Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Byron Hill: April 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 Byron Hill, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 28 April 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Byron Hill who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Byron Hill
This quote was submitted on Thursday 28 April 2005.
'Any true country songwriter should feel that his life is complete if Gene Watson records one of his songs, for Gene Watson is perhaps the finest voice in country music.
I don't think I have ever had a song of mine generate more chatter out there on radio than 'No Trash In My Trailer'. Nashville's WSM (Radio) spearheaded the flag-waving, which made this song become sort of an underground die-hard country anthem. Though the record charted, it never competed with the stuff that was taking over the country chart at the time.
Gene Watson has always been among the top on my list of great country singers. To be able to say that Gene recorded one of my songs is worth more than the royalties it should have earned. This was a novelty song, and something quite different for Gene to do, but I appreciate him taking the chance'.
Thank you, Byron Hill, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Byron Hill...
Byron Hill is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He moved to Nashville in April 1978 and signed his first song-writing contract with ATV Music Group in September of that year.
Joe Sun recorded Byron Hill's 'Out Of Your Mind' and included the track on 'Out of Your Mind' (Ovation Records, 1979).
The hits started happening for Byron Hill as a writer in 1979 with Joe Sun's 'Out Of Your Mind' and in 1981 with Johnny Lee's 'Pickin' Up Strangers'.
Byron Hill co-wrote George Strait's first Billboard country music No.1; 'Fool Hearted Memory' (co-written with Blake Mevis) was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August/September 1982. Please note the photo (above) of Byron Hill and George Strait (that's Gene Watson in the top left-hand corner of the picture!).
Many other early cuts include recordings by artists such as Ray Charles, Juice Newton, Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993), Mel McDaniel (Sunday 6 September 1942 - Thursday 31 March 2011), Ricky Skaggs, Margo Smith and Reba McEntire.
Reba McEntire recorded Byron Hill's 'Out Of The Blue' (co-written with Robert A. Johnson) and included the track on 'Unlimited' (Mercury Records, 1982).
Ed Bruce recorded Byron Hill's 'Nights' (co-written with Tony Hiller) and included the track on 'Night Things' (RCA Records, 1986).
In 1984, after the sale and closure of ATV Music, Byron Hill spent four years as an independent songwriter and publisher, writing the Ed Bruce hit 'Nights' (No.4, 1986), as well as songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Anne Murray, George Jones and Tom Wopat.
Ray Charles (Tuesday 23 September 1930 - Thursday 10 June 2004) recorded Byron Hill's 'The Pages Of My Mind' (co-written with J Remington Wilde) and included the track on 'From The Pages of My Mind' (Columbia Records, 1986).
Kenny Rogers recorded Byron Hill's 'People In Love' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'The Heart of The Matter' (Liberty Records, 1985).
In 1988, Byron Hill signed as a staff writer for Collins Music, an association that yielded Alabama's 'Born Country', the hit 'Alright Already' for Larry Stewart, along with cuts for artists such as Asleep at the Wheel, Barbara Mandrell and Randy Travis.
Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) recorded Byron Hill's 'A Day In The Life Of A Fool' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'Don't Close Your Eyes' (RCA Records, 1988).
Randy Travis recorded Byron Hill's 'Card Carryin' Fool' (co-written with Tim Boys) aand included the track on 'No Holdin' Back' (Warner Bros. Records, 1989).
Alabama recorded Byron Hill's 'Born Country' and included the track on 'Greatest Hits, Volume 2' (RCA Records, 1991).
Kenny Rogers recorded Byron Hill's 'Someone Must Feel Like A Fool Tonight' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'Back Home Again' (Reprise Records, 1991).
Kenny Rogers recorded Byron Hill's 'Some Prisons Don't Have Walls' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'Back Home Again' (Reprise Records, 1991).
In 1992, Byron Hill signed with MCA Music Nashville, where he landed singles by Tracy Byrd ('Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous'), Neal McCoy ('If I Was A Drinkin' Man'), George Jones ('High Tech Redneck'), Sammy Kershaw ('Politics, Religion And Her') and River Road ('I Broke It, I'll Fix It').
Larry Stewart recorded Byron Hill's 'Alright Already' (co-written with JB Rudd) and included the track on 'Down The Road' (RCA Records, 1993); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1993.
George Jones recorded Byron Hill's 'High Tech Redneck' (co-written with Zack Turner) and included the track on 'High Tech Redneck' (MCA Records, 1993); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 1994.
Clay Walker recorded Byron Hill's 'White Palace' (co-written with Zack Turner) and included the track on 'Rumor Has It' (Giant Records, 1993).
Tracy Byrd recorded Byron Hill's 'Lifestyles Of The Not So Rich And Famous' (co-written with Wayne Tester) and included the track on 'No Ordinary Man' (MCA Records, 1994); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1994.
Tracy Byrd recorded Byron Hill's 'Redneck Roses' (co-written with Tracy Byrd) and included the track on 'No Ordinary Man' (MCA Records, 1994); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1994.
Anne Murray recorded Byron Hill's 'Over You' (co-written with Tony Hiller) and included the track on 'The Best...So Far' (Capitol Records, 1994).
Neal McCoy recorded Byron Hill's 'If I Was A Drinkin' Man' (co-written with J.B. Rudd) and included the track on 'You Gotta Love That' (Atlantic Records, 1995); the track reached No.16 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 1995.
Rhett Akins recorded Byron Hill's 'A Thousand Memories' (co-written with Rhett Akins) and included the track on 'A Thousand Memories' (Decca Nashville Records, 1995).
Rhett Akins recorded Byron Hill's 'Same Ol' Story' (co-written with Rhett Akins) and included the track on 'A Thousand Memories' (Decca Nashville Records, 1995).
Tracy Byrd recorded Byron Hill's 'Walkin' In' (co-written with Zack Turner) and included the track on 'Love Lessons' (MCA Records, 1995).
Gary Allan recorded Byron Hill's 'Of All The Hearts' (co-written with Remington Wilde) and included the track on 'Used Heart For Sale' (Decca Records, 1996).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Byron Hill's 'Politics, Religion And Her' (co-written with Tony Martin) and included the track on 'Politics, Religion and Her' (Mercury Records, 1996); the track reached No.28 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 1996.
Byron Hill's 'Politics, religion and her' (co-written with Tony Martin) was also included on Sammy Kershaw's 'The Ultimate Collection' (HumpHead Country, 2008).
John Michael Montgomery recorded Byron Hill's 'Cloud 8' (co-written with Tony Martin) and included the track on 'What I Do The Best' (Atlantic Records, 1996).
Trace Adkins recorded Byron Hill's 'Took Her To The Moon' (co-written with Mark Nesler) & included the track on 'Big Time' (Capitol Records, 1997).
Blackhawk recorded Byron Hill's 'In My Heart Of Hearts' (co-written with Annie Roboff) and included the track on 'The Sky's The Limit' (Arista Nashville Records, 1998).
In December 1998, Byron Hill signed with Starstruck Writers Group in Nashville, which was sold (in October 2000) to Warner Chappell Music.
Toby Keith recorded Byron Hill's 'Hold You, Kiss You, Love You' (co-written with Jack Jones and Frank M. Jones) and included the track on 'How Do You Like Me Now' (DreamWorks Records, 1999).
In January 2003, Byron Hill signed with Almo Irving Music. However, Almo Irving closed in October of that year and consolidated with Universal Music Publishing Group, where Byron became a staff songwriter.
Byron Hill's songs have generated more than 544 recordings, earning 71 RIAA certified Gold and Platinum Awards, 9 ASCAP Awards, 20 U.S. and Canadian Top 10 chart hits, including 6 No.1's.
Byron Hill has also had his songs recorded by Joe Nichols, Rhonda Vincent, Lantana and Hot Apple Pie.
Byron Hill's work as a producer includes three albums for Gary Allan on Decca Records and an album for Kathy Mattea on Mercury Records.
Byron Hill has also enjoyed a long-time producer/co-writer association with singer/songwriter Mike Dekle which includes four albums.
Gene Watson recorded Byron Hill's 'No Trash In My Trailer' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'From The Heart' (RMG Records, 2001).
Joe Nichols recorded Byron Hill's 'Joe's Place' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'Man With A Memory' (Universal South Records, 2002).
Gary Allan recorded Byron Hill's 'Nothing On But The Radio' (co-written with Odie Blackmon and Brice Long) and included the track on 'See If I Care' (MCA Records, 2003); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 2003.
Joe Nichols recorded Byron Hill's 'Things Like That (These Days)' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'Revelation' (Universal South Records, 2004).
Randy Travis recorded Byron Hill's 'A Place To Hang My Heart' (co-written with Shawn Camp and Brice Long) and included the track on 'Passing Through' (Word/Warner Bros/Curb Records, 2005).
Joe Nichols recorded Byron Hill's 'Size Matters (Someday)' (co-written with Mike Dekle) and included the track on 'III' (Universal South Records, 2005); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 2005.
Rodney Hayden recorded Byron Hill's 'Whoever Wrote This Song' (co-written with Rodney Hayden) and included the track on 'Down The Road' (Palomino Records, 2007).
Don Williams recorded Byron Hill's 'First Fool In Line' (co-written with Tammi Kidd) and included the track on 'And So It Goes' (Sugar Hill Records, 2012).
Visit Byron Hill's Official Site