Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Charlie McCoy: 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 Charlie McCoy, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 10 October 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Charlie McCoy who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Charlie McCoy
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 10 October 2006.
'Gene Watson is one of the classic country singers and is still carrying on a great tradition'.
Thank you, Charlie McCoy, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Charlie McCoy...
Charlie McCoy is one of a number of super-session musicians in Nashville, who has enjoyed longevity in the business and who has been a fixture in Nashville studios for years. Charlie McCoy has also enjoyed a recording career of his own, having recorded twenty-eight albums in the space of thirty-two years. He has also served as musical director on 'Hee-Haw', the long running syndicated television series.
Charlie McCoy began working sessions in the early 1960s, one of the first being on Roy Orbison's Monument hit 'Candy Man'. The recording session lasted three hours and Charlie McCoy was paid $49. The year was 1961 and shortly after the release of 'Candy Man', Charlie McCoy became one of the most in-demand session players in Nashville.
Charlie McCoy began his recording career with Monument Records in the late 1960s and recorded twelve albums for the label, beginning in 1969 with 'The Real McCoy'. In addition to making his own recordings, Charlie McCoy was also a member of two legendary Nashville bands, Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry, both groups having featured many of the top session players in Nashville.
Charlie McCoy's session credits are literally a who's who of country music; at one time, he was doing upwards of four hundred sessions per year. In recent years, Charlie McCoy has cut back on his session appearances in order to devote more time to touring Europe and Japan, in addition to the United States.
In addition to his country music sessions, Charlie McCoy was a mainstay on Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977) recordings, both in Nashville and Los Angeles. Charlie was also heavily involved on the Nashville recording sessions for a number of Bob Dylan albums, including 'Blond on Blond' (Columbia Records, 1966), 'John Wesley Harding' (Columbia Records, 1967) and 'Nashville Skyline' (Columbia Records, 1969).
Charlie McCoy has won a number of awards over the years; he's won a Grammy Award, two Country Music Association (CMA) Awards and eight Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards. Charlie McCoy has also won numerous awards provided by the three music industry trade publications, Billboard, Cash Box and Record World.
Charlie McCoy is predominantly known for his prowess on the harmonica, but he is also a master of the guitar, bass, drums and keyboards, as well as a variety of wind and brass instruments.
Monument Records folded in 1982 and, as a result, Charlie McCoy was without any record company affiliation for about five years. He and his band recorded an album entitled 'One For The Road' in 1986, and he also had three albums released in the United States on Step One Records and a Gospel album on the Simitar label.
Charlie McCoy was given the 'Musician' Award from R.O.P.E. (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) in 1994, elected to the German-American Country Music Federation Hall of Fame in 1998 and to the Hall of Fame of the North American Country Music Association International in 2000.
On Wednesday 4 February 2009, it was announced that Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy would be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame; this special ceremony took place on Sunday 17 May 2009.
Charlie McCoy has made a contribution to a number of Gene Watson albums: he played rhythm guitar, harmonica and marimba on 'Love in the Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975), while he contributed harmonica, vibes and rhythm guitar on 'Between This Time & The Next Time' (MCA Records, 1981).
Wanda Jackson recorded Charlie McCoy's 'Funnel Of Love' (co-written with Kent Westberry) on Monday 10 April 1961; the track was subsequently included on 'Heart Trouble' (CMH Records, 2003).
Webb Pierce (Monday 8 August 1921 - Sunday 24 February 1991) recorded Charlie McCoy's 'Too Long' and included the track on 'Country Music Time' (Decca Records, 1965).
Visit Charlie McCoy's Official Site