Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Carl Jackson: October 2006
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 2006 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 Carl Jackson, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 21 October 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Carl Jackson who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Carl Jackson
This quote was submitted on Saturday 21 October 2006.
'I'm happy to say something about Gene. He's a good friend and a wonderful person.
Gene Watson is one of the best country singers of our time...period'.
Thank you, Carl Jackson, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Carl Jackson...
Carl Jackson, an accomplished bluegrass instrumentalist and songwriter, is a native of Louisville, Mississippi where, at the age of five, he was taught how to play the banjo.
While playing in his father's bluegrass band at the age of fourteen, Carl Jackson was approached by Jim and Jesse to join their backing group, The Virginia Boys. He accepted and spent most of his teenage years playing banjo for Jim and Jesse, and other groups at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
After he left school, Carl Jackson recorded his first solo album; 'Bluegrass Festival' (Prize Records, 1971) was released in 1971 on the independent Prize Records label. It was also in 1971 that Carl joined the Sullivan Family, but after less than a year, he moved to Ohio to form the Country Store with Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Jimmy Gaudreau.
In 1972, Carl met Larry McNeely, Glen Campbell's banjo player, who was about to leave Glen's group. Carl was immediately recruited as Larry's replacement and remained part of Glen's entourage until 1984.
In 1973, Carl Jackson was signed to Capitol Records and saw the release of his debut album 'Banjo Player' (Capitol Records, 1973).
In 1981, Carl Jackson signed with Sugar Hill Records and saw the release of 'Banjo Man' (Sugar Hill Records, 1981), his tribute album to Earl Scruggs. In 1982, Carl Jackson released 'Songs of the South' (Sugar Hill Records, 1982) and in 1983 he joined forces with old friends Jim and Jesse for the 'Banjo Hits' album.
After signing with Columbia Records in 1984, Carl Jackson left Glen Campbell and began to hit the charts, his Lefty Frizzell cover 'She's Gone, Gone, Gone' reaching No.44 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984. Carl Jackson was also the writer of '(Love Always) Letter To Home', which peaked in the Billboard Top 15 for Glen Campbell in May 1984.
During the course of the late 1980s, Carl Jackson's rich harmony vocals brightened recordings by Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks, Roger Miller (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) and many other country music artists.
Ricky Skaggs recorded Carl Jackson's 'If You Don't Believe The Bible', which was co-written with Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 - Tuesday 17 April 2007) and included the track on 'Comin' Home To Stay' (Epic Records, 1988).
In the 1990s, Carl Jackson began to be rewarded for his years of work; he earned the International Bluegrass Association's 'Song Of The Year' Award in 1990 for 'Little Mountain Church House' (co-written with Jim Rushing), which was recorded by Ricky Skaggs and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and included on the acclaimed 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken, Volume 2' (MCA Nashville, 1989).
Glen Campbell recorded Carl Jackson's 'I'm Gone This Time' and included the track on 'Unconditional Love' (Capitol Records, 1990).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Carl Jackson's 'Kentucky Sweetheart' (co-written with Tony King) and included the track on 'A Dream Come True' (Rebel Records, 1990); Carl Jackson, along with Kathy Chiavola, Wayland Patton and Tensel Davidson also provided harmony vocals on the album.
Rhonda Vincent recorded Carl Jackson's 'Love Without A Trace' (co-written with Jennifer McCarter) and included the track on 'A Dream Come True' (Rebel Records, 1990); Carl Jackson, along with Kathy Chiavola, Wayland Patton and Tensel Davidson also provided harmony vocals on the album.
Trisha Yearwood recorded Carl Jackson's 'Lonesome Dove' (co-written with Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Trisha Yearwood' (MCA Records, 1991).
In 1991, Cark Jackson won a 'Best Bluegrass Album' Grammy Award (with John Starling and The Nash Ramblers) for the equally acclaimed 'Spring Training' (Sugar Hill Records, 1991).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Carl Jackson's 'Homecoming' and included the track on 'Timeless And True Love' (Rebel Records, 1991); Carl Jackson, along with Russell Moore, Alison Krauss, David Parmley and Johnny Vincent provided harmony vocals on the album.
Carl Jackson played acoustic guitar on 'You Cant Take It With You When You Go', which was included on Gene Watson's 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Vince Gill recorded Carl Jackson's 'No Future In The Past' (co-written with Vince Gill) and included the track on 'I Still Believe In You' (MCA Records, 1992).
Diamond Rio recorded Carl Jackson's 'Close To The Edge' (co-written with Gene C. Johnson) and included the track on 'Close To The Edge' (Arista Records, 1992).
The Dillards recorded Carl Jackson's 'Against The Grain' (co-written with Bruce Bouton and Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Take Me Along For The Ride' (Vanguard Records, 1992).
Larry Cordle, featuring Glen Duncan & Lonesome Standard Time, recorded Carl Jackson's 'Delta Queen' (co-written with Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Lonesome Standard Time' (Sugar Hill Records, 1992).
Larry Cordle, featuring Glen Duncan & Lonesome Standard Time, recorded Carl Jackson's 'Down The Road To Gloryland' (co-written with Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Lonesome Standard Time' (Sugar Hill Records, 1992).
Larry Cordle, featuring Glen Duncan & Lonesome Standard Time recorded Carl Jackson's 'Lonesome Dove' (co-written with Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Lonesome Standard Time' (Sugar Hill Records, 1992).
In 1993, Bobbie Cryner saw the release of her self-titled debut album 'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993), which was co-produced by Carl Jackson and Doug Johnson.
'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993) included 'Too Many Tears Too Late', which was co-written by Carl Jackson and Jim Weatherly.
Patty Loveless recorded Carl Jackson's 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are' (co-written with David Wills) and included the track on 'Only What I Feel' (MCA Records, 1993).
Steve Wariner recorded Carl Jackson's 'The Same Mistake Again' (co-written with Steve Wariner) and included the track on 'Drive' (Arista Nashville Records, 1993).
Vince Gill recorded Carl Jackson's 'Real Lady's Man' (co-written with Vince Gill) and included the track on 'When Love Finds You' (MCA Records, 1994).
Garth Brooks recorded Carl Jackson's 'Fit For A King' (co-written with Jim Rushing) and included the track on 'Sevens' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1997).
Ricky Skaggs recorded Carl Jackson's 'Lonesome Dove' (co-written with Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Life Is A Journey' (Atlantic Records, 1997).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Carl Jackson's 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are' (co-written with David Wills) and included the track on 'Home' (Rounder Records, 2000).
Jennifer Weatherly recorded Carl Jackson's 'You Don't Know How Lucky You Are' (co-written with David Wills) and included the track on 'Lucky Day' (JK Records, 2000).
In 2004, Carl Jackson, along with Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley, received an 'International Bluegrass Music Association' Award for his work producing the 'Livin', Lovin', Losin - Songs Of The Louvin Brothers' tribute album (Universal South Records, 2003).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Carl Jackson's 'Goin' Against The Grain' (co-written with Larry Cordle and Bruce Bouton) and included the track on 'The Journey' (Springhill Records, 2004).
Bradley Walker recorded Carl Jackson's 'Love's Tombstone' (co-written with Jenny Yates) and included the track on 'Highway of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Bradley Walker recorded Carl Jackson's 'Payin' Your Dues' (co-written with Chris Austin) and included the track on 'Highway of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Bradley Walker recorded Carl Jackson's 'If I Hadn't Reached For The Stars' and included the track on 'Highway of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Bradley Walker recorded Carl Jackson's 'A Little Change' (co-written with Mike Ward and Jared Ashley) and included the track on 'Highway of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Alecia Nugent recorded Carl Jackson's 'Letter From Home' (co-written with Jennifer McCarter) and included the track on 'A Little Girl...A Big Four-Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Alecia Nugent recorded Carl Jackson's 'When It Comes Down To Us (It's All Up To You)' and included the track on 'A Little Girl...A Big Four-Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006); the track was a duet with Bradley Walker.
Alecia Nugent recorded Carl Jackson's 'Meet Me In Heaven Someday' and included the track on 'A Little Girl...A Big Four-Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006).
During Gene Watson's time with Step One Records, between 1993 and 1997, he recorded Carl Jackson's 'Love's Tombstone' (co-written with Jenny Yates); the track was intended to be included on 'Uncharted Mind' (Step One Records, 1993), 'The Good Ole Days' (Step One Records, 1996) or 'A Way to Survive' (Step One Records, 1997).
Carl Jackson's 'Love's Tombstone' (co-written with Jenny Yates) was subsequently included on 'Gene Watson: 22 Golden Country Greats' (Gusto Records/Tee Vee Records, 2009).
Joe Diffie recorded Carl Jackson's 'Fit For A King' (co-written with Jim Rushing) and included the track on 'Homecoming: The Bluegrass Album' (Rounder Records, 2010).
Visit Carl Jackson's Official Site