Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Dallas Harms: February 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 Dallas Harms, which he submitted to this site on Friday 10 February 2006 (the quote was actually received via postal mail).
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Dallas Harms who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Sean Brady would also like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Larry Delaney of Country Music News (magazine) in Canada without whose kind assistance this Dallas Harms quote would not have been possible.
Dallas Harms
This quote was submitted on Friday 10 February 2006.
'What could I say about Gene Watson that hasn't already been said.
Musicians, background singers, studio engineers and producers will say Gene has a God-given gift that delivers a vocal performance that inspires and charms all who are involved creating his music in the studio or live performances.
That same connection also affects the heart of all his listeners. Gene is way above the ordinary, in a league of his own - like George Jones and Merle Haggard! It doesn't get better than that!'
Thank you, Dallas Harms, for your support of Gene Watson.
Thank you, Larry Delaney, editor of Country Music News (magazine) in Canada, without whose kind assistance this Dallas Harms quote would not have been possible.
Country Music News was a Canadian monthly periodical published in Ottawa by Larry Delaney and Joanne Delaney. It called itself 'The 'Voice of Country Music in Canada'.
Editor/publisher Larry Delaney was considered an expert on Canadian country music, its performers and songwriters, and owned one of the most extensive library collections of Canadian recorded country music. Larry Delaney was an eleven-time recipient of the Canadian Country Music Association’s prestigious 'Country Music Person of the Year' industry award, was among the inaugural inductees of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the CCMA’s 'Hall of Honour' in 1996.
Joanne Delaney handled some of the creative and administrative tasks of the periodical and was inducted along with her husband into the Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
Country Music News was published monthly since April 1980 and its mission had been to provide Canadian country music artists, songwriters and the industry with accurate and meaningful print media exposure in Canada and around the world. It was the only national print media serving Canadian country music artists and fans of the genre.
The final issue of Country Music News was published in March 2012.
About Dallas Harms...
Dallas Harms is a singer, guitarist and record producer who was born Dallas Leon Harms in Jansen, near Saskatoon, Canada on Thursday 18 July 1935. Dallas was raised in Hamilton, Ontario where, inspired by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953), he began his career in the mid-1950s and made his first record, for Reno Records, in 1959.
Dallas Harms enjoyed country music hits in 1972 and 1973 for Columbia Records with 'In The Loving Arms Of My Marie' and 'Old Ira Gray'.
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Old Ira Gray' as 'Mr. Candyman' and included the track on 'In Other Words' (Broadland Records/Mercury Canada, 1992).
Dallas Harms enjoyed country music hits between 1975 and 1979 for Broadland Records with 'Paper Rosie', 'Georgia I'm Cheating On You Tonight', 'It's Crying Time For Me', 'The Fastest Gun', 'I Picked A Daisy' and 'The Ballad Of The Duke', the latter a fine tribute to John Wayne (Sunday 26 May 1907 - Monday 11 June 1979).
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Paper Rosie' and included the track on 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol Records, 1977); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977.
Other artists who have record Dallas Harms songs include Billy Walker (Monday 14 January 1929 - Sunday 21 May 2006), George Hamilton IV and The Osborne Brothers.
Dallas Harms recorded albums as an artist in his own right; 'Paper Rosie', 'The Fastest Gun' and 'Painter Of Words' were all released on Broadland Records.
Dallas Harms received Big Country Awards for 'Top Composer' (1975 and annually 1977-1979) and 'Top Producer' (1978, 1979 and 1985, the last shared with Mike 'Pepe' Francis).
Dallas Harms' 'Paper Rosie' (Broadland Records, 1975) was released in 1975 and included the track 'Old Ira Gray', which Gene Watson recorded as 'Mr. Candyman' in 1992.
Dallas Harms won awards for 'Best Single', for 'Paper Rosie' in 1975 and for 'Georgia I'm Cheating On You Tonight' in 1976.
Dallas Harms also won a 'Best Album' award for 'The Fastest Gun' (Broadland Records, 1978) in 1978, which reached No.11 on the RPM country albums chart in Canada.
Dallas Harms undertook several tours across Canada, including one in 1976 with Ian Tyson. Dallas Harms also performed in New Zealand and, in 1980 and 1981, in England.
Dallas Harms' album, 'Out Of Harms Way' (RCA Records, 1982), which was released on RCA Records in 1982, included the popular 'Honky Tonkin' (All Night Long)', 'Country Fever' and 'Fooling With Fire'.
Dallas Harms also won the CCMA (Canadian Country Music Association) Awards as 'Producer of the Year' in 1983 and 1984 (the second again shared with Mike Francis). Dallas Harms has produced singles and/or albums for Terry Carisse, Larry Mattson, Wayne Rostad, Roni Sommers, Paul Weber and many others.
Though he was largely inactive as a performer after the mid-1980s, Dallas Harms continued to write songs. His best-known title, 'Paper Rosie,' a standard of the Canadian country repertoire, was heard on the soundtrack of the 1990 US feature film 'Another 48 Hours'.
Dallas Harms was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989.
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Paper Rosie' and included the track on 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol Records, 1977); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977.
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'The Old Man And His Horn' and included the track on 'Beautiful Country' (Capitol Records, 1977); the track reached No.11 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977.
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Cowboys Don't Get Lucky All The Time' and included the track on 'Beautiful Country' (Capitol Records, 1977); the track reached No.11 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978.
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Mama Sold Roses' and included the track on 'Reflections' (Capitol Records, 1978).
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Get Along Little Doggie' and included the track on 'Memories to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985).
Gene Watson recorded Dallas Harms' 'Mr. Candyman' and included the track on 'In Other Words' (Broadland Records/Mercury Canada, 1992).
Dallas Harms' successful run of hit singles, on the RPM country music singles chart in Canada, included the following:
'In The Loving Arms Of My Marie' (No.8, 1972)
'Old Ira Gray' (No.15, 1973)
'Little Annie Brown' (No.29, 1973)
'Ruby's Lips' (No.35, 1974)
'Paper Rosie' (No.21, 1975)
'Georgia I'm Cheating On You Tonight' (No.28, 1976)
'Julie, I Think It's Going To Rain' (No.23, 1977)
'It's Crying Time For Me' (No.9, 1977) —
1978 'Master Of The Classical Guitar' (No.18, 1978)
'The Fastest Gun' (No.9, 1978)
'I Picked A Daisy' (No.7, 1978)
'Lean On Me' (No.23, 1979)
'The Ballad Of The Duke' (No.6, 1979)
'Rendezvous For Lovers' (No.45, 1979)
'Shelley's Last Request' (No.31, 1980)
'You're A Memory' (No.27, 1980)
'Honky Tonkin' (All Night Long)' (No.1, 1982)
'Country Fever' (No.5, 1983)
'Fooling With Fire' (No.8, 1983)
'Get Along Little Doggie' (No.14, 1984)
Visit Canadian Country Music Association Site (Dallas Harms entry)