Helen Cornelius (October 2006)
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
Helen Cornelius' quote, which
she submitted to this site on Saturday 21 October 2006.
I (Sean Brady)
would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Helen Cornelius who has made a special contribution to a unique part
of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
 Helen
Cornelius
This quote was submitted on Saturday 21 October 2006
'As
one of Gene's fellow country performers,
I must say that he is without a doubt,
one of the finest vocalists anyone could
hope to hear.
His range, his soul,
his distinctive styling; none better
anywhere. Hats off to Gene
Watson!'
About Helen Cornelius...
Helen Cornelius
grew up on a farm in Missouri, where she listened to
the Grand Ole Opry on radio & sang with her sisters,
accompanied by her brothers who played in country
bands. Helen made her musical debut at the age
of five & won numerous talent contests, including
three winning appearances on 'The Ted Mack Amateur
Hour' in
1970.
Initially it was Helen's song-writing that swung
open the doors along the corridors of Nashville's
Music Row. By the mid-1970s, her songs were
being recorded by a number of major artists,
including The Oak Ridge Boys, Reba McEntire, Jeannie
C.
Riley, Connie Smith, Charlie Louvin
& Melba Montgomery and LaCosta.
Helen's writing first won her major credibility, but
it was her voice that RCA Record executives heard that won Helen her first major
recording contract in 1975. It was producer Bob Ferguson who suggested
that Helen team up with fellow country performer Jim Ed Brown. They
enjoyed a major hit with their first recording - 'I don't want to
have to marry you' spent two weeks at No.1 in September 1976.
In 1977, Helen & Jim Ed earned a Vocal Duo of the
Year Award from the Country music Association.
Together they earned six more Top 10 singles
including 'Saying hello, saying I love you, saying
goodbye' (No.2, 1977), 'Lying in love with you'
(No.2, 1977) & 'Fools' (No.3, 1978).
Following four successful years together, Helen &
Jim Ed went their separate ways in 1980. Helen
went on to headline her own solo tours & co-starred
with Dave Rowland, of Dave & Sugar, in a touring
production of 'Annie Get Your Gun' in 1984.
Following the closure of the 'Annie Get Your Gun'
touring schedule, Helen went on tour with
The Statler Brothers on their sell-out
concert series for a period of two years, as well as
continuing her individual concert dates.
In 1988, Helen & Jim Ed returned to touring as a
duo. In 1991, Helen opened a
dinner theatre in Gatlinburg,
Tennessee & in 1997 joined forces with Jim Ed Brown
& Con Hunley to perform
at the Eagle Mountain Theatre in Pigeon Forge, also
in Tennessee.
In May 2005, Helen was honoured by the State of
Missouri when she was inducted into the Missouri
Country Music Hall of Fame during a ceremony in
Springfield.
Visit Helen Cornelius'
Official Website
Gene Watson's Peers...
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