Biography: 2000-present day

The country music industry finally recognised Gene Watson for his immense vocal talent by awarding him with the 'Male Golden Voice' Award at the 2nd Annual Golden Voice Awards.  The event was held on Monday 12 June 2000 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Centre in Nashville, Tennessee.

On Friday 1 September 2000, during a conversation prior to appearing on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry, Gene Watson had the following to say:

'I feel disappointment at the fact that most country music radio stations in the USA do not play my music & I wish that I could do something about it.  I feel that The Grand Ole Opry is so special because it was where country music began.  I put it above all other places & feel privileged when I play on its hallowed stage.

The first time I played at The Grand Ole Opry was in the 1960s when I played at the Ryman with The Wilburn Brothers.  I performed one song & received a standing ovation.  I then had to perform a second song, which was ‘It is no secret’.  I am working on a box set of material & hope to go back to the early labels & others that cannot be found.  I would love to record an album of Christmas material.  I feel that Merle Haggard can get more out of a phrase than anyone else & I would like to record with him one day'.

Gene Watson was diagnosed with colon cancer around October 2000.  Gene was, in fact, in Nashville performing on the Grand Ole Opry when he got the symptoms.  The guys in his Farewell Party Band got him on the bus & rushed him back to his home state of Texas.  Gene went to the hospital in his hometown & went through a series of tests.  It was in Houston (Texas) where he received a full diagnosis.  He had his cancer removed surgically and spent some time in the hospital recuperating.

The type of surgery performed on Gene was laparoscopic surgery, a procedure where Gene didn’t have to be cut open; the surgeon simply went in through a hole in him & removed the cancer surgically.  For insurance purposes, Gene underwent six months of chemotherapy, which made him feel quite ill to say the least.

In March 2001, Gene went back into hospital for a series of tests, in order to ascertain how his chemotherapy treatment was going.  Everything appeared to be fine & Gene felt good in himself.  Despite all the problems with his own health, Gene was concerned at this time about the musicians in his band.  Their own livelihoods were also in jeopardy during these frantic few months while Gene was ill & he felt immense loyalty & gratitude towards each & every member of his Farewell Party Band.

In April 2001, Gene signed a recording contract with the RMG (Row Music Group) Records label, which was owned jointly by fellow country music artist Eddy Raven & Texan businessman Larry Barnett & their respective wives.  It was through his involvement with RMG Records that Gene began to work alongside George Collier.

It was in June 2001 that Gene & the Farewell Party Band were back on the road & were undertaking as heavy a work schedule as they had been prior to Gene’s bout of ill health, so much so that Gene’s doctor advised him to take things a little easier.

Gene had to take a few days off & the fact that he was also traveling to Nashville to record his latest album didn’t help matters.  The album in question was 'From the Heart', which was released on RMG Records.  At the helm production-wise, once again, was Gene’s long-time friend & legendary singer/songwriter/producer Ray Pennington.

Ray came out of retirement especially to produce the album for Gene.  The 'From the Heart' album is a fine release & clearly demonstrates that Gene had lost none of his old magic.  The album demonstrates that Gene was a man of great strength & character, having undertaken the recording sessions during what was a quite traumatic period in his life.

In the latter part of 2001, a compilation album, 'Ultimate Collection', was released by Universal/Hip-o Records & afforded listeners the opportunity to enjoy a 23-track selection of Gene’s finest recordings from his days with Capitol, MCA, Epic & Warner Bros. Records.

The collection's 23 cuts include 15 of Gene's Top 10 singles in chronological sequence, beginning with his breakthrough hit 'Love in the hot afternoon' from 1975, through to 'Don't waste it on the blues' from 1988.

The release of the 'Ultimate Collection' reaffirms the case to have all Gene Watson material released on CD.

It has to be said that there are not many award trophies on Gene Watson's mantelpiece at home in Texas.  However, things changed for the better in 2002.  On Saturday 17 August Gene, along with fellow country music artists Tanya Tucker & Nat Stuckey (RIP), was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

2002 was also the year that saw the release, courtesy of Hux Records (in London, England), of a single CD containing the re-mastered versions of Gene's first & third Capitol Records albums ('Love in the Hot Afternoon' from 1975 & 'Paper Rosie' from 1977).

This release was lovingly produced with the original album artwork and comprehensive liner notes.  This release also proved to be a clear indication that there is a need to have all of Gene Watson's material presented in such a fashion.

On Wednesday 21 May 2003, Gene Watson signed a recording contract with Intersound Records, one of the four labels contained within the Compendia Music Group.

His debut album for the label, 'Gene Watson...Sings', was recorded in Nashville in June 2003 & was released the following September.  The album features the cream of Nashville’s session musicians and a wealth of strong, traditional country music.

One of the session musicians featured on the album is the legendary piano/keyboard player Hargus 'Pig' Robbins. Since Robbins' last recording session was in 2000, we can safely assume that the tracks contained on 'Gene Watson...Sings' were recorded at least three years prior to release.  Nevertheless, the album was worth waiting for, as it clearly demonstrates that Gene Watson can certainly hold his own among the country music artists of the day.

Gene Watson has survived the many changes that have taken place within the country music genre.  He has lived through its many phases - the Nashville Sound of the late 1950s & early 1960s, the Pop Country & Urban Cowboy eras of the mid 1970s, the Outlaw Movement of the late 1970s, along with the New Country period in the late 1980s & early 1990s.

Gene Watson has seen many fellow country music artists come & go; some have gone to that Grand Ole Opry in the sky while others have simply disappeared from the scene having enjoyed a small period of country music success.

Thankfully, Gene Watson is still here thrilling audiences with the majesty of his voice, whether on treasured recordings or on the concert trail.  Gene never imagined, back in those early days in the 1970s, that he would make a career out of country music.  Thankfully, against all the odds, Gene has done exactly that.  Let us all be grateful for the legacy of country music that Gene Watson has contributed to the genre.

Gene Watson Timeline...

Select the decade of your choice from the list below:
1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 - Present Day