Gene Watson's Peers: Byron Hill
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 2005 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 Byron Hill, which he submitted to this site on
Thursday 28 April 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Byron Hill who has
made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of
a Lone Star Hero'.
Byron Hill
This quote was submitted on Thursday 28 April 2005
'Any true country songwriter should feel that his life
is complete if Gene Watson records one of his songs, for Gene Watson is
perhaps the finest voice in country music.
I don't think I have ever had a song of mine generate more chatter out there
on radio than 'No trash in my trailer'. Nashville's WSM (Radio) spearheaded
the flag-waving, which made this song become sort of an underground die-hard
country anthem. Though the record charted, it never competed with the stuff
that was taking over the country chart at the time.
Gene Watson has always been among the top on my list of great country
singers. To be able to say that Gene recorded one of my songs is worth more
than the royalties it should have earned. This was a novelty song, and
something quite different for Gene to do, but I appreciate him taking the
chance'.
Thank you, Byron Hill, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Byron Hill...
Byron Hill is from
Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He moved to Nashville in April 1978 & signed
his first song-writing contract with ATV Music Group in September of that
year.
Joe Sun recorded Byron Hill's 'Out of your mind' &
included the track on 'Out of Your Mind' (Ovation Records, 1979)
The hits started happening for Byron as a writer in 1979 with Joe Sun's 'Out
of your mind' & in 1981 with Johnny Lee's 'Pickin' up strangers'.
Byron
Hill co-wrote George Strait's first No.1; 'Fool hearted memory'
spent one week at No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in
August/September 1982. Please note the photo (above) of Byron Hill &
George Strait (that's Gene Watson in the top left-hand corner of the
picture!).
Many other early cuts include recordings by artists such as Ray Charles,
Juice Newton, Conway Twitty, Mel McDaniel, Ricky Skaggs,
Margo Smith & Reba McEntire.
Reba McEntire recorded Byron Hill's 'Out of the
blue' (co-written with Robert A. Johnson) & included the track on
'Unlimited' (Mercury Records, 1982)
Ed Bruce recorded Byron Hill's 'Nights' (co-written
with Tony Hiller) & included the track on 'Night Things' (RCA Records, 1986)
In 1984, after the sale & closure of ATV Music, Byron spent four years as an
independent songwriter & publisher, writing the Ed Bruce hit 'Nights'
(No.4, 1986),
as well as songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray,
George Jones & Tom Wopat.
Ray Charles recorded Byron Hill's 'The pages of my
mind' (co-written with J Remington Wilde) & included the track on 'From The
Pages of My Mind' (Columbia Records, 1986)
Kenny Rogers recorded Byron Hill's 'People in love'
(co-written with Mike Dekle) & included the track on 'The Heart of The
Matter' (Liberty Records, 1985)
In 1988, Byron signed as a staff writer for Collins Music, an association
that yielded Alabama's 'Born country', the hit 'Alright already' for Larry
Stewart, along with cuts for artists such as Asleep at the Wheel, Barbara Mandrell &
Randy Travis.
Keith Whitley recorded Byron Hill's 'A day in the
life of a fool' (co-written with Mike Dekle) & included the track on 'Don't
Close Your Eyes' (RCA Records, 1988)
Randy Travis recorded Byron Hill's 'Card carryin'
fool' (co-written with Tim Boys) & included the track on 'No Holdin' Back'
(Warner Bros. Records, 1989)
Alabama recorded Byron Hill's 'Born country' &
included the track on 'Greatest Hits, Volume 2' (RCA Records, 1991)
Kenny Rogers recorded Byron Hill's 'Someone must feel like a fool tonight'
(co-written with Mike Dekle) & included the track on 'Back Home Again'
(Reprise Records, 1991)
Kenny Rogers recorded Byron Hill's 'Some prisons don't have walls'
(co-written with Mike Dekle) & included the track on 'Back Home Again'
(Reprise Records, 1991)
In 1992, Byron signed with MCA Music Nashville, where he landed singles by
Tracy Byrd ('Lifestyles of the not so rich & famous'),
Neal McCoy ('If I was
a drinkin' man'), George Jones ('High-tech redneck'),
Sammy Kershaw
('Politics, religion & her') & River Road ('I broke it, I'll fix it').
Larry Stewart recorded Byron Hill's 'Alright
already' (co-written with JB Rudd) & included the track on 'Down The Road'
(RCA Records, 1993); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music
singles chart in 1993
George Jones recorded Byron Hill's 'High tech
redneck' (co-written with Zack Turner) & included the track on 'High Tech
Redneck' (MCA Records, 1993); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard Hot
Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994
Clay
Walker recorded Byron Hill's 'White
palace' (co-written with Zack Turner) &
included the track on 'Rumor Has It' (Giant Records, 1993)
Tracy Byrd recorded Byron Hill's 'Lifestyles of the
not so rich & famous' (co-written with Wayne Tester) & included the track on
'No Ordinary Man' (MCA Records, 1994); the track reached No.4 on the
Billboard country music singles chart in 1994
Tracy Byrd recorded Byron Hill's 'Redneck roses'
(co-written with Tracy Byrd) & included the track on 'No Ordinary Man' (MCA
Records, 1994); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music
singles chart in 1994
Anne Murray recorded Byron Hill's 'Over you' (co-written with Tony Hiller) &
included the track on 'The Best...So Far' (Capitol Records, 1994)
Rhett Akins recorded Byron Hill's 'A thousand
memories' (co-written with Rhett Akins) & included the track on 'A Thousand
Memories' (Decca Records, 1995)
Rhett Akins recorded Byron Hill's 'Same ol' story'
(co-written with Rhett Akins) & included the track on 'A Thousand Memories'
(Decca Records, 1995)
Tracy Byrd recorded Byron Hill's 'Walkin' in' (co-written with Zack Turner)
& included the track on 'Love Lessons' (MCA Records, 1995)
Gary Allan recorded Byron Hill's 'Of all the hearts' (co-written with
Remington Wilde) & included the track on 'Used Heart For Sale' (Decca
Records, 1996)
Sammy Kershaw recorded Byron Hill's
'Politics, religion & her' (co-written with Tony Martin) & included the
track on 'Politics, Religion & Her' (Mercury Records, 1996)
Trace Adkins recorded Byron Hill's 'Took
her to the moon' (co-written with Mark Nesler) &
included the track on 'Big Time' (Capitol Records, 1997)
In December 1998, Byron signed with Starstruck Writers Group in Nashville,
which was sold (in October 2000) to Warner Chappell Music.
Toby Keith recorded Byron Hill's 'Hold you, kiss you, love you'
(co-written with Jack Jones & Frank M. Jones) & included the track on 'How Do You
Like Me Now' (DreamWorks Records, 1999)
In January 2003,
Byron signed with Almo Irving Music. However, Almo Irving closed in October
of that year & consolidated with Universal Music Publishing Group, where
Byron became a staff songwriter.
Byron Hill's songs have generated more than 544 recordings, earning 71 RIAA
certified Gold & Platinum Awards, 9 ASCAP Awards, 20 U.S. & Canadian Top 10
chart hits including 6 No.1's.
Byron Hill has also had his songs recorded by Joe Nichols,
Rhonda Vincent,
Lantana & Hot Apple Pie. His work as a producer includes three albums for
Gary Allan (on Decca Records) & an album for Kathy Mattea (on Mercury
Records).
Byron Hill has also enjoyed a long-time producer/co-writer association with
singer/songwriter Mike Dekle which includes four albums.
Gene Watson recorded Byron Hill's 'No trash in my trailer' (co-written with
Mike Dekle) & included the track on 'From the
Heart' (RMG Records, 2001)
Joe Nichols recorded Byron Hill's 'Joe's
place' (co-written with Mike Dekle) & included the track on 'Man With A
Memory' (Universal South Records, 2002)
Joe Nichols
recorded Byron Hill's 'Things like that (these
days)' (co-written with Mike Dekle)
& included the track on 'Revelation' (Universal South Records, 2004)
Randy Travis recorded Byron Hill's 'A place to hang my heart' (co-written
with Shawn Camp & Brice Long) & included the
track on 'Passing Through' (Word/Warner Bros/Curb Records, 2005)
Joe Nichols
recorded Byron Hill's 'Size matters (someday)' (co-written with Mike Dekle)
& included the track on 'III' (Universal South Records, 2005); the track
reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 2005
Rodney Hayden recorded Byron Hill's 'Whoever wrote this song' (co-written
with Rodney Hayden) & included the track on 'Down The Road' (Palomino
Records, 2007)
Visit Byron Hill's Official Site
