Gene Watson's Peers: Harold Bradley
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 2007 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
Harold Bradley,
which he submitted to this site on Monday 5 February 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Harold Bradley
who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online
'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Harold Bradley
This quote was submitted on Monday 5 February 2007
'Gene Watson is one of the greatest & natural country
music singers of all time. I was very privileged to be his leader on some of
his hits.
When we did 'Farewell party' in one take, Gene turned my head when he hit
the high note on the end. He's been turning peoples heads ever since he
started his career'.
Thank you, Harold
Bradley, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Harold Bradley...
Harold Bradley
was born on 2 January 1926 in Nashville. His older brother, Owen (a member
of the Country Music Hall of Fame), was a strong early musical influence.
Although Owen had earned his spurs as a pianist, Harold was at first
fascinated by the banjo. However, he also began learning to play a guitar.
While still a teenager, Harold landed a much-coveted band spot with
legendary Ernest Tubb in 1943. After high school graduation, Harold joined
the navy.
Upon his discharge in 1946, he studied at George Peabody College under the
GI Bill. To enhance his income, however, Harold played on the Opry with Eddy
Arnold & Bradley Kincaid. Harold's first recording session took place on 17
December 1946 with Pee Wee King & the Golden West Cowboys in Chicago. Two
King songs on which Harold's contribution was notable are 'Texas Toni Lee' &
Tennessee Central Number Nine'.
Harold soon recorded with Red Sovine. The first million seller he was on was
Red Foley's 'Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy', recorded at Castle. Harold also
did one recording session with Hank Williams Senior.
As Nashville began to expand recording-wise, Harold began to be involved in
more sessions. He was on 'Jingle Bell Rock' & 'Fraulein' (both recorded by
Bobby Helms), 'I'm Sorry' & 'Rockin' around the Christmas Tree' (both
recorded by Brenda Lee), along with all of Patsy Cline's recording sessions
bar two.
Harold also played on such classic country tracks as 'Only the Lonely' (Roy
Orbison), 'Crazy' (Patsy Cline), 'Battle of Now Orleans' (Johnny Horton),
'Big Bad John' (Jimmy Dean), 'King of the Road' (Roger Miller), 'Harper
Valley PTA' (Jeannie C. Riley), 'Stand by your Man' (Tammy Wynette), 'Make
the World go Away' (Eddy Arnold), 'Coal Miner's Daughter' (Loretta Lynn),
'Ebony Eyes' (Everly Brothers) & 'Swinging' (John Anderson).
Among the cinematic soundtracks boasting Harold Bradley's touch are 'Kissin'
Cousins', 'Clambake', 'Stay Away Joe', 'The Fastest Guitar Alive',
'Sugarland Express', 'A Walk in the Spring Rain', 'Tick, Tick, Tick',
'Breathless', 'Smokey & the Bandit II', 'Coal Miner's Daughter', 'Six-pack',
'Missing' & 'Sweet Dreams'. Harold also appeared briefly In Robert Altman's
award-winning movie 'Nashville' in 1975.
Harold worked with Elvis Presley from 1962 until 1967, a period during which
he had ten No.1 songs. Elvis was one of twenty-five musicians in the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame with whom Bradley worked.
Harold Bradley can be heard on some of Elvis Presley's records & movie
soundtracks as well as those of such entertainers as Perry Como, Buddy
Holly, Pee Wee King, George Morgan, Hank Williams Senior, Burl Ives, Connie
Francis, Hank Snow, Jim Reeves, Charley Pride, Leon Russell, Marty Robbins,
Freddie Hart, Conway Twitty & Roy Clark.
Artists Harold has represented or produced personally include Byron & Slim
Whitman, Eddy Arnold & Ireland's Sandy Kelly.
Harold Bradley can boast a trio of his own albums on the Columbia Records
label, namely 'The Bossa Nova Goes to Nashville' (1963), 'Misty Guitar'
(1966) & 'Guitar for Lovers Only' (1966).
Harold Bradley's musical input can be heard on Bear Family Records'
ambitious four-compact disc set 'Webb Pierce: The Wandering Boy, 1951-1958'
which was released in 1990, and on Alan Jackson's 'Here in the Real World' (Arista
Records, 1991).
Three tracks ('The old man & his horn', 'Cowboys don't get lucky all the
time' & 'I won't be sleeping alone') from Gene Watson's 'Beautiful
Country' (Capitol Records, 1977) were recorded at Bradley's Barn in
Mount Juliet, Tennessee in 1977.
Harold Bradley's brother Owen (21 October 1915 - 7 January 1998) had
purchased a farm outside of Nashville in 1961 & had converted a barn into a
demo studio. Within a few years, 'Bradley's Barn' had become a
legendary recording venue within country music circles.
Harold Bradley was also a session musician on the following Gene Watson
albums:
'Reflections' (Capitol Records, 1978): Rhythm
Guitar & Lead Guitar)
'Should I Come Home' (Capitol Records, 1979):
Rhythm Guitar & Lead Guitar
'No One will Ever Know' (Capitol Records, 1980):
Rhythm Guitar & Lead Guitar
'Between this Time & the Next Time' (MCA Records,
1981): Acoustic Guitar & Electric Guitar
'Old Loves Never Die' (MCA Records, 1981):
Guitar & Mandolin
'This Dream's on Me' (MCA Records, 1982):
Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar & Bass
Harold Bradley is the Nashville native who holds down the Presidency of the
Nashville Association of Musicians Local 257
& is the man who may be the most recorded guitarist in history.
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