Gene Watson's Peers: Billy Lawson
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 2009 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
Billy Lawson, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 23 July 2009.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Billy Lawson who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online
'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Billy Lawson
This quote was submitted on Thursday 23 July 2009
'When I heard Gene Watson had recorded '(You might need
to) Use me again', that I wrote with Curly Putman &
Dale Dodson, I was blown away!
I’ve been a big fan of his since 'Love in the hot afternoon'. If I had
to name my top 5 country singers of all time, Gene Watson would be at the
top!
I heard him back in June of this year (2009) & he still sounds like the
30-year old Gene Watson on my old 8-tracks I wore out in my 1969 AMC
Javelin. He's still got it! He is smooth & has the emotion to
make you believe he lived the song he just sang for you.
If life was fair, Gene Watson would be King & the country music Kingdom
would be safe & sound!'
Thank you, Billy Lawson for your support of Gene Watson.
About Billy Lawson...
Billy Lawson
was born & raised in the Muscle Shoals area of northwest
Alabama in a little town called Zip City. His next door neighbour was studio
musician Junior Lowe, who played on some of the early R&B classics by
artists such as Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter & Aretha
Franklin.
When Billy was nine or ten years old, Junior would let him sit in
& sing with his band at the Ponderosa Club on the Alabama-Tennessee state
line. This club was owned by W.R. Morris, the author of a biography on the
legendary Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser, which was later made into a
motion picture titled 'Walking Tall'.
Another friend of the family who influenced Billy Lawson was Carl Montgomery, the
co-author of the truck driving hit 'Six days on the road'. Carl was the
brother of Earl 'Peanut' Montgomery, writer of thirty-eight singles by
George Jones,
and Melba Montgomery, star of the Grand Ole Opry.
Billy knew three chords on his Silvertone & could sing along with Charley
Pride, Buck Owens & Merle Haggard by the time he entered grade school.
Wherever there was live music, that’s where you could find Billy soaking it
all up like a hungry sponge.
After high school, Billy started working the Alabama-Tennessee state line
club & dance hall circuit with his band. One night, Larry Hamby, who
was a CBS
representative, came to a Muscle Shoals Club & signed Billy 'on the spot'
to an album deal on Epic Records. The legendary Sam Phillips was there that
night to put in a good word.
But, as luck would have it, Billy’s key man at
Epic Records was moved to the West Coast & put in charge of the pop & rock
music division of the label. Along with several other acts, Billy was lost in the
shuffle. Meanwhile, Muscle Shoals film maker Tonya Holley was casting for
Orion Pictures. She had Billy come down & audition in Selma, Alabama for an
up-coming movie staring Jessica Lange, Tommy Lee Jones & Powers Boothe.
Billy & his band got the part & Jessica Lange received an Oscar for best
actress in 'Blue Sky'.
During all of these experiences, Billy Lawson continued to write songs; songs that
were good enough to get the attention of Sony/Tree publisher & producer
Don Cook. It was Don who signed Billy one week and, by the next week,
he had cuts on
three major artists.
Within a little over a year, Billy Lawson had achieved two No.1
Billboard country music hits namely 'Learning as you go' by Rick Trevino ('Learning
As You Go, Sony Records,
1996) & 'I left something turned on at home' by
Trace Adkins ('Big Time', Capitol
Records, 1996).
Billy also
achieved a Top 20 hit with 'Irresistible you' by Ty England ('Two
Ways to Fall', RCA Records, 1996). Billy's song
'He ain't even cold yet', which was recorded by Gretchen Wilson
('All Jacked Up', Sony Records, 2005) was
featured in an episode of HBO's 'The Sopranos'.
The following is a list of some of the other country music artists that have recorded
Billy Lawson's songs:
Mel McDaniel:
'That ole gravel road (was easy street)' (co-written with Roger
Murrah)
'Country Pride'
(DPI Records, 1991)
Daron Norwood: 'Phantom of the Opry' (duet with
Travis Tritt) (co-written with John Schweers)
'Daron Norwood'
(Giant Records, 1994)
Shenandoah: 'She could care less'
'In the Vicinity of the Heart' (Liberty Records, 1994)
Lonestar: 'What would it take' (co-written with
Sam Hogin & Wally Wilson) & 'Ragtop Cadillac'
'Lonestar' (BNA Records, 1995)
Confederate Railroad: 'When he was my age'
(co-written with Kenny Chesney & David Lowe)
'When & Where' (Atlantic Records, 1995)
Sammy Kershaw: 'Labor
of love' (co-written with Larry Boone)
'Labor of Love' (Mercury Records, 1997)
Tim McGraw: 'You turn me on'
'Everywhere' (Curb Records, 1997)
Lee Ann Womack: 'Man
who made my mama cry' (co-written with Dale
Dodson & Lee Ann Womack)
'Some Things I Know' (Decca Records, 1998)
Chalee Tennison: 'We don't have to pay' (co-wriiten
with Dale Dodson & Chalee Tennison)
'This Woman's Heart'
(Asylum Records, 2000)
John Anderson: 'You ain't hurt nothin' yet'
(co-written with Al Anderson)
'Nobody's Got It All' (Columbia Records, 2001)
Lorrie Morgan & Sammy Kershaw:
'Be my reason' (co-written with Dale Dodson
& John Northrup)
'I Finally Found Someone' (RCA Records, 2001)
Charley Pride:
'That ole gravel road (was easy street)' (co-written with Roger
Murrah)
'The Very Best of Charley Pride: 1987 - 1989'
(Varese Sarabande Records, 2003)
George Strait: 'Look who's back from town'
(co-written with Dale Dodson)
'Honkytonkville' (MCA Nashville, 2003)
Ken Mellons: 'Climb my
tree' (co-written with John Northrup & Dean Dillon)
'Sweet'
(Home Records, 2004)
Ronnie Milsap: 'Somewhere dry' (co-written with
Wally Wilson)
'My Life' (RCA Nashville, 2006)
Blake Shelton: 'She can't get that' (co-written
with Wally Wilson)
'Pure BS' (Warner Bros. Records, 2007)
Daryle Singletary: 'If I ever get her back'
(co-written with Billy Yates),
'Real estate hands' (co-written with Terry
Skinner), 'She's a woman' (co-written with
Daryle Singletary), 'She sure looks good in black'
(co-written with Dale Dodson) &
'They know how to grow 'em' (co-written with Ed
Hill)
'Rockin' in the Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009)
Gene Watson: 'Use me again'
(co-written with Curly Putman & Dale Dodson)
'A Taste of the Truth' (Shanachie Records, 2009)
Visit Billy Lawson's Official
MySpace Site