Gene Watson's Peers: Al Perkins
Gene Watson's peers within the country
music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east
Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as 'the singer's
singer' - and rightly so!
All of Gene's Peers who were contacted in 2006 were most gracious with their
time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that
you have an opportunity to read a quote from
Al Perkins' quote, which he
submitted to this site on Thursday 3 August 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Al Perkins who has made a
special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone
Star Hero'.
Al Perkins
This quote was submitted on Thursday 3 August 2006
'I don't really know a lot about Gene Watson. I hear
good things about him & his traditional style.
I did hear him briefly at a festival in Holland a couple of years back when
I was there with Chris Hillman. Gene's whole band sounded good at the time'.
Thank you, Al Perkins, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Al Perkins...
Al Perkins, a legend of popular
music, was born & raised in Texas & learned to play Hawaiian steel guitar at
the age of nine. Playing in west Texas bands throughout the 1960s, it
wasn't until his release from the US Army Reserves in the early 1970s that
his musical career took off with California country rockers Shiloh.
Al found himself hired to play in the new incarnation of The Flying Burrito
Brothers & recorded the seminal live album 'The Last of the Red Hot
Burritos' in 1972. The band split up, and Perkins along with former Byrd
Chris Hillman.
Chris Hillman joined Manassas. Led by
Stephen Stills, they were one of the most talented units in music at the
time & were equally at home with Latin jams, rock, blues, country, folk &
bluegrass.
With the release of a second album, Stills was drawn more towards his work
with Crosby Stills & Nash, so Al Perkins & Chris
Hillman found themselves joining up with Richie Furay (Buffalo
Springfield & Poco founding member) and J.D. Souther in the Souther Hillman
Furay band. Al moved into producing records in the mid 1970s, but did tour
with Michael Nesmith & McGuinn & Hillman.
Al Perkins managed to also continue working as a session player & found
himself contributing to many of the notable albums of the time, including
the Eagles' ‘On the Border’ album. Al continued his production work into the
1980s.
Al also toured with Chris Hillman as a duo
which later developed into the Desert Rose Band, before joining Dolly Parton
in 1986, touring & recording with her for several years before moving to
Nashville.
It was while Al was in Nashville that he reunited with Emmylou Harris on a
new project, the Nash Ramblers. Al had previously worked with Emmylou &
played on the two solo albums of the late, great Gram Parsons. For the ‘Live
at the Ryman’ album, Emmylou & her band, obviously inspired by the history
of the famous auditorium, responded by putting together a stunning live set
spanning the history of country music. The album won a Grammy award in 1992.
Al Perkins continues to tour and record & is well known for his work with
Kevin Montgomery. He has played & toured with artists as diverse as
Bob Dylan, Cher, Rita Coolidge, Dan Fogelberg & Dwight Yoakam, and also
finds time to appear with his long-time associate
Chris Hillman, & with veteran country singer
Michael Martin Murphey.
Al Perkins today (2006) is equally at home in the studio adding his timeless
pedal steel to albums by artists such as Julie Roberts, as he is adding lap
steel to the dynamic live appearances of Kevin Montgomery, or complementing
Chris Hillman's traditional bluegrass sound
with his signature dobro playing.
Visit Al Perkins' Official Site