Gene Watson's Peers: Buddy Emmons
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 2004 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
Buddy Emmons, which he
submitted to this site on Thursday 23 September 2004.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Buddy Emmons who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online
'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Buddy Emmons
This quote was submitted on Thursday 23 September 2004
'There are but a handful of vocalists I’ve worked with
that bring out the best in me in a recording studio, and Gene Watson is one
of them.
To be one of the finest vocalists on the planet and to have the respect of
so many musicians, as well as his loyal fans, is something he should be very
proud of.
Thanks Gene, for the wonderful musical moments you have allowed me to share
with you'.
Thank you, Buddy Emmons, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Buddy Emmons...
Buddy Emmons has earned a place
among Nashville's elite as one of the finest steel guitar players in the
business. He was born in Mishawaka, Indiana & first fell in love with the
instrument at the age of eleven when he received a 6-string lap steel guitar as
a gift.
As a teenager, he enrolled at the Hawaiian Conservatory of Music in South
Bend, Indiana & began playing professionally in Calumet City & Chicago at
the age of 16. In 1956, Buddy went to Detroit to fill in for Walter Haynes
during a performance with Little Jimmy Dickens; soon afterwards, he was
invited to join Dickens' Country Boys. Buddy appeared with them a few times
on the Grand Ole Opry & recorded with them on a few singles, including
'Buddy's boogie' (1957). He also recorded a pair of solo singles for
Columbia, 'Cold rolled steel' in 1956 & 'Silver bells' in 1957.
In the late 1950s, Buddy began playing occasionally with Ernest Tubb's band
on Midnight Jamboree. In 1963, he began a five-year stint with Ray Price &
his Cherokee Cowboys & in 1965 he teamed up with fellow steel player Shot
Jackson to record the LP 'Steel Guitar & Dobro Sound'. This led the two to
create the Sho-Bud Company, which sold an innovative steel guitar that used
push-rod pedals.
In 1969, Buddy joined Roger Miller's Los Angeles-based band as a bass
player. When not touring with Roger, he did session work for a variety of
artists. Buddy quit Roger's band in 1973 & signed a solo contract, releasing
several albums in the late 1970s.
After 1978, Buddy began playing for a number of small labels, where he & Ray
Pennington occasionally collaborated with some of Nashville's finest sidemen
as the Swing Shift Band.
In 1993, Buddy began touring with the Everly Brothers. Throughout the 1990s,
he continued to do session work.
Buddy Emmons is one of the steel
guitar elite within the country music industry in Nashville & left his
indelible steel guitar sound on the following Gene Watson albums:
'Uncharted Mind' (Step One Records,
1993)
'The Good Ole Days' (Step One Records,
1996)
'Jesus is All I Need' (Step One Records,
1997)
'A Way to Survive' (Step One Records,
1997)
'From the Heart' (RMG Records,
2001)
'The Gospel Side of Gene Watson' (Intersound Records,
2004)
Visit Buddy Emmons' Official Site