Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Herb Pedersen: October 2004

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 2004 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 Herb Pedersen, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 8 October 2004.

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

Herb Pedersen
This quote was submitted on Sunday 10 October 2004

'Gene Watson represents everything good about country music artistry, and he doesn't have to strut around about it either'.

Thank you, Herb Pedersen, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Herb Pedersen...

Herb Pedersen began his career in Berkeley, California in the early 1960s playing 5-string banjo and acoustic guitar with people like David Grisman, Butch Waller, David Nelson and Jerry Garcia. Herb has done well in adding his talents to the recordings of many folk and country music artists down through the years.

Herb has lived in southern California for most of his life and has participated in select music groups, either in recording, or travelling on the road doing concerts. His recording discography is like a who's who of the singer/songwriter scene, so prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s. His own groups, like The Desert Rose Band (with Chris Hillman and John Jorgenson) and The Laurel Canyon Ramblers, show why Herb is so respected in the industry.

With his lifelong pal, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen is in the process of continuing the type of music they both grew up playing and singing. There is a work in progress most of the time and that's the way Herb likes it.

Television and motion picture sound tracks are something Herb has been involved in since the early 1970s. Shows like The Rockford Files, Smokey and The Bandit, the Maverick movie with Mel Gibson, Hunter and The Simpsons, have all used Herb, either on 5-string banjo, or vocals for many years.

Artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Johnny Rivers, Dan Fogelberg (Monday 13 August 1951 - Sunday 16 December 2007), James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jennifer Warnes, John Prine and Jesse Winchester have used Herb Pedersen's talents in the past and in all probability will continue to do so.

From Carnegie Hall in New York to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Herb Pedersen's been on the scene enjoying every minute of it.

On Tuesday 25 October 2005, Merle Haggard saw the release of 'Chicago Wind' (Capitol Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:

'Chicago Wind' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Where's All The Freedom' (written by Merle Haggard)
'White Man Singin' The Blues' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Leavin's Not The Only Way To Go', which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 - Sunday 25 October 1992)
'What I've Been Meaning To Say' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Mexico' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Honky Tonk Man' (written by Dewayne Blackwell)
'America First' (written by Merle Haggard)
'It Always Will Be' (written by Willie Nelson)
'I Still Can't Say Goodbye' (written by Robert Blinn and James Moore)
'Some Of Us Fly' (written by Merle Haggard) / duet with Toby Keith

Personnel involved in the recording of Merle Haggard's 'Chicago Wind' (Capitol Records, 2005) included the following:

Merle Haggard (vocals, guitar)
Thom Bresh (acoustic guitar)
Doug Colosio (keyboards)
Shannon Forrest (drums)
Scott Joss (fiddle, mandolin)
Leland Sklar (bass)
Don Markham (trumpet)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Alti Ovarsson (piano)
Herb Pedersen (banjo, background vocals)
Mike Post (guitar, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer)
Michael Rhodes (bass)
John '4 Daddman' Robinson (drums)
Billy Joe Walker Junior (acoustic and electric guitar)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Gabe Witcher (fiddle)
Reggie Young (electric guitar)

Alan Jackson recorded Herb Pedersen's 'Wait A Minute' and included the track on 'Like Red on a Rose' (Arista Records, 2006).

Visit Herb Pedersen's Official Site