‘The Indian’ from legendary South Dakota duo Williams and Ree dies
Iconic comedy musician, rock and roll hall of famed Terry Ree’s death follows 2023 Sioux Falls-area show
Terry Ree, half of the legendary comedy-music duo Williams and Ree, died Saturday morning at the age of 75.
His death was confirmed by the wife of Ree’s bandmate, Bruce Williams, on Facebook.
Earlier this year, the Deadwood Mountain Grand announced Williams and Ree’s Nov. 30 show at the facility had been canceled because the duo had decided to stop touring.
The men’s decades-long act was inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
Williams and Ree, self-described as “The Indian and the White Guy,”performed comedy that “eschewed political correctness and conformity,” according to the band’s website.
Born in Huron, Ree graduated from Pierre High school in 1968. He met Williams while attending college at the Black Hills State University campus later that year. Together, they made several performances on The Nashville Network. They also performed with Garth Brooks, The Oak Ridge Boys and Tim McGraw and received a Country Music Association vocal duo nomination.
In a 2023 interview with The Dakota Scout, Ree spoke of how much he loved performing and making fans laugh.
“We just love what we do, and for 55 years people have been coming to see us. And we appreciate that so much,” he said. “We just want to do it until we can’t do it anymore.”
Rest in peace.
May my heart hold the earth all the days
of my
life. And when I am gone to the farther
camps, may
my name sound on the green hills, and
may the cedar
smoke that I have breathed drift on the
canyon walls
and among the branches of the living trees.
May birds
of many colors encircle the soil where my
steps have
been placed, and may the deer, the lion,
and the bear
of the mountains be touched by the bless-
ings that
have touched me. May I chant the praises
of the wild
land, and may my spirit range on the wind
forever. N. Scott Momaday
Sad news...a great talent. May he rest in peace, and may God comfort his loved ones in their loss.