Gene Watson's Peers: Buzz Cason
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 2006 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
Buzz Cason, which he submitted to
this site on Monday 8 May 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you'
to
Buzz Cason who has made a special
contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star
Hero'.
Buzz Cason
This quote was submitted on Monday 8 May 2006
'Gene Watson is by far in my top five favourite singers
of all fields combined! 'Fourteen carat mind' is, of course, a classic!
It was a real honour when he recorded 'The winds of change' which I co-wrote
with the highly talented
Kent Westberry. Best wishes with the website! It's
great to hear Gene on the Opry'.
Thank you, Buzz Cason, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Buzz Cason...
Buzz Cason, who was born James E
Cason on 27 November 1939, is a native of Inglewood, Tennessee & is a
legendary figure in country music circles. Buzz is a songwriter,
publisher, singer, session musician, producer, studio owner & onetime member
of The Crickets.
Buzz was a founding members of The Casuals, Nashville's first rock & roll
band. Together with Richard Williams & Hugh Jarrett of the
Jordanaires he recorded as The Statues for
Liberty Records. In 1960, Cason started a solo career under the
pseudonym Garry Miles & had a No.16 hit in 1960 with 'Look for a star'.
In 1962, Buzz worked as Snuff Garrett's assistant in Los Angeles. In
Nashville, he also worked for arranger Bill Justis. Later, Buzz wrote
songs together with Bobby Russell & both ran a publishing & record company
until 1974.
Buzz Cason's biggest hit as a writer was the song 'Everlasting love'
(recorded originally by Robert Knight), which was a No.1 hit in the United
Kingdom when covered by the Love Affair in February 1968 & a No.6 hit in the
US in 1974. It has logged over five million plays, according to BMI.
Cason was also a backing singer for Elvis Presley & Kenny Rogers.
In 1970, Buzz founded Creative Workshop, a comfortably up-to-date recording
studio, where Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed,
Merle Haggard, the Judds, the Doobie
Brothers, Emmylou Harris & Olivia Newton-John recorded material.
Since the mid-1980s, Buzz had his own rockabilly-styled group, B.C. & the
Dartz who released some albums.
As well as co-writing the pop standard 'Everlasting love', Buzz published
such classic country songs as Bobby Goldsboro's 'Honey' (No.1 for 3 weeks in
May/June 1968) & Roger Miller's 'Little green apples' (No.6, 1968).
His songs have been recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys, Freddy Weller, Tommy
Overstreet, Dolly Parton & Jerry Reed.
Buzz Cason's hit songs include Tommy Overstreet's 'Ann, don't go running'
(No.2, 1972), Oak Ridge Boys' 'Emmylou' (1972), TG Sheppard's 'Another
woman' (1975), Freddy Weller's 'Bar wars' (1979), the McCarters' 'Timeless &
true love' (No.5, 1988), Mel Tillis' 'A
million old goodbyes' (No.8, 1980), Keith Palmer's 'Forgotten but not gone'
(1991) & Martina McBride's 'Love's the only house' (No.3, 1999).
Gene Watson recorded Buzz Cason's 'The winds of change' (co-written with
Kent Westberry) & included the track on 'In
Other Words' (Broadland Records/Mercury Canada, 1992).
Visit Buzz Cason's Official Site