If you see Don Williams at The State Theatre this March, you certainly won’t be the first. Williams has led an illustrious career over the last half-century, releasing his first charted hit in 1966. Since then, the Gentle Giant (as he’s known) has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, received the ASCAP Golden Note award for songwriters, and has toured the country relentlessly. So relentlessly, in fact, that he tried to quit in 2006 and went on a Farewell Tour … followed by a second farewell tour. And no more than three years later he was back in full, touring the world once again. According to his website, Williams is known as a songwriter first and treats his songs with reverence. His songs are simple and direct and have appealed to listeners around the world. Many other artists have come to love and cover Don Williams’ songs, including Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Allison Krauss, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. The live show coming to The State March 6 features members of his broken-in touring band, who back up the 72-year-old Williams.