Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Chely Wright: October 2008
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 2008 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 Chely Wright, which she submitted to this site on Monday 6 October 2008.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Chely Wright who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Chely Wright
This quote was submitted on Monday 6 October 2008.
'Gene Watson is one of the reasons I fell in love with country music.
I have had the great pleasure of getting to know Gene over the years and he is truly special...as a singer and as a person.
One of my favourite tours of all time was with Gene and his band. We toured Japan and I watched his part of the show every night.
It was as clear then as it is today that Gene Watson is one of the best voices to ever sing a country song'.
Thank you, Chely Wright, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Chely Wright...
Chely Wright was born Sunday 25 October 1970 in Wellsville, Kansas and grew up in a family with four generations of musicians.
Chely Wright was fascinated by her family's record collection, which included material from artists such as Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006), Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, Wanda Jackson, Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) and Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993).
Chely Wright started singing in bands at the age of eleven and, within a few years, had formed her own band called County Line. The summer before her senior year in high school, she went to Branson, Missouri where she landed a job in the Ozark Jubilee, the long-running country show whose alumni included Brenda Lee and Red Foley (Friday 17 June 1910 - Thursday 19 September 1968).
Chely Wright's grandfather encouraged her to audition for a job in a musical production at the Opryland Theme Park, a job that she acquired. She took her final exams a week early and moved to Nashville.
While in Nashville, Chely Wright interned and attended writers' nights, while honing her singing and song-writing. Harold Shedd, whose production credits included Alabama, signed Chely to Mercury/Polygram and her first album, 'Woman In The Moon' (Polydor Nashville Records, 1994), was released in 1994 on the corporation's Polydor Nashville label.
Chely Wright's 'Woman In The Moon' (Polydor Nashville Records, 1994) included three Jimmy Melton compositions; 'Sea Of Cowboy Hats' (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chely Wright), 'He Don't Do Bars Anymore' (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chely Wright) and 'The Last Supper' (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chely Wright).
It was also in 1994 that Chely Wright was named 'Top New Female Vocalist' by the Academy of Country Music (ACM), although her singles initially did not crack the Billboard country music Top 40 singles chart.
Chely Wright's second album, 'Right In The Middle Of It' (Polydor Records, 1996), also failed to make a dent on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart.
In 1996, Chely Wright sought out both a new record label and a new producer; she hooked up with MCA Records and Tony Brown. She asked to be released from her contract with Mercury Records and subsequently signed with MCA Records.
In 1997, Chely Wright saw the release of 'Let Me In' (MCA Records, 1997), her first album release on MCA Records; the album included 'Shut Up And Drive', Chely's first Billboard Top 20 hit). Subsequent albums released on MCA Records included 'Single White Female' (MCA Records, 1999) and 'Never Love You Enough' (MCA Records, 2001).
In 2001, Chely Wright joined Diamond Rio on the track 'I'm Trying', which was included on the group's 'One More Day' (Arista Nashville, 2001).
In 2003, Chely Wright saw the release of '20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Chely Wright' (MCA Nashville Records, 2003), a compilation album highlighting her glorious material released on the label.
It was also in 2003 that Chely Wright parted company with MCA Records after 'Never Love You Enough' (MCA Records, 2001) failed to meet sales expectations. In January 2004, Chely Wright signed with Vivaton Records, a new independent record label. An album release, however, never materialised.
Chely Wright split from Vivaton Records in June 2004. Once again, without a record label, she nevertheless released a single, 'Bumper Of My SUV', in late 2004, which was mostly available online and various radio stations.
'Bumper Of My SUV' was written by Chely Wright following an altercation with an irate woman who noticed the United States Marine Corps bumper sticker on the back of Chely Wright's car.
The success of 'Bumper Of My SUV' prompted Chely to start Painted Red Music Group, her own record/publishing company. She then released the 'Everything' EP which contained the tracks 'Back Of The Bottom Drawer' and 'Bumper Of My SUV'.
The record was made exclusively available through Chely Wright's official website and was later made available in many retail outlets such as Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy.
The success of the EP led to Chely Wright being signed to Dualtone Records who released 'The Metropolitan Hotel' (Dualtone Records, 2005) album in February 2005.
'The Metropolitan Hotel' (Dualtone Records, 2005) included both 'Back Of The Bottom Drawer' and 'Bumper Of My SUV', along with ten additional songs, most of which were written or co-written by Chely Wright.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote' from Chely Wright, in October 2008, she was working on an album project for Vanguard Records called 'Notes To The Coroner'.
In October 2008, Hump Head Country, based in Surrey, England, released 'Chely Wright - The Ultimate Collection' (Hump Head Country, 2008), a generous twenty-track compilation of the lady's finest cuts.
Judy Bailey recorded Chely Wright's 'Crying Room Only' (co-written with Sanger D. Shafer and Lonnie Williams) and included the track on 'I've Never Seen It Rain' (Hawk Records, 1994); the album was produced by Mike Headrick and Lonnie Williams.
Judy Bailey recorded Chely Wright's 'In The Name Of Loneliness' (co-written with Lonnie Williams and Donny Kees) and included the track on 'I've Never Seen It Rain' (Hawk Records, 1994).
Brad Paisley recorded Chely Wright's 'Come On Over Tonight' (co-written with Brad Paisley) and included the track on 'Part II' (Arista Records, 2001).
Clay Walker recorded Chely Wright's 'I Can't Sleep' (co-written with Clay Walker) and included the track on 'A Few Questions' (RCA Records, 2003).
On Saturday 25 June 2011, the gritty Chely Wright movie, 'Wish Me Away', won the Los Angeles Film Festival's 'Best Documentary Award'.
Visit Chely Wright's Official Site
Visit Chely Wright's Official MySpace Site