Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Bill Mack: October 2005
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 Watson's Peers who were contacted during 2005 were most gracious with their time and words. It is here, within this special part of the Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Bill Mack, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 26 October 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Bill Mack who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Bill Mack
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 26 October 2005.
'Not long ago, during an interview, I was asked, 'Who do you rate as top-of-the-line 'country' singers? Of course, that's a tough question, when you consider the fact no time limit was placed in the frame-of-consideration. Certainly George Jones, Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982), Merle Haggard and several others crop into mind when I attempt to focus on top-of-the-line, authentic 'country' singers.
One name that will always be in that special line-up is Gene Watson. To me, Gene is a study in 'original authenticity'. When a Gene Watson tune hits the radio or CD unit, it's automatically recognized. He developed his phrasing and his styling, and stuck with it. That phrasing and styling has been a perfect blend since he first entered the entertainment scene, and it's still going strong today!
Want to hear a study in perfection? Listen to Gene Watson sing 'Love In The Hot Afternoon'. And, without exception, all of his other recordings have consisted of that same perfect blend. Gene Watson is a master at his calling'.
Thank you, Bill Mack, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Bill Mack...
Bill Mack was born in 1933 in Shamrock, a small town ninety miles east of Amarillo in Texas and his early passions included movies, church singing and writing.
Following a school field trip to radio station WRY in Oklahoma City, Bill Mack decided that he wanted to pursue a career in broadcasting. When radio came to Shamrock in the shape of radio station KEVA, he landed his first on-air job.
In 1953, at the age of twenty, Bill Mack moved to a daytime show on Amarillo's KAMQ where he met and interviewed country music stars, such as Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 - Tuesday 13 May 1975) and Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 - Thursday 6 September 1984).
Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 - Tuesday 13 May 1975) asked Bill to emcee his show at the Paramount Theatre in Amarillo.
The show was broadcast throughout Texas and Oklahoma and one of the radio stations which picked it up was KWFT in Wichita Falls who immediately offered Bill a job. KWFT was Bill Mack's base for the next seven years where he met future stars, including Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 - Sunday 25 October 1992) and Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977).
Bill Mack's next port of call was KDAV in Lubbock, Texas where one of his fellow deejays was Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002). Bill lived close to the Holley family and got to know them well and their pride in Buddy. It fell to Bill to make the announcement of the plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly (Monday 7 September 1936 - Tuesday 3 February 1959), Richie Valens and JP Richardson (Big Bopper) on Tuesday 3 February 1959, a date now referred to as 'The Day The Music Died'.
By 1960, Bill Mack was working for dedicated country music radio station KENS in San Antonio, Texas - a station with a 50,000 watt signal. In 1962, he moved to KCUL in Fort Worth, Texas.
In 1965, Bill Mack moved to radio station WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas where he hosted an all-night country show. The show proved so popular that in August 1970 WBAP transmuted itself into an all-country station. Bill was also the recipient of the Country Music Association (CMA) 'Disc Jockey of the Year' Award.
As a result of management decisions, Bill Mack was fired by WBAP in March 1982; for the next six years, he worked on his autobiography and for several radio stations.
In 1988, WBAP, which was now under new management, wooed Bill Mack back onto its airwaves with his ''All Night Trucking Show' which has continued ever since.
The song-writing side of Bill Mack began when he was thirteen years old. His best known compositions include 'Drinking Champagne' which George Strait took to No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1991, and 'Blue' which LeAnn Rimes had a hit with in 1996.
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 - Friday 12 September 2003) recorded Bill Mack's 'Singing Star's Queen', which was co-written with Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002), and included the track on 'Everybody Loves a Nut' (Columbia Records, 1966).
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002) recorded Bill Mack's 'John's Back In Town' (co-written with Waylon Jennings) and included the track on 'The One And Only' (RCA Camden, 1967).
Cal Smith recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'At Home With Cal' (Kapp Records, 1968).
Cal Smith recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'Drinking Champagne' (Kapp Records, 1968).
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'I've Got Precious Memories' (Mercury Records, 1969).
Gene Watson recorded Bill Mack's 'John's Back In Town', which was co-written with Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002), and included the track on a 45rpm vinyl single (Uni Records, 1969); the track was subsequently included on 'The Best of Gene Watson' (Capitol Records, 1978 and 1989).
Connie Smith recorded Bill Mack's 'Clinging To A Saving Hand' and included the track on 'Where Is My Castle' (RCA Records, 1971).
Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 - Monday 17 November 2003) recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'Touch The Morning / That's What I'll Do' (Hickory Records, 1973).
Jim Ed Brown recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'Barrooms And Pop-A-Tops' (RCA Records, 1973).
Cal Smith recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'It's Time To Pay The Fiddler' (MCA Records, 1975).
George Strait recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' and included the track on 'Livin' It Up' (MCA Records, 1990).
LeAnn Rimes recorded Bill Mack's 'Blue' and included the track on 'Blue' (Curb Records, 1996); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in 1996, and No.26 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart.
LeAnn Rimes' 'Blue' (Curb Records, 1996) also included 'One Way Ticket (Because I Can)' (written by Keith Hinton and Judy Rodman), which reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in 1996, along with 'The Light In Your Eyes' (written by Dan Tyler), which reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in 1997.
LeAnn Rimes recorded Bill Mack's 'Clinging To A Saving Hand' and included the track on 'You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs' (Curb Records, 1997).
The New Coon Creek Girls, featuring Dale Ann Bradley, recorded Bill Mack's 'Clinging To A Saving Hand' and included the track on 'Our Point Of View' (Pinecastle Records, 1998).
Willie Nelson recorded Bill Mack's 'Drinking Champagne' andd included the track on 'Country Music' (Rounder Records, 2010).
Visit Bill Mack's Official Site