Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Dale Watson: October 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 Dale Watson, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 25 October 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Dale Watson who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Dale Watson
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 25 October 2005.
'Gene Watson has always been a part of my country music diet. 'Paper Rosie' was the first song I heard of him and I was a fan from then on.
Having the same last name, I was always asked if I was related to Gene. We are from the same part of Texas, but the answer was 'no', but I'm a big fan. To this day, I still get asked that about Gene and I still say 'no', but I'm a big fan'.
Thank you, Dale Watson, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Dale Watson...
Dale Watson is a staunch adherent of old-style honky tonk and Bakersfield country and has positioned himself as a tattooed, stubbornly independent outsider who was only interested in recording authentic country music. As a result, Dale never sold many records, but his music was championed by numerous critics and alternative country music fans.
Dale Watson was born on Sunday 7 October 1962 in Birmingham, Alabama but spent his teenage years near Houston in Texas and he grew to think of Texas as his true home state. His father and brother were both musically inclined and Dale began writing his own songs at the age of twelve, making his first recording two years later.
After graduating from high school, Dale Watson spent seven years playing local clubs and honky tonks. He moved to Los Angeles in 1988 on the advice of Rosie Flores and soon joined the house band at North Hollywood's now-legendary alt-country venue The Palomino Club.
Dale Watson recorded two singles for Curb Records in 1990, 'One Tear At A Time' and 'You Pour It On' and he appeared on the third volume of the compilation series 'A Town South Of Bakersfield' in 1992. Not long after, Dale moved to Nashville and spent some time writing songs for the Gary Morris publishing company.
Dale Watson didn't find commercial country music much to his taste, so he relocated to the more progressive-minded scene in Austin, Texas where he formed a backing band called The Lonestars.
Dale Watson scored a recording deal with the independent record label Hightone Records and saw the release of his debut album, 'Cheatin' Heart Attack' (Hightone Records, 1995), to wide critical acclaim in 1995.
'Cheatin' Heart Attack' was greeted with enormous acclaim for the vitality Watson brought to his vintage-style material and performances and it also featured a witty dig at mainstream country music in 'Nashville Rash'.
The follow-up album, 'Blessed Or Damned' (Hightone Records, 1996), was released in 1996 and continued in a similar vein, as did 'I Hate These Songs' (Hightone Records, 1997).
Dale Watson's next album, 'The Truckin' Sessions' (Koch Records, 1998), was released on Koch Records in 1998 and was devoted entirely to that distinct country subgenre of truck driving songs. Unfortunately, it was almost his last.
In 2000, Dale Watson's fiancée was killed in an automobile accident; devastated, he attempted to drown his sorrows in booze and drugs and nearly died of an overdose shortly after Christmas.
Dale Watson checked himself into a mental institution to recover and re-emerged later in 2001 with the deeply sorrowful tribute album 'Every Song I Write is for You' (Audium Records, 2001), which appeared on Koch Records' new country imprint Audium Records.
A couple of lower-key releases followed, the holiday album 'Christmas In Texas (2001) and 'Live In London, England' (2002). In 2004, with his heart still on his sleeve, but a thicker skin, Dale Watson released 'Dreamland'.
Dale Watson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2005. He took a break from music for the majority of that year, moving to Maryland in order to spend more time with his daughters.
2006 found Dale Watson back in Austin playing gigs and a documentary on Watson, 'Crazy Again', premiered at the SxSW (South by South West) Festival that year; the film charted Watson's mental breakdown following the death of his fiancée.
Dale Watson saw the release of a new full-length album, 'From The Cradle To The Grave', in 2007, along with a second album, 'The Little Darlin' Sessions'.
Visit Dale Watson's Official Site