Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Billy Lawson: July 2009
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 2009 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 Billy Lawson, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 23 July 2009.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Billy Lawson who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Billy Lawson
This quote was submitted on Thursday 23 July 2009.
'When I heard Gene Watson had recorded '(You Might Need To) Use Me Again', that I wrote with Curly Putman and Dale Dodson, I was blown away!
I’ve been a big fan of his since 'Love In The Hot Afternoon'. If I had to name my top 5 country singers of all time, Gene Watson would be at the top!
I heard him back in June of this year (2009) and he still sounds like the 30-year old Gene Watson on my old 8-tracks I wore out in my 1969 AMC Javelin. He's still got it! He is smooth and has the emotion to make you believe he lived the song he just sang for you.
If life was fair, Gene Watson would be King and the country music Kingdom would be safe and sound!'
Thank you, Billy Lawson, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Billy Lawson...
Billy Lawson was born and raised in the Muscle Shoals area of northwest Alabama in a little town called Zip City. His next door neighbour was studio musician Junior Lowe, who played on some of the early R&B classics by artists such as Percy Sledge, Wilson Pickett, Clarence Carter and Aretha Franklin.
When Billy Lawson was nine or ten years old, Junior would let him sit in and sing with his band at The Ponderosa Club on the Alabama-Tennessee state line. This club was owned by W.R. Morris, the author of a biography on the legendary Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser, which was later made into a motion picture titled 'Walking Tall'.
Another friend of the family who influenced Billy Lawson was Carl Montgomery, the co-author of the truck driving hit 'Six Days On The Road'. Carl Montgomery was the brother of Earl 'Peanut' Montgomery, writer of thirty-eight singles by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), and Melba Montgomery, star of the Grand Ole Opry.
Billy Lawson knew three chords on his Silvertone and could sing along with Charley Pride, Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006) and Merle Haggard by the time he entered grade school. Wherever there was live music, that’s where you could find Billy Lawson, soaking it all up like a hungry sponge.
After high school, Billy Lawson started working the Alabama-Tennessee state line club and dance hall circuit with his band. One night, Larry Hamby, who was a CBS representative, came to a Muscle Shoals Club and signed Billy 'on the spot' to an album deal on Epic Records. The legendary Sam Phillips was there that night to put in a good word.
But, as luck would have it, Billy Lawson’s key man at Epic Records was moved to the West Coast and put in charge of the pop and rock music division of the label. Along with several other acts, Billy Lawson was lost in the shuffle.
Meanwhile, Muscle Shoals film maker Tonya Holley was casting for Orion Pictures. She had Billy come down and audition in Selma, Alabama for an up-coming movie staring Jessica Lange, Tommy Lee Jones and Powers Boothe. Billy and his band got the part and Jessica Lange received an Oscar for best actress in 'Blue Sky'.
During all of these experiences, Billy Lawson continued to write songs; songs that were good enough to get the attention of Sony/Tree publisher and producer Don Cook. It was Don who signed Billy Lawson one week and, by the next week, he had cuts on three major artists.
Rick Trevino recorded Billy Lawson's 'Learning As You Go' (co-written with Larry Boone) and included the track on 'Learning As You Go' (Sony Records, 1996); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1996.
Trace Adkins recorded Billy Lawson's 'I Left Something Turned On At Home' (co-written with John Schweers) and included the track on 'Dreamin' Out Loud' (Capitol Records, 1996); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1996.
Within a little over a year, Billy Lawson had achieved two No.1 Billboard country music hits; 'Learning As You Go' by Rick Trevino ('Learning As You Go, Sony Records, 1996) and 'I Left Something Turned On At Home' by Trace Adkins ('Dreamin' Out Loud', Capitol Records, 1996).
Billy Lawson also achieved a Billboard country music Top 20 hit with 'Irresistible You', which was recorded by Ty England, who included the track on 'Two Ways To Fall' (RCA Records, 1996).
Billy Lawson's 'He Ain't Even Cold Yet', which was recorded by Gretchen Wilson and included on 'All Jacked Up' album (Sony Records, 2005) was featured in an episode of HBO's highly acclaimed 'The Sopranos'.
The following is a list of some of the other country music artists who have recorded Billy Lawson's songs:
Mel McDaniel (Sunday 6 September 1942 - Thursday 31 March 2011) recorded Billy Lawson's 'That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Country Pride' (DPI Records, 1990).
Daron Norwood recorded Billy Lawson's 'Phantom Of The Opry' (co-written with John Schweers) and included the track on 'Daron Norwood' (Giant Records, 1994); the track was a duet with Travis Tritt.
Shenandoah recorded Billy Lawson's 'She Could Care Less' and included the track on 'In The Vicinity Of The Heart' (Liberty Records, 1994).
Bryan White recorded Billy Lawson's 'Eugene You Genius' (co-written with Lonnie Wilson) and included the track on 'Bryan White' (Elektra Records, 1994).
Lonestar recorded Billy Lawson's 'What Would It Take' (co-written with Sam Hogin and Wally Wilson) and included the track on 'Lonestar' (BNA Records, 1995).
Lonestar recorded Billy Lawson's 'Ragtop Cadillac' and included the track on 'Lonestar' (BNA Records, 1995).
Confederate Railroad recorded Billy Lawson's 'When He Was My Age' (co-written with Kenny Chesney and David Lowe) and included the track on 'When And Where' (Atlantic Records, 1995).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson's 'He Ain't Even Cold Yet' (co-written with Cyril Rawson) and included the track on 'Where Forever Begins' (Epic Records, 1995).
Joe Nichols recorded Billy Lawson's 'She Could Care Less' and included the track on 'Joe Nichols' (Intersound Records, 1996).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Billy Lawson's 'Labor Of Love' (co-written with Larry Boone) and included the track on 'Labor Of Love' (Mercury Records, 1997).
Tim McGraw recorded Billy Lawson's 'You Turn Me On' and included the track on 'Everywhere' (Curb Records, 1997).
Lee Ann Womack recorded Billy Lawson's 'Man Who Made My Mama Cry' (co-written with Dale Dodson and Lee Ann Womack) and included the track on 'Some Things I Know' (Decca Records, 1998).
Chalee Tennison recorded Billy Lawson's 'We Don't Have To Pay' (co-wriiten with Dale Dodson and Chalee Tennison) and included the track on 'This Woman's Heart' (Asylum Records, 2000).
John Anderson recorded Billy Lawson's 'You Ain't Hurt Nothin' Yet' (co-written with Al Anderson) and included the track on 'Nobody's Got It All' (Columbia Records, 2001).
Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw recorded Billy Lawson's 'Be My Reason' (co-written with Dale Dodson and John Northrup) and included the track on 'I Finally Found Someone' (RCA Records, 2001).
Charley Pride recorded Billy Lawson's 'That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'The Very Best of Charley Pride: 1987 - 1989' (Varese Sarabande Records, 2003).
George Strait recorded Billy Lawson's 'Look Who's Back From Town' (co-written with Dale Dodson) and included the track on 'Honkytonkville' (MCA Nashville, 2003).
Joe Nichols recorded Billy Lawson's 'If I Ever Get Her Back' (co-written with Billy Yates) and included the track on 'Revelation' (Universal South Records, 2004).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson's 'Climb My Tree' (co-written with John Northrup and Dean Dillon) and included the track on 'Sweet' (Home Records, 2004).
Sammy Sadler recorded Billy Lawson's 'That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Hard On A Heart' (Tri Records, 2004).
Ronnie Milsap recorded Billy Lawson's 'Somewhere Dry' (co-written with Wally Wilson) and included the track on 'My Life' (RCA Nashville, 2006).
Blake Shelton recorded Billy Lawson's 'She Can't Get That' (co-written with Wally Wilson) and included the track on 'Pure BS' (Warner Bros. Records, 2007).
Sarah Johns recorded Billy Lawson's 'That's Just Me Getting Over You' (co-written with Sarah Johns and Dale Dodson) and included the track on 'Big Love In A Small Town' (BNA Records, 2007).
Daryle Singletary recorded Billy Lawson's 'If I Ever Get Her Back' (co-written with Billy Yates) and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary recorded Billy Lawson's 'Real Estate Hands' (co-written with Terry Skinner) and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary recorded Billy Lawson's 'She's A Woman' (co-written with Daryle Singletary) and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary recorded Billy Lawson's 'She Sure Looks Good In Black' (co-written with Dale Dodson) and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary recorded Billy Lawson's 'They Know How To Grow 'Em' (co-written with Ed Hill) and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Gene Watson recorded 'Use Me Again' (co-written with Curly Putman and Dale Dodson) and included the track on 'A Taste of the Truth' (Shanachie Records, 2009).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson's 'I'm Just A House' (co-written with Ken Mellons) and included the track on 'Rural Route' (2010).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson's 'A Cold One Can't Cure' (co-written with Ken Mellons and John Northrup) and included the track on 'Rural Route' (2010).
Sammy Sadler recorded Billy Lawson's 'That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Heart Shaped Like Texas' (S Records, 2012).
Visit Billy Lawson's Official MySpace Site