Gene Watson: Hall of Fame Exhibit
On Monday 22 September 2008, it was announced that Gene Watson would be the
subject of a special Spotlight Exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in
Nashville.
Country Music Hall of Fame:
'Gene Watson: Fourteen Carat Voice' Exhibit
Monday 20 October 2008 - Thursday 24 September 2009
On Tuesday 25 March 2008, Gene Watson donated several items to the Country
Music Hall of Fame & Museum's Frist Library & Archives; the donation took
place during a taping of GAC's 'Master Series' & was aired on the GAC (Great
American Country) television network.
The 'Gene Watson: Fourteen Carat Voice' Exhibit, which opened in
Nashville on Monday 20 October
2008, closed on Thursday 24 September 2009.
Special Note from the Country Music
Hall of Fame Museum, Nashville
(received on Monday 14 September 2009)
Courtesy of Sarah Brosmer,
Lytle Management,
Nashville
'Just a
quick 'howdy'
to let you & Gene know that we
will be taking his Spotlight
Exhibit down on
Thursday 24 September 2009.
We loved having that opportunity to share some of his things
with our visitors. Beyond
that, we have plans to incorporate Gene into our larger exhibit,
'Sing Me Back Home',
when we revamp that next spring. So,
his absence from our displays is only temporary!'
'Gene Watson: Fourteen Carat Voice' explores
Watson's career as a soulful vocalist rooted in the classic country
tradition, beginning with his steamy 1975 hit 'Love in the Hot Afternoon'.
In the exhibit, Watson's musical consistency is juxtaposed with his
wardrobe's evolution. Stage costumes on display trace his 1970s clean-cut
persona and attention-grabbing stage wear to a more relaxed look through the
1980s.
Watson scored a string of honky-tonk-styled hits
throughout the late '70s and into the '80s that included 'Farewell Party',
'Fourteen Carat Mind', 'Paper Rosie' and 'Memories to Burn'. Since winning
his battle with cancer in 2001, Watson continues to showcase his smooth,
clear tenor voice on albums such as 'In a
Perfect World' (Shanachie Records,
2007).
Artifacts in the exhibit include:
Gene Watson Fan Site 1970s green suit with rhinestones & musical-note
embroidery, designed by Nudie's Rodeo Tailors;
Burgundy stage costume designed by Judy of Nashville with distinctive
diamond shaped patterns embellished with rhinestones and ruby stones;
Suede cowboy hat with decorative pins that is featured on his 'Between
This Time & the Next Time' album (MCA Records, 1981);
Floral-print western shirt from the early 1980s and hand tailored patchwork
boots
You can view a special
gallery of all the artifacts that Gene Watson contributed to the Country
Music Hall of Fame
here.
Gene Watson visited the Country Music Hall of Fame on Friday 20 February
2009 to view the 'Gene Watson: Fourteen Carat Voice' Exhibit; Gene's visit
made the front page of 'Music Row' magazine.
Source
Sarah Brosmer, Lytle Management,
Nashville
Country Music Hall of Fame -
Gene Watson Spotlight Exhibit
