Biography: 1960s

In January 1961, when he was 17 years old, Gene married Mattie Louise Bivins; they had two children - Gary Wayne was born in 1962 & Terri Lynn was born in 1964.  It was at this time that Gene had to lie about his age in order to get a job building missile silos in Abilene, Texas.  Five years later, in 1966, Gene moved to Dallas, where an uncle helped him get his first professional job as a singer at a club called The Palms.

However, Gene still didn't take the possibility of making a living at music seriously, until he moved to Houston where he formed a band called Gene Watson & The Other Four, a band that included one of his brothers (Eddie Watson on vocals) & three of his cousins (George Watson on drums, Pat Watson on bass guitar, and Donnie Watson on vocals, rhythm guitar & bass).

Gene & The Other Four landed a recording deal with Houston-based Tonka Records, for whom they recorded the songs 'If you can't come, just call', 'You're what's happened to me' & 'Please don't laugh at me'.  According to the information displayed on the Tonka record label, the first two tracks were written by Gene himself.

It was also at this time that Gene decided to drop Gary from his name.  Gene maintained that people were calling him Larry & Gerry, so he decided to use his middle name (Gene) instead - even then, people assumed his name was Eugene, which it wasn't.  The band, Gene Watson & the Other Four, however, did not last very long and was soon disbanded.

While in Houston, Gene found work as an auto body repairman & painter in order to support his wife & two children.  It was at this time that Gene experienced lots of lean times, and lived from hand to mouth & from apartment to apartment.  In order to make some extra money, Gene decided to form a new group which he called Hailball Express, in honour of a Ford automobile that he drove.  (Hailball is a local Texas expression for a hailstone).

It was while singing & performing with Hailball Express at The Dynasty Club in Houston that Gene came to the attention of two Houston businessmen, who were very impressed with Gene’s vocal prowess.  Gene had been performing at The Dynasty Club in Houston, Texas for most of the 1960s.

Russ Reeder was a record distributor and Roy Stone owned a record store. Together they formed Wide World Records which was based in Houston, Texas.  Wide World Records’ full address was 2817 Laura Koppe, Houston, Texas 77016.  Russ & Roy persuaded Gene to record, initially in Houston and later in Nashville.

Gene Watson’s initial release for Wide World Records was 'I’ll run right back to you' coupled with 'Autumn in June' in 1969, the latter track was in fact written by Gene’s cousin Bill Watson.  Both tracks were pleasant country ballads & were produced by the legendary producer Jack Clement.

Gene’s next single release coupled 'John's back in town' (a song composed by the late Waylon Jennings with Bill Mack, with 'Florence Jean'.  As it turned out, it was Waylon Jennings who had been one of the artists who had recorded 'Love in the hot afternoon' before Gene’s rendition of the song.  Waylon’s version of the track was never released as a single.

Details of further single releases, including 'The birds & the bees' coupled with 'My eyes are jealous', can soon be found on the Gene Watson vinyl singles discography page.

The quality of these initial vinyl singles from Gene Watson is first rate, in terms of musicianship, vocal prowess & production values.  Gene’s choice of song material from the very beginning of his career could never be faulted.

The popularity of Gene Watson, at least within the Houston area of Texas, was growing apace at this time, thanks to Houston radio stations KENR, KIKK & KNUS (who played his records on a regular basis) & because of Gene’s various personal appearances in the area.

It was while Gene was working at Wide World Records that he saw the release of his first full album of material - the self-titled debut album 'Gene Watson' was recorded & released in 1969.

Gene Watson Timeline...

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1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 - Present Day