Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Ed Bruce: December 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 Ed Bruce, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 10 December 2006.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Ed Bruce who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.

Ed Bruce
This quote was submitted on Sunday 10 December 2006.

'Gene Watson is one of my long time, all-time favourites.  No smoke machines, no light shows!

Just pure, honest real country music'.

Thank you, Ed Bruce, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Ed Bruce...

Ed Bruce is a native of Keiser, Arkansas where he was born William Edwin Bruce Junior in December 1939.  Ed was brought up in Memphis, Tennessee and, at the age of seventeen, he cut his first tracks for the legendary Sun Records.

However, his career as a rockabilly performer were largely unsuccessful and by 1964 Ed Bruce had moved to Nashville, where he became a member of the Marijohn Wilkins Singers. Ed also entered into a lucrative career singing advertising jingles, his best-known campaign cast him as a character called 'The Tennessean'.

In 1966, Ed Bruce signed with RCA Records, where he notched up his first chart hit with the song 'Walker's Woods'.  More singles and a change of record label followed; Ed Bruce signed with Monuments Records and saw the release of 'Shades Of Ed Bruce' (Monument Records, 1969) in 1969.

However, Ed Bruce struggled career-wise until 1976, when he saw the release of 'Ed Bruce' (United Artists Records, 1976); the album included his composition 'Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys', which reached No.15 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976.

'Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys' is Ed Bruce's best-known composition and was later a huge hit when recorded by Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002) and Willie Nelson; the track, which was included on their duet album 'Outlaw' (RCA Records, 1976), was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for four weeks in March/April 1978.

Ed Bruce's compositions have been recorded by a number of fellow country music stars, including the following:

Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 - Wednesday 26 January 2011) recorded Ed Bruce's 'See The Big Man Cry' and included the track on 'Less And Less And I Don't Love You Anymore' (Capitol Records, 1964); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1965.

Dave Dudley (Thursday 3 May 1928 - Monday 22 December 2003) recorded Ed Bruce's 'Farmer's Prayer' and included the track on 'Songs About The Working Man' (Mercury Records, 1964).

Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 - Wednesday 26 January 2011) recorded Ed Bruce's 'Lonesome Is Me' and included the track on 'Lonesome is Me' (Capitol Records, 1966).

Jeannie Seely recorded Ed Bruce's 'My Love Dies Hard' and included the track on 'Little Things' (Monument Records, 1968).

Jeannie C. Riley recorded Ed Bruce's 'Price I Pay To Stay' and included the track on 'Sock & Soul' (Little Darling Records, 1968).

Billie Jo Spears (Friday 14 January 1938 - Wednesday 14 December 2011) recorded Ed Bruce's 'Price I Pay To Stay' and included the track on 'Mr. Walker, It's All Over' (Capitol Records, 1969).

Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 - Wednesday 26 January 2011) recorded Ed Bruce's 'Little Reasons' and included the track on 'Here's A Toast To Mama' (Capitol Records, 1970).

Tanya Tucker recorded Ed Bruce's 'The Man That Turned My Mama On' and included the track on 'Would You Lay With Me In A Field Of Stone' (Columbia Records, 1974); the track was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974.

Billie Jo Spears (Friday 14 January 1938 - Wednesday 14 December 2011) recorded Ed Bruce's 'I Can Only Judge Your Future By His Past' and included the track on 'Blanket On The Ground' (United Artists Records, 1975).

Chris LeDoux (Saturday 2 October 1948 - Wednesday 9 March 2005) recorded Ed Bruce's 'Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys' (co-written with Patsy Bruce) and included the track on 'Songbook Of The American West' (ACS Records, 1976).

Kenny Rogers recorded Ed Bruce's 'You Gotta Be Tired' (co-written with Larry Butler) and included the track on 'Love Lifted Me' (United Artists Records, 1976).

Tanya Tucker recorded Ed Bruce's 'Texas, When I Die' (co-written with Bobby Borchers and Patsy Bruce) and included the track on 'TNT' (MCA Records, 1978); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978.



Billie Jo Spears (Thursday 14 January 1937 - Wednesday 14 December 2011) recorded Ed Bruce's 'All The Love I Have (I Give To You)' and included the track on 'Lonely Hearts Club' (United Artists Records, 1978).

Crystal Gayle recorded Ed Bruce's 'Restless' and included the track on 'Country Classics' (Capitol Records, 1991); the track had been originally recorded by Crystal Gayle in 1974.

Chris LeDoux (Saturday 2 October 1948 - Wednesday 9 March 2005) recorded Ed Bruce's 'Thank The Cowboy For The Ride' (co-written with Paul Richey) and included the track on 'Western Underground' (Capitol Records, 1991).

Chris LeDoux (Saturday 2 October 1948 - Wednesday 9 March 2005) recorded Ed Bruce's 'You Just Can't See Him From The Road' (co-written with Donny Blanz and Judith Bruce) and included the track on 'Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy' (Liberty Records, 1992).

Ed Bruce recorded for Epic Records between 1977 and 1978 and saw the release of two fine albums; 'Tennessean' (Epic Records, 1977) and 'Cowboys And Dreamers' (Epic Records, 1978).  These exemplary albums were released as a special '2-for-1' CD by Hux Records in 2009.

However, Ed Bruce achieved his greatest commercial success with MCA Records in the 1980s.

'The Last Cowboy Song', featuring guest vocals from Willie Nelson, reached No.12 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980, while both 'Girls, Women And Ladies' and '(When You Fall In Love) Everything's A Waltz' fell just short of entering the Billboard country music Top 10 (each track reached No.14).

In 1982, Ed Bruce reached No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart with 'You're The Best Break This Heart Ever Had' (No.1 for one week in March 1982).

Other Billboard country music Top 5 singles on MCA Records included 'My First Taste Of Texas' (No.6, 1982), 'Ever, Never Lovin' You' (No.4, 1982), 'You're Not Leaving Here Tonight' (No.21, 1983), 'If It Was Easy' (No.19, 1983) and 'After All' (No.4, 1983).

In 1984, Ed Bruce switched record labels, moving from MCA Records to RCA Victor where he saw the release of 'Homecoming' (RCA Victor, 1984) and 'Night Things' (RCA Victor, 1986).

Ed Bruce achieved a hit song from each of these albums; 'Homecoming' (RCA Victor, 1984) produced 'You Turn Me On (Like A Radio)' which reached No.3 in 1984, while 'Night Things' (RCA Victor, 1986) produced 'Nights' which reached No.4 in 1986.

When his recording career took off, Ed Bruce branched into acting, appearing in the CBS mini-series 'The Chisholms' and the television special 'The Last Days Of Frank And Jessie James'.

Ed Bruce also played the part of Tom Guthrie in an eight-month return of 'Bret Maverick' in 1982.

Later albums from Ed Bruce included 'Set Me Free' (Kingfisher Records, 1997), 'This Old Hat' (Old Hat Records, 2002) and '12 Classics' (Varese records, 2003).

Visit Ed Bruce's Official Site