But now I've been in the arena for 47 years and I stutter less today than I did in those days.

He wrote the hits "I Ain't Never" (Tillis's own future hit) and "Crazy Wild Desire". Still later he operated WMML in Mobile Alabama. He is also known for his speech impediment which does not affect his singing voice.

Tillis's biggest hits include "I Ain't Never" "Good Woman Blues" and "Coca-Cola Cowboy". Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s his biggest success occurred in the 1970s with a long list of Top 10 hits.