Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Buddy Cannon: August 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 Buddy Cannon, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 5 August 2009.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Buddy Cannon who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Buddy Cannon with George Strait
Buddy Cannon
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 5 August 2009.
'Gene Watson's voice is one which, like that of George Jones and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) is the definition of country music.
As a songwriter, I have had the honour of having Gene record a song or two of mine and those cuts rank among my most favourite throughout my career'.
Thank you, Buddy Cannon, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Buddy Cannon...
Buddy Cannon, who was born in Lexington, Tennessee is an American country music songwriter and record producer. Active since the late 1970s, he is known primarily for his work as Kenny Chesney's record producer, for which he won the Academy of Country Music's 'Producer Of The Year' Award in 2006.
As a producer of chart-topping hits by artists including Kenny Chesney, Chely Wright, John Michael Montgomery and Reba McEntire, Buddy Cannon’s talent in the recording studio continues to speak for itself.
Buddy Cannon is also a wizard behind the console, considering his many years of experience in all aspects of the business, from session background vocalist and band-member, to master songwriter and publishing company executive.
Buddy Cannon has a knack for selecting and producing artists and their hits and has helped launch the careers of mega-stars such as Shania Twain, Sammy Kershaw and Billy Ray Cyrus; his song-writing prowess has provided numerous hit songs for everyone from Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Mel Tillis to Alabama and George Strait.
Buddy Cannon first earned his musical stripes in the early 1970s as the bass player in Grand Ole Opry star Bob Luman’s band. His song-writing ability turned the head of Mel Tillis (CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1976), who promptly hired Buddy to work in his band and with his publishing company.
During their eleven-year association, Mel Tillis recorded several of Buddy Cannon’s compositions.
Mel Tillis recorded Buddy Cannon’s 'I Believe In You' (co-written with Gene Dunlap) and included the track on 'I Believe In You' (MCA Records, 1978); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in July 1978.
After the acquisition of Mel Tillis’ publishing interests by PolyGram, Buddy Cannon was hired by PolyGram’s Mercury Records as Director of A&R for the company.
During his six-year stint at Mercury Records, Buddy Cannon was instrumental in bringing such stars as Shania Twain, Sammy Kershaw and Billy Ray Cyrus to the record label.
Buddy Cannon produced several Billboard No.1 country music hits for Sammy Kershaw during this period, including 'She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful', 'National Working Woman’s Holiday' and 'Cadillac Style'.
Buddy Cannon was eventually recruited as VP/A&R for Polydor/Nashville where, among the acts he brought into the label, was a fledgling group of kids named The Moffits, who later went on to achieve international pop success. Buddy Cannon later elected to leave that position in 1995 to pursue independent production projects.
Along with his work with Sammy Kershaw, Buddy Cannon was also at the production helm of the following albums:
George Jones' 'High Tech Redneck' (MCA Records, 1993)
Kenny Chesney's 'Me & You' (BNA Records, 1996)
Kenny Chesney's 'I Will Stand' (BNA Records, 1997)
Sara Evans' 'No Place That Far' (RCA Records, 1998)
Chad Brock's 'Chad Brock' (Warner Bros. Records, 1998)
Chely Wright's 'Single White Female' (MCA Records, 1999)
Kenny Chesney's 'Everywhere We Go' (BNA Records, 1999)
John Michael Montgomery's 'Brand New Me' (Atlantic Records, 2000)
Chad Brock's 'Yes' (Warner Bros. Records, 2000)
Kenny Chesney's 'No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem' (BNA Records, 2002)
Kenny Chesney's 'When the Sun Goes Down' (BNA Records, 2004)
Charlie Sizemore Band's 'Good News' (Rounder Records, 2007)
Buddy Cannon can also boast of a very impressive personal song catalogue, including the following compositions:
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 - Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Have You Ever Said I Love You To A Lady' (co-written with Steve Smith) and included the track on 'Neither One Of Us' (Epic Records, 1973).
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 - Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Baby Made It Good' (co-written with Steve Smith) and included the track on 'Neither One Of Us' (Epic Records, 1973).
Don Williams recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Woman, You Should Be In Movies' and included the track on 'Portrait' (MCA Records, 1979).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon's 'I Get Along With You' (co-written with Dean Dillon and Frank Dycus) and included the track on 'Strait Country' (MCA Records, 1981).
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Dream Of Me' and included the track on 'Today My World Slipped Away' (A & M Records, 1983).
Gene Watson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Ain't No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone' (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Set 'Em Up, Joe', which was co-written with Hank Cochran, Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Dean Dillon), and included the track on 'Chiseled In Stone' (Columbia Records, 1988).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Is It That Time Again', which was co-written with Dean Dillon and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), and included the track on 'If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' (MCA Records, 1988).
Don Williams recorded Buddy Cannon's 'What's The Score' (co-written with Raleigh Squires) and included the track on 'Prime Cuts' (Capitol Records, 1989).
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Buddy Cannon's 'I'm Still Crazy' (co-written with Steve Gosdin and Vern Gosdin) and included the track on 'Alone' (Columbia Records, 1989); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1989.
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon's 'I've Come To Expect It From You' (co-written with Dean Dillon) and included the track on 'Livin' It Up' (MCA Records, 1990).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon's 'I've Convinced Everybody But Me' (co-written with Kim Williams and David Lewis) and included the track on 'Chill Of An Early Fall' (MCA Records, 1991).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Anywhere But Here' (co-written with Larry Cordle and John Henderson) and included the track on 'Don't Go Near The Water' (Mercury Records, 1991); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 1991.
Buddy Cannon's 'Anywhere But Here' (co-written with Larry Cordle and John Henderson) was also included on Sammy Kershaw's 'The Ultimate Collection' (HumpHead Country, 2008).
Randy Travis recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Let Me Try' (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on 'High Lonesome' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Buddy Cannon's 'She's Not Cryin' Anymore' (co-written with Terry Shelton and Billy Ray Cyrus) and included the track on 'Some Gave All' (Mercury Records, 1992).
Gene Watson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'One And One And One' (co-written with John Northrup) and included the track on 'In Other Words' (Broadland Records/Mercury Canada, 1992).
Tracy Byrd recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Back In The Swing Of Things', which was co-written with Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Dean Dillon), and included the track on 'Tracy Byrd' (MCA Records, 1993).
George Jones recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Forever's Here To Stay' (co-written with Larry Bastian) and included the track on 'High Tech Redneck' (MCA Records, 1993).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Haunted Heart' (co-written with Larry Bastian) and included the track on 'Haunted Heart' (Mercury Records, 1993); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 1993.
Buddy Cannon's 'Haunted Heart' was also included on Sammy Kershaw's 'The Ultimate Collection' (HumpHead Country, 2008).
Dale Ann Bradley & The New Coon Creek Girls (Ramona Church Taylor, Vicki Simmons and Pam Perry, with special guest Deanie Richardson) recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Westbound Train' and included the track on 'Ain't Love A Good Thing' (Pinecastle Records, 1995).
Billy Keeble recorded Buddy Cannon's 'The Road To Yesterday' (co-written with Curt Ryle) and included the track on 'Unchained Country' (Universal Sound Records, 1999).
Craig Morgan recorded Buddy Cannon's 'I Want Us Back' (co-written with Maria Cannon-Goodman and Dean Dillon) and included the track on 'Craig Morgan' (Atlantic Records, 2000).
Craig Morgan recorded Buddy Cannon's 'I Wish I Could See Bakersfield' and included the track on 'Craig Morgan' (Atlantic Records, 2000); the track featured guest vocals from Merle Haggard.
Tracy Byrd recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Baby Put Your Clothes On' (co-written with Bill Anderson and Paul Overstreet) and included the track on 'Truth About Men' (RCA Records, 2003).
Craig Morgan recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Look At Us' (co-written with Larry Bastian and Craig Morgan) and included the track on 'I Love It' (Broken Bow Records, 2003).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Give It Away' (co-written with Jamey Johnson and Bill Anderson) and included the track on 'It Just Comes Natural' (MCA Records, 2006).
Bradley Walker recorded Buddy Cannon's 'We Know Where He Is' (co-written with Shawn Camp) and included the track on 'Highway Of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'It Was Me' (co-written with Randy 'Tiny' Hardison) and included the track on 'Jamey Johnson' (BNA Records, 2006).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Between Jennings and Jones' (co-written with Jamey Johnson) and included the track on 'That Lonesome Song' (Mercury Records/HumpHead Country, 2008).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon's 'It Was Me' (co-written with Randy Hardison) and included the track on 'Troubadour' (MCA Records, 2008).
Joe Nichols recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Old Things New' (co-written with Paul Overstreet and Bill Anderson) and included the track on 'Old Things New' (Universal South Records, 2009).
Joe Nichols recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Cheaper Than A Shrink' (co-written with Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson) and included the track on 'Old Things New' (Universal South Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary recorded Buddy Cannon's 'How Can I Believe In You (When You'll Be Leaving Me)', which was co-written with Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Set 'Em Up Joe', which was co-written with Hank Cochran, Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on 'The Guitar Song' (Mercury Records, 2010).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Dog In The Yard' (co-written with Jamey Johnson) and included the track on 'The Guitar Song' (Mercury Records, 2010).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon's 'Front Porch Swing Afternoon' (co-written with Jamey Johnson and Larry Shell) and included the track on 'The Guitar Song' (Mercury Records, 2010).
Buddy Cannon has also been the proud recipient, as producer, of Gold Awards for the following album releases:
Sara Evans' 'No Place That Far' (RCA Records, 1998)
Chely Wright's 'Single White Female' (MCA Records, 1999)
John Michael Montgomery's 'Brand New Me' (Atlantic Records, 2000)
Reba McEntire's 'Room To Breathe' (MCA Records, 2003)