Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Jim Glaser: November 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 Jim Glaser, which he submitted to this site on Friday 10 November 2006.

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

Jim Glaser
This quote was submitted on Friday 10 November 2006.

'Whenever I'm tuning up and down the country music radio dial, quite often I'll hear a voice that I don't immediately recognise. But that never happens when I hear a song by Gene Watson.

His voice is so rich and clear, his delivery strong and solidly on pitch (even back in the days when artist's voices weren't electronically tuned) that I always stop and listen until he finishes the song. He's truly a credit to our industry'.

Thank you, Jim Glaser, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Jim Glaser...

Jim Glaser is a native of Spalding, Nebraska, where he was born in December 1937. He was a member of the family group Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, who began life as session musicians for Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982) and Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 - Friday 12 September 2003).

The Glaser Brothers provided harmony voices on two major country music hits; Marty Robbins' 'El Paso' (No.1 on both the country and pop music charts in 1959) and Johnny Cash's 'Ring Of fire' (No.1 for seven weeks on the country charts in 1963, when it was also a Top 20 hit on the pop charts).

The Glaser Brothers travelled with the Marty Robbins show for three years; some of the first country performers to appear in Las Vegas, Marty Robbins and Tompall & The Glaser Brothers enjoyed a six-week run at the Showboat Casino in 1960.

The Glaser Brothers' stint on the road with Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 - Friday 12 September 2003) included performances at Steel Pier in Atlantic City and New York City's prestigious Carnegie Hall.
Jim Glaser and his brothers were also with Patsy Cline (Thursday 8 September 1932 - Tuesday 5 March 1963) for her debut at The Mint Casino in Las Vegas, just weeks before her tragic death, in March 1963.

As members of the Grand Ole Opry for fifteen years, Jim Glaser and his two brothers, (Tompall and the Glaser Brothers), won nearly every group award country music had to offer. Billboard Magazine presented them with an award for being the most awarded group in country music.



Cal Smith recorded Jim Glaser's 'Thanks A Lot For Trying Anyway' and included the track on 'Goin' To Cal's Place' (Kapp Records, 1967).

The Glaser Brothers enjoyed a number of their own hit songs; 'Rings' (No.7, 1971) and 'Lovin Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)' (No.2, 1981).  The Glaser Brothers disbanded in 1973 and stayed apart for six years.

Jim Glaser had first appeared on the Billboard charts as a solo artist in 1968 and, by 1979, he was still looking for the right break, when he met Don Tolle, a pop promotion man for A&M Records. Don wanted to develop his own record label, but it would be 1982 before he could muster enough financial backing to launch Noble Vision.

Jim Glaser was the first artist and saw the release of 'Man In The Mirror' (Noble Vision Records, 1983), from which four singles made dents in the Top 40 of the Billboard country music singles chart. A fifth single from the album, 'You're Gettin' To Me Again', was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1984. As a consequence, Jim Glaser was voted 'Top New Male Vocalist Of The Year' by the Academy of Country Music (ACM).

Noble Vision was unable to replicate this success and was taken over by MCA Records, but this relationship lasted only a short time.  Jim Glaser, however, did well as a backing vocalist, appearing on Sylvia's 'Drifter' (No.1 for one week in April 1981) and Ronnie McDowell's 'Watchin' Girls Go By' (No.4, 1981).

Visit Jim Glaser's Official Site