailers including Barnes & Noble and Cracker Barrel, as well as the Don Williams and Craft Recordings official stores. Fans can pre-order and pre-save the album now.

More than four decades after these songs were first recorded, EPILOGUE offers a rare opportunity to hear new music from Don Williams—music that reflects the warmth, restraint, and quiet authority that defined his career.