Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Jerry Salley: May 2009
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 2009 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 Jerry Salley, which he submitted to this site on Friday 8 May 2009.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Jerry Salley who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Jerry Salley
This quote was submitted on Friday 8 May 2009.
'The legendary Gene Watson is one of the greatest singers in country music history.
I remember well the first time I heard 'Love In The Hot Afternoon' and 'Paper Rosie' - WOW! - and of course 'Farewell Party' - they changed my whole world!
These songs - and many others given life by Gene's voice - are a large part of the reason I developed a dream to go to Nashville and become a songwriter and singer. Gene Watson is the 'real deal'.
His never wavering, life-long commitment to traditional country music - its 'real-life' stories and melodies - has etched him a very important place in our collective country music history.
Having a song recorded by Gene Watson is one of the greatest honours of my career. I am a true fan!'
Thank you, Jerry Salley, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jerry Salley...
Jerry Salley is originally from Chillicothe, Ohio and has been writing and singing in Nashville since 1982. Jerry Salley is the 2003 'SESAC Country Music Songwriter of the Year' and has been writing and singing in Nashville since 1982.
To date, Jerry Salley has had over three hundred songs recorded in his career, including the following:
Steven Curtis Chapman recorded Jerry Salley's 'Hiding Place' (co-written with Steven Curtis Chapman) and included the track on 'First Hand' (Sparrow Records, 1987).
Steven Curtis Chapman recorded Jerry Salley's 'His Strength Is Perfect' (co-written with Steven Curtis Chapman) and included the track on 'First Hand' (Sparrow Records, 1988).
Wild Rose recorded Jerry Salley's 'Breaking New Ground' and included the track on 'Breaking New Ground' (Capitol Records, 1990).
John Anderson recorded Jerry Salley's 'I Fell In The Water' (co-written with Jeff Stevens) and included the track on 'Solid Ground' (BNA Records, 1993); the track reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in November 1993.
Patty Loveless recorded Jerry Salley's 'Love Builds The Bridges (Pride Builds The Walls)' and included the track on 'Only What I Feel' (Epic Records, 1993).
Reba McEntire recorded Jerry Salley's 'Close To Crazy' (co-written with Melba Montgomery) and included the track on 'What If It's You' (MCA Records, 1996).
The Osborne Brothers recorded Jerry Salley's 'You Don't Have To Go Home (But You Can't Stay Here)' (co-written with Larry Shell and Larry Cordle) and included the track on 'Class of '96' (Pinecastle Records, 1996).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Jerry Salley's 'Trouble Free' and included the track on 'Trouble Free' (Giant Records, 1996).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Jerry Salley's 'An Old Memory Found Itself Back Home Again' (co-written with Melba Montgomery) and included the track on 'Trouble Free' (Giant Records, 1996).
Wade Hayes recorded Jerry Salley's 'How Do You Sleep At Night' and included the track on 'When the Wrong One Loves You Right' (Sony/Columbia Records, 1998).
Toby Keith recorded Jerry Salley's 'I Know A Wall When I See One' and included the track on 'How Do You Like Me Now' (Dreamworks Records, 1999).
Neal McCoy recorded Jerry Salley's 'That's Not Her' and included the track on 'Life of the Party' (Atlantic Records, 1999).
Loretta Lynn recorded Jerry Salley's 'Don't Close That Door' and included the track on 'Still Country' (Audium Records, 2000).
Darryl Worley recorded Jerry Salley's 'Is It Just Us' and included the track on 'Hard Rain Don't Last' (Dreamworks Records, 2000).
Rebecca Lynn Howard recorded Jerry Salley's 'You're Not A Memory Yet' and included the track on 'Rebecca Lynn Howard' (MCA Nashville, 2000).
Tracy Lawrence recorded Jerry Salley's 'It's Got You All Over It' (co-written with Lance Miller and J.B. Rudd) and included the track on 'Tracy Lawrence' (Warner Bros. Records, 2001).
Joe Nichols recorded Jerry Salley's 'You Can't Break The Fall' (co-written with Mark McClurg) and included the track on 'Man with a Memory' (Universal South Records, 2002).
Darryl Worley recorded Jerry Salley's 'I Built This Wall' and included the track on 'I Miss My Friend' (Dreamworks Records, 2002).
Reba McEntire recorded Jerry Salley's 'I’m Gonna Take That Mountain' and included the track on 'Room to Breathe' (MCA Records, 2003).
Brad Paisley recorded Jerry Salley's 'The Best Thing That I Had Going' (co-written with Chris Stapleton) and included the track on 'Mud on the Tires' (Arista Records, 2003).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Jerry Salley's 'An Old Memory Found Its Way Back Home Again' (co-written with Melba Montgomery) and included the track on 'One Step Ahead' (Rounder Records, 2003).
Mark Chesnutt recorded Jerry Salley's 'Hard Secret To Keep' (co-written with Jim McBride) and included the track on 'Savin' the Honky Tonks' (Vivaton Records, 2004).
Darryl Worley recorded Jerry Salley's 'If I Could Tell The Truth' and included the track on 'Darryl Worley' (Dreamworks Records, 2004).
Alecia Nugent recorded Jerry Salley's 'Paper And Pen' and included the track on 'Alecia Nugent' (Rounder Records, 2004).
Travis Tritt recorded Jerry Salley's 'Small Doses' and included the track on 'My Honky Tonk History' (Columbia Records, 2004).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Jerry Salley's 'You Don't Have To Go Home' (co-written with Larry Cordle and Larry Shell) and included the track on 'The Journey' (Springhill Records, 2004).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Jerry Salley's 'Saving Grace' (co-written with Charles Wilburn) and included the track on 'The Journey' (Springhill Records, 2004).
Elizabeth Cook recorded Jerry Salley's 'Before I Go That Far' (co-written with Elizabeth Cook and Jim McBride) and included the track on 'This Side of the Moon' (Hog Country Records, 2005).
Alecia Nugent recorded Jerry Salley's 'Somewhere Else To Fall' and included the track on 'A Little Girl...A Big Four Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Alecia Nugent recorded Jerry Salley's 'You've Still Got It' (co-written with John Pennell) and included the track on 'A Little Girl...A Big Four Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Alecia Nugent recorded Jerry Salley's 'Breaking New Ground' and included the track on 'A Little Girl...A Big Four Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Mark Chesnutt recorded Jerry Salley's 'Hard Secret To Keep' (co-written with Jim McBride) and included the track on 'Heard It In A Love Song' (CBUJ Records, 2006).
Bradley Walker recorded Jerry Salley's 'He Carried Her Memory' (co-written with Jim McBride) and included the track on 'Highway of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006).
Bobby Osborne recorded Jerry Salley's 'Under A Lonesome Moon' (co-written with Glen Duncan) and included the track on 'Bluegrass Melodies' (Rounder Records, 2007).
The Greencards recorded Jerry Salley's 'Shinin' In The Dark' and included the track on 'Viridian' (Dualtone Records, 2007).
The Greencards recorded Jerry Salley's 'Lonesome Side Of Town' and included the track on 'Viridian' (Dualtone Records, 2007).
Gene Watson recorded Jerry Salley's 'Staying Together' (co-written with Monty Holmes) and included the track on 'A Taste of the Truth' (Shanachie Records, 2009); the track was a duet with Rhonda Vincent.
Gene Watson recorded Jerry Salley's 'We've Got A Pulse' (co-written with Billy Yates) and included the track on 'A Taste of the Truth' (Shanachie Records, 2009); the track was a duet with Trace Adkins.
Teea Goans recorded Jerry Salley's 'I Don't Do Bridges Anymore' (co-written with Jim McBride and Don Poythress) and included the track on 'The Way I Remember It' (Crosswind Records, 2010).
Jerry Salley is a six-time Dove Award nominee, having won a prestigious Dove for the 1990 Inspirational Song of the Year 'His Strength Is Perfect', which was recorded by, and co-written with, Steven Curtis Chapman.
Numerous other nationally known country, gospel & bluegrass artists have also recorded Jerry Salley’s songs, including IIIrd Time Out, Seldom Scene, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Del McCoury Band, Lonesome River Band, Dale Ann Bradley, Woody Lee, Gina Jeffries, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Melba Montgomery, The Wilburns, Margo Smith, Susi Luchsinger, Gary Stewart (Sunday 28 May 1944 - Tuesday 16 December 2003) and Shenandoah.
As an artist, Jerry Salley has performed on numerous stage shows, including the honour of performing as a soloist many times on the world famous Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Jerry's television appearances have included 'Late Night with David Letterman', Regis & Kathy Lee, NBC’s 'Today Show', along with several different TNN (The Nashville Network) shows.
In addition to his Dove recognition from the Gospel Music Association, Jerry Salley has received numerous awards from different associations for his song-writing accomplishments (IBMA, NSAI, SESAC and Gospel Voice magazine).
Along with friends Carl Jackson and Larry Cordle, the trio (Cordle, Jackson and Salley) recorded the song 'You’re Running Wild' on the Louvin Brothers tribute on Universal South Records, which features numerous country music stars singing songs made famous by the legendary duo.
Entitled 'Livin’, Lovin’, Losin’ - Songs Of The Louvin Brothers' (Universal South Records, 2003), the project won the 2003 Grammy for 'Country Album of the Year'.
Jerry Salley saw the release of 'New Songs, Old Friends' (Mountain Home Records, 2006), which included 'The Distance', a heartbreaking duet with Rhonda Vincent.
Gene Watson and Jerry Salley at Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville on Thursday 18 March 2010
Visit Jerry Salley's Official Site
Visit Jerry Salley's Official MySpace Site