Gene Watson's Peers: Carl Jackson
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
Carl Jackson, which he submitted to
this site on Saturday 21 October 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Carl Jackson who has made a special
contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star
Hero'.
Carl Jackson
This quote was submitted on Saturday 21 October 2006
'I'm happy to say something about Gene. He's a good
friend and a wonderful person.
Gene Watson is one of the best country singers of our time...period'.
Thank you, Carl Jackson, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Carl Jackson...
Carl Jackson, an accomplished bluegrass instrumentalist & songwriter, is a
native of Louisville, Mississippi where, at the age of five, he was taught
how to play the banjo.
While playing in his father's bluegrass band at the age of fourteen, Carl
was approached by Jim & Jesse to join their backing group, the Virginia
Boys. He accepted & spent most of his teenage years playing banjo for Jim &
Jesse & other groups at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
After he left school, Carl recorded his first solo album; 'Bluegrass
Festival' was released in 1971 on the independent Prize label. It was
also in 1971 that Carl joined the Sullivan Family, but after less than a
year, he moved to Ohio to form the Country Store with Keith Whitley (RIP) &
Jimmy Gaudreau.
In 1972, Carl met Larry McNeely, Glen Campbell's banjo player, who was about
to leave Glen's group. Carl was immediately recruited as Larry's replacement
& remained part of Glen's entourage until 1984.
In 1973, Carl Jackson was signed to Capitol Records & saw the release of his
debut album 'Banjo Player' (Capitol Records, 1973).
In 1981, Carl Jackson signed with Sugar Hill & released 'Banjo Man', his
tribute album to Earl Scruggs. In 1982, he released 'Songs of the South' &
in 1983 he joined forces with old friends Jim & Jesse for the 'Banjo Hits'
album.
After signing with Columbia Records in 1984, Carl left Glen Campbell & began
to hit the charts, his Lefty Frizzell cover 'She's gone, gone, gone'
reaching No.44 in 1984. Carl was also the writer of '(Love always) letter to
home', which peaked in the Top 15 for Glen Campbell in May 1984.
During the course of the late 1980s, Carl Jackson's rich harmony vocals
brightened recordings by Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs,
Vince Gill, Garth
Brooks, Roger Miller RIP & many other acts.
In the 1990s, Carl Jackson began to be rewarded for his years of work; he
earned the International Bluegrass Association's 'Song of the Year' Award in
1990 for 'Little Mountain Church House', which was recorded by Ricky Skaggs
& the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band & included on the acclaimed 'Will the Circle be
Unbroken, Volume 2' (MCA Nashville, 1989).
In 1991, Cark Jackson won a 'Best Bluegrass Album' Grammy Award (with John
Starling & the Nash Ramblers) for the equally acclaimed 'Spring Training'
(Sugar Hill Records, 1991).
In 2004, Carl Jackson received an 'International Bluegrass Music
Association' Award for his work producing the 'Livin', Lovin', Losin - Songs
of the Louvin Brothers' tribute album (Universal South Records, 2003).
Carl Jackson played acoustic guitar on 'You cant take it with you when you
go', which was included on Gene Watson's 'At Last'
(Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Visit Carl Jackson's Official Site