Gene Watson's Peers: Andrea Zonn
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 2005 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
Andrea Zonn, which she submitted to
this site on Thursday 17 November 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you'
to Andrea Zonn who has made a special
contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star
Hero'.
Andrea Zonn
This quote was submitted on Thursday 17 November 2005
'What a lovely task. I’ve spent some time thinking
about Gene’s music, and reflecting on how he has impacted my own musical
journey, and so I offer these thoughts.
My father and I never missed an opportunity to listen to Gene Watson, and we
were always delighted at the chance to see him in live performance.
He is the perfect country artist, a voice as smooth and pure as can be,
delivering timeless, country classics. One of my all time favourites!'
Thank you, Andrea Zonn, for your
support of Gene Watson
About Andrea Zonn...
Andrea Zonn was encouraged to
explore her musical passions from an early age. The oldest child in a
musical family, Andrea began to study the violin at the age of five.
She started playing the fiddle at the age of ten & travelled the contest
circuit around the prairies of her native Illinois (she is from the town of
Champagne).
When she was fourteen years old, Andrea was accepted as a freshman violin
major at the University of Illinois. Two years later, she transferred
to Vanderbilt University in Nashville where she won numerous classical
violin competitions & was awarded a fellowship to the prestigious Aspen
Music Festival. That same year, she won the National Fiddle
Championship in Winfield, KS.
Andrea Zonn is a singer/violinist who made the rounds with some of country
music's finest musicians, including Pam Tillis, Ronnie Milsap & Lyle Lovett,
in the early 1990s.
Andrea's most important & highest-profiled job in Nashville, however, was as
Vince Gill's harmony singer &
violinist. She made major contributions to the success of the Vince
Gill albums 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Records, 1991) & 'I Still Believe in
You' (MCA Records, 1992).
Andrea Zonn also made an invaluable contribution to
Bobbie
Cryner's self-titled debut album 'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993), providing
harmony vocals on two tracks ('Daddy laid the blues on me' & 'Leavin'
Houston blues').
Andrea also contributed 'You're gonna change (or I'm gonna leave)' for 'A
Picture of Hank: The New Bluegrass Way', a compilation album of Hank
Williams' songs performed bluegrass style, which was released by Mercury Records
in 1995.
In 2004, Andrea Zonn began concentrating on a solo recording career & saw
the release of her debut album 'Love Goes On' (Compass Records,
2004), the
title track of which was written by Ireland's Paul Brady.
The voice & fiddle of Andrea Zonn have graced recordings by Vince Gill,
Linda Ronstadt, George Jones, T-Bone Burnett,
Neil Diamond, Paul Brady, Amy Grant, Mickey Newbury, Tim O’Brien, Alison
Krauss, Sam Bush & Darrell Scott.
Some of the artists Andrea Zonn has toured with include Vince Gill, Lyle
Lovett, Tony Trischka, Trisha Yearwood, Alison Brown, Jerry Douglas & James
Taylor.
Andrea's debut release, 'Love Goes On', was met with critical acclaim,
including being named one of 2003's Top 10 new artists in the 'Country Music
Critics’ Poll'.
With an ardent sense of global awareness, Andrea Zonn co-produced 'Hands
Across the Water: A Benefit for the Children of the Tsunami'. As a
response to the Asian tsunami of 2004, the project featured collaborations
between American folk artists & their Celtic counterparts, including John
Prine, Rodney Crowell, Altan, Vince Gill, Lunasa, Cerys Matthews & Jackson
Browne. All proceeds from record sales were distributed to aid
children affected by the devastation.
Visit Andrea Zonn's Official Site
Visit Andrea Zonn's Official
MySpace Site