Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Kathy Chiavola: May 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 Kathy Chiavola, which she submitted to this site on Wednesday 31 May 2006.

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

Kathy Chiavola
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 31 May 2006.

'Gene Watson is the definition of a great country singer; there is none better.

He's the real deal, a one of a kind treasure who possesses gorgeous tone, great phrasing and technique, the life experience to communicate emotion and connect in a masterful way'.

Thank you, Kathy Chiavola, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Kathy Chiavola...

Kathy Chiavola, who was born in Chicago and raised in Kansas City, Missouri has had a very eclectic musical background.  She grew up listening to classical music, then folk music and then joined a rock and roll band.  Kathy has also dabbled with opera music; she then discovered bluegrass.

Kathy Chiavola was awarded a scholarship to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where she earned her bachelor’s and masters degrees in voice.  She later studied in a doctoral program at Indiana University with Metropolitan Opera star Eileen Farrell and then moved to Nashville in 1980.

Kathy Chiavola worked with The Doug Dillard Band, Vassar Clements, Country Gazette, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer and Mark O'Connor before forming her own group.

Kathy Chiavola's sound is acoustic; a delightful combination of traditional country and bluegrass with a little blues thrown in.

Kathy Chiavola's debut album, 'Labor Of Love' (My Label, 1990), garnered unanimous critical acclaim in 1990 when it was released on the My Label record label; in the UK, 'Labor Of Love' was released by London's Tower Records.

'Labor Of Love' gathered unanimous critical acclaim upon its release; it was London’s Tower Records’ No.1 country album for two weeks and reached No.2 on the UK country music singles chart.

Kathy Chiavola also contributed 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' to the compilation album 'A Picture Of Hank: The New Bluegrass Way' (Mercury Records, 1995), a bluegrass tribute to Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953).

Kathy Chiavola was voted 1995’s 'Outstanding Background Vocalist' in the Nashville Music Awards and has sung on hundreds of recordings with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998), Kathy Mattea, Garth Brooks, Emmylou Harris and Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 - Monday 9 September 1996).

Kathy Chiavola's second album, 'The Harvest' (My Label, 1995), was released on My Label in 1995 and on Demon Records UK in 1996 and featured a multitude of special guests, including Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 - Saturday 30 June 2001), Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 - Monday 9 September 1996), Randy Howard (1961 - Tuesday 29 June 1999), Roy Huskey Junior (Monday 17 December 1956 - Saturday 6 September 1997), Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 - Wednesday 30 March 2011), John Cowan, Bela Fleck and Tony Rice.

'The Harvest' (My Label, 1995 and Demon Records UK, 1996) was hailed as one of the top five bluegrass albums of 1996; Kathy Chiavola's duet with Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 - Monday 9 September 1996) is believed to be his last vocal recording.

Kathy Chiavola’s third album, 'From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute' (My Label, 2001), was released on My Label in 2001.

'From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute' was Kathy Chiavola's heartfelt tribute to her friend and wonderful fiddle player Randy Howard (1961 - Tuesday 29 June 1999), who passed away, at the age of thirty-eight, on Tuesday 29 June 1999.

Kathy Chiavola's 'Somehow' (My Label, 2006) was released in 2006 on My Label; this album was Kathy Chiavola's first recording of all original songs and incorporated diverse influences; bluegrass, blues, jazz, Latin and country with an extraordinary cast of musicians including Victor Wooten, Edgar Meyer, Darrell Scott and Stuart Duncan.

Kathy Chiavola has toured the US, UK, Europe and extensively in Japan and was the first bluegrass artist to perform in the Faroe Islands.

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