Gene Watson Peer's Quote from James Dean Hicks: January 2010
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 2010 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 James Dean Hicks, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 10 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to James Dean Hicks who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
James Dean Hicks
This quote was submitted on Sunday 10 January 2010.
'Gene Watson is one of the voices of country music with a sweet, smooth, velvety tone that draws a listener’s ear and holds them to every word.
I have always loved his artistry and am flattered as a writer to have him interpret one of my songs’.
Thank you, James Dean Hicks, for your support of Gene Watson.
About James Dean Hicks...
James Dean Hicks, at the age of ten, began making the trip from his home on a farm near Bardstown, Kentucky to the big-city streets of Nashville. It was there that he appeared regularly on the 'WSM Midnight Jamboree' with the Grand Ole Opry greats, including Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 - Thursday 6 September 1984) and Hank Snow (Saturday 9 May 1914 - Monday 20 December 1999).
James Dean Hicks always wanted to sing and write songs. He used to sit on his swing on the farm and make up songs. His Dad gave him a guitar and he learned to play by ear and from a chord book.
By the time he was thirteen years old, James Dean Hicks had opened concerts for Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993), Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998).
Between the ages of ten and sixteen, James Dean Hicks performed regularly at weekend jamborees. He then decided he was missing out on a regular childhood, so he laid his music performance career aside to enjoy a normal teenage life. He then really got into the rock music sounds of Journey, AC/DC and Bob Seger.
After earning a music degree in college, the next logical step for James Dean Hicks was to move to Nashville to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a professional artist/songwriter. Staff writing helped him learn his craft and helped him to learn the basics and how to knock the rough edges off.
There are, however, no rough edges in James Dean Hicks' music. His voice is as smooth as the fine Kentucky bourbon distilled in his hometown. The songs of James Dean Hicks recall the purity of sound and emotion found in the best recordings of Dan Fogelberg (Monday 13 August 1951 - Sunday 16 December 2007), the down-home simplicity of Merle Haggard and the creative edge of Don Henley.
James Dean Hicks' compositions have been recorded by a diverse group of artists, including The Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993), Confederate Railroad, Sammy Kershaw, Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Bryan White, Crystal Gayle, Charlie Daniels, Linda Davis, John Michael Montgomery, Neal McCoy, Collin Raye, Lorrie Morgan and Skip Ewing.
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded James Dean Hicks' 'It Takes A Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)' (co-written with Roger Murrah and Steve Dean) and included the track on 'Where The Fast Lane Ends' (MCA Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May/June 1987.
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded James Dean Hicks' 'This Crazy Love' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Where The Fast Lane Ends' (MCA Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1987.
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Goodbye Time' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Still In Your Dreams' (MCA Records, 1988); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Gene Watson recorded James Dean Hicks' 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' (co-written with Bobby P. Barker) and included the track as the 'b' side of his 'Don't Waste It On The Blues' single, which reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988; 'Don't Waste It On The Blues' was included on 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), but 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' was not included on the album.
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Nobody Can Fill Your Shoes' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'House On Old Lonesome Road' (MCA Records, 1989).
Linda Davis recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Knowin' We'll Never Know' (co-written with Jim Rushing) and included the track on 'In A Different Light' (Liberty Records, 1991).
Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 - Thursday 13 June 1996) recorded James Dean Hicks' 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' (co-written with Bobby P. Barker) and included the track on 'Keith Palmer' (Epic Records, 1991).
John Michael Montgomery recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Line On Love' (co-written with David Willis and Rick West) and included the track on 'Life's A Dance' (Atlantic Records, 1992).
Crystal Gayle recorded James Dean Hicks' 'The Least That I Can Do' (co-written with Allen Holmes and Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Three Good Reasons' (Liberty Records, 1992).
Sammy Kershaw recorded James Dean Hicks' 'National Working Woman's Holiday' (co-written with Roger Murrah and Pat Terry) and included the track on 'Feelin' Good Train' (Mercury Records, 1994); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1994.
James Dean Hicks' 'National Working Woman's Holiday' (co-written with Roger Murrah and Pat Terry) was also included on Sammy Kershaw's 'The Ultimate Collection' (HumpHead Country, 2008).
Collin Raye recorded James Dean Hicks' 'A Bible And A Bus Ticket Home' (co-written with Craig Wiseman) and included the track on 'Extremes' (Epic Records, 1994).
Neal McCoy recorded recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Why Now' (co-written with John Schweers) and included the track on 'No Doubt About It' (Atlantic Records, 1994).
Larry Stewart recorded James Dean Hicks' 'It's How Deep' (co-written with John Schweers) and included the track on 'Heart Like A Hurricane' (Columbia Records, 1994).
Larry Stewart recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Mama Needs Someone To Hold Her' (co-written with Marc Beeson) and included the track on 'Heart Like A Hurricane' (Columbia Records, 1994).
Kenny Chesney recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Grandpa Told Me So' (co-written with Mark Alan Springer) and included the track on 'All I Need To Know' (BNA Records, 1995); the track reached No.23 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1995.
Bryan White recorded James Dean Hicks' 'What Did I Do (To Deserve You)' (co-written with Jamie Houston and Andy Goldmark) and included the track on 'The Right Place' (Asylum Records, 1997).
Randy Travis recorded James Dean Hicks' 'The Hole' (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on 'You And You Alone' (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 1998); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1998.
Confederate Railroad recorded recorded James Dean Hicks' 'A Bible And A Bus Ticket Home' (co-written with Craig Wiseman) and included the track on 'Keep On Rocking' (Atlantic Records, 1998).
Bryan White recorded James Dean Hicks' 'That Good' (co-written with Andy Goldmark and Jamie Houston) and included the track on 'How Lucky I Am' (Asylum Records, 1999).
Bryan White recorded James Dean Hicks' 'God Gave Me You' (co-written with Andy Goldmark and Jamie Houston) and included the track on 'How Lucky I Am' (Asylum Records, 1999); the track reached No.40 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1999.
Kenny Rogers recorded James Dean Hicks' 'I Wish That I Could Say That' (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on 'There You Go Again' (Dreamcatcher Records, 2000).
Wynonna recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Heaven Help Me' (co-written with Chuck Cannon) and included the track on 'What The World Needs Now Is Love' (Asylum/Curb Records, 2003).
Confederate Railroad recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Jesus And Mama' (co-written with Danny Mayo) and included the track on 'Confederate Railroad' (Atlantic Nashville Records, 2004); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 2005.
Blake Shelton recorded James Dean Hicks' 'Goodbye Time' (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on 'Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill' (Warner Bros. Records, 2004); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 2005.
Gene Watson recorded James Dean Hicks' 'What Was I Thinking' (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on 'In a Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007).
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