Mason Williams

Mason Williams is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, composer, and comedian. He is best known for his 1968 instrumental classical guitar piece, "Classical Gas."

Williams began his career in the 1960s as a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, for which he won three Emmy Awards. He also wrote the theme song for the television show The Andy Griffith Show. In 1968, he released his first album, The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, which featured his song, "Classical Gas." The song was an instant hit, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Williams released several albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Handmade (1970), Sharepickers (1972), and The Mason Williams Ear Show (1975). His most successful album was 1971's Mason Williams Phonograph Album, which featured the hit single, "Country Road." He also released the live album Mason Williams Live (1973).

In 1983, Williams released an album of instrumental guitar pieces titled Classical Gas, which featured the title track as well as "Baroque-a-Nova," "Love is Pleasing," and "Renaissance Fair."

An interesting fact about Mason Williams is that he wrote the theme song for the television show The Andy Griffith Show. The song has been used for over 50 years and is one of the most recognizable television theme songs of all time.