Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Buddy Emmons: September 2004
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 2004 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 Emmons, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 23 September 2004.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Buddy Emmons who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Buddy Emmons
This quote was submitted on Thursday 23 September 2004.
'There are but a handful of vocalists I’ve worked with that bring out the best in me in a recording studio, and Gene Watson is one of them.
To be one of the finest vocalists on the planet and to have the respect of so many musicians, as well as his loyal fans, is something he should be very proud of.
Thanks Gene, for the wonderful musical moments you have allowed me to share with you'.
Thank you, Buddy Emmons, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Buddy Emmons...
Buddy Emmons has earned a place among Nashville's elite as one of the finest steel guitar players in the business. He was born in Mishawaka, Indiana and first fell in love with the instrument at the age of eleven when he received a 6-string lap steel guitar as a gift.
As a teenager, Buddy Emmons enrolled at the Hawaiian Conservatory of Music in South Bend, Indiana and began playing professionally in Calumet City and Chicago when he was sixteen years old.
In 1956, Buddy Emmons went to Detroit to fill in for Walter Haynes during a performance with Little Jimmy Dickens; soon afterwards, he was invited to join Dickens' Country Boys.
Buddy Emmons appeared with them a few times on the Grand Ole Opry and recorded with them on a few singles, including 'Buddy's Boogie' (1957). He also recorded a pair of solo singles for Columbia, 'Cold Rolled Steel' in 1956 and 'Silver Bells' in 1957.
Little Jimmy Dickens recorded Buddy Emmons' 'Raisin' The Dickens' (instrumental) and included the track on 'Raisin' The Dickens' (Columbia Records, 1957).
In the late 1950s, Buddy Emmons began playing occasionally with Ernest Tubb's band on Midnight Jamboree. In 1963, he began a five-year stint with Ray Price and his Cherokee Cowboys and in 1965 he teamed up with fellow steel player Shot Jackson to record the LP 'Steel Guitar and Dobro Sound'. This led the two to create the Sho-Bud Company, which sold an innovative steel guitar that used push-rod pedals.
In 1969, Buddy joined Roger Miller's Los Angeles-based band as a bass player. When not touring with Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 - Sunday 25 October 1992), he did session work for a variety of artists. Buddy quit Roger's band in 1973 and signed a solo contract, releasing several albums in the late 1970s.
After 1978, Buddy Emmons began playing for a number of small labels, where he and Ray Pennington occasionally collaborated with some of Nashville's finest sidemen as the Swing Shift Band.
George Strait recorded Buddy Emmons' 'So Much Like My Dad' (co-written with Chips Moman) and included the track on 'Holding My Own' (MCA Records, 1992).
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002) recorded Buddy Emmons' 'Lot Of Good' (co-written with Troy Seals and Waylon Jennings) and included the track on 'Too Dumb For New York City' (Epic Records, 1992).
In 1993, Buddy Emmons began touring with Don and Phil Everly. Throughout the 1990s, he continued to do session work.
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002) recorded Buddy Emmons' 'Most Sensible Thing' (co-written with Troy Seals and Waylon Jennings) and included the track on 'Right For The Time' (Justice Records, 1996).
Buddy Emmons is one of the steel guitar playing elite within the country music industry in Nashville and has left his indelible steel guitar sound on a number of Gene Watson albums.
Buddy Emmons has played steel guitar on Gene Watson's 'Uncharted Mind' (Step One Records, 1993), 'The Good Ole Days' (Step One Records, 1996), 'Jesus is All I Need' (Step One Records, 1997), 'A Way to Survive' (Step One Records, 1997), 'From The Heart' (RMG Records, 2001) and 'The Gospel Side of Gene Watson' (Intersound Records, 2004).
Visit Buddy Emmons' Official Site