Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Maxine Brown: April 2011
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 2011 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 Maxine Brown, which she submitted to this site on Thursday 28 April 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Maxine Brown who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Maxine Brown
This quote was submitted on Thursday 28 April 2011.
'It would be an honour for me to make some sort of quote - thanks for asking.
'Love In The Hot Afternoon makes me wish I was young again...and making love in some tangled old sheets in New Orleans or anywhere.
I love Gene Watson's singing!'
Thank you, Maxine Brown, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Maxine Brown...
Maxine Brown was born on Monday 27 April 1931 in Campti, Louisiana and was raised in various towns and villages in Arkansas. In 1952, Maxine began singing with her younger brother, Jim Ed Brown, on the Barnyard Frolic, a live weekly radio show from Little Rock in Arkansas.
Maxine and Jim Ed recorded their first hit, 'Looking Back To See', Maxine’s own composition, in 1954. The track climbed to No.8 on the country music chart and was subsequently included on their debut album, 'Jim Edward And Maxine And Bonnie' (RCA Records, 1957), which was released in April 1957.
'Jim Edward And Maxine And Bonnie' (RCA Records, 1957) also included 'I Heard The Bluebirds Sing', which reached No.4 on the country music charts in 1957.
Soon after, their younger sister, Bonnie, joined the act. They joined the Louisiana Hayride in 1954; it was there that they met and befriended Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977), who was then seeking a job on that show. The Browns toured with Elvis Presley from 1954 until 1956, when they became members of The Ozark Jubilee, a nationally broadcast television series.
Their next song, 'Here Today And Gone Tomorrow', which Maxine Brown also wrote, went to No.7 on the country music charts in 1957; the track was subsequently included on 'The Best Of The Browns' (RCA Records, 1966), which was released in May 1966.
Initially, the three siblings billed themselves as 'Jim Edward, Maxine and Bonnie Brown', but by 1958, they were performing and recording simply as 'The Browns'.
Then, in 1959, The Browns released the record that would make them literally world-famous. The song in question was 'The Three Bells', an English version of the French song 'Les Trois Cloches' and their producer was the renowned guitarist Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 - Saturday 30 June 2001).
'The Three Bells' climbed to No.1 on the country music singles chart and remained there for a total of ten weeks. The track also topped the pop charts for four weeks and went to No. 10 on the rhythm and blues chart.
'The Three Bells' was subsequently included on 'Sweet Sounds By The Browns' (RCA Records, 1959), which was released in September 1959.
In March 1960, The Browns saw the release of 'Town & Country' (RCA Records, 1959), which included hit songs 'The Old Lamplighter' (No.20, 1960) and 'Scarlet Ribbons' (No.7, 1960).
The Browns toured Europe, where they were greeted by members of another singing group that would soon be calling itself 'The Beatles' and appeared on such popular musical variety programs as 'American Bandstand', 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'The Arthur Murray Show'.
After numerous guest appearances, The Browns joined the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in 1963, where they continued as one of its most popular acts.
In January 1965, The Browns saw the release of 'Three Shades Of Brown' (RCA Records, 1965), which included the hit song 'I Take The Chance' (No.2, 1965).
In May 1965, The Browns saw the release of 'I Heard The Bluebirds Sing' (RCA Records, 1965), which included the hit songs 'I Heard The Bluebirds Sing' (No.4, 1965) and 'Send Me The Pillow You Dream On' (No.23, 1965).
In November 1966, The Browns saw the release of 'Our Kind Of Country' (RCA Records, 1966), which included the hit song 'I'd Just Be Fool Enough (To Fall)' (No.16, 1966).
'Our Kind Of Country' (RCA Records, 1966) also included a rendition of Bill Anderson's 'Tips Of My Fingers'.
Faced with family responsibilities, Maxine and Bonnie left the group in 1967, while Jim Ed Brown continued as a soloist.
In 1966, Jim Ed Brown scored his first solo success with 'Pop-A-Top Again'. Through the 1960s and 1970s, he continued to grow as a star in his own right with more hit singles, including 'Southern Loving', 'Sometime Sunshine' and 'Morning'.
A six-season run as co-host of the syndicated weekly television series, 'Nashville On The Road' began in 1975, further enhancing Jim Ed's career and leading to his being selected as a national spokesperson for Dollar General Stores.
Then in 1976, he teamed up with Helen Cornelius to form one of the most successful recording duos of all time. With smash releases like 'Don't Bother To Knock' and 'Saying Hello, Saying I Love You, Saying Goodbye'. Jim Ed and Helen also set an industry record when 'Lying In Love With You' made the largest single country chart leap in Billboard country music singles chart history, vaulting from 0 to 19.
In 1983, Jim Ed started working with TNN, the Nashville Network and remained host of 'You Can Be A Star' for six years; he also co-hosted 'Going Our Way' with his wife Becky.
Beginning in 2003, Jim Ed Brown added another chapter to his entertainment repertoire when he began hosting the weekly 'Country Greats' music radio show. As of 2009, the popular weekly show was being broadcast on nearly two-hundred stations throughout the United States. Jim Ed’s folksy storytelling and warm recollections of the stories behind the songs has helped make the show the fastest growing country music show in America.
Jim Ed Brown still remains with the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville where he is an audience favourite. He still performs around thirty shows per year on the Grand Ole Opry, as well as performing a number of shows on the road.
In addition to his radio and television commitments, Jim Ed Brown continues to tour throughout the United States of America where he presents his down-to-earth brand of family entertainment to an ever growing legion of fans.
Maxine Brown also recorded briefly as a solo act with Chart Records in 1968-1969, scoring the country hit 'Sugar Cane Country'.
In the years since, The Browns reunited for special events and performed occasionally on the hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where Jim Ed remains a member.
In 1996, The Browns briefly joined the roster of the independent Nashville-based record label Step One Records and saw the release of a gospel set titled 'Family Bible' (Step One Records, 1996).
In 2005, the University of Arkansas Press published Maxine Brown’s autobiography titled 'Looking Back To See', a copy of which can be purchased at many bookstores, the Bill Clinton Museum Store and online.
Evi Tommysdottir Djurhuus (stage name Evi Tausen) saw the release of 'Wishing Well' (Evi Djurhuus, 2011), which featured a duet recording, with Jim Ed Brown, of the classic country song 'Oh, How I Miss You Tonight'.
'Oh, How I Miss You Tonight' (written by Benny Davis, Joe Burke and Mark Fisher) was recorded by Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 - Friday 31 July 1964) and included on 'The Intimate Jim Reeves' (RCA Records, 1960).
In 1979, while singing at a private party, Deborah Allen was discovered by producer Bud Logan, who invited her to sing on five unfinished duet tracks by the late country legend Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 - Friday 31 July 1964).
Three of these songs were 'Don't Let Me Cross Over' (No.10, 1979), 'Oh, How I Miss You Tonight' (No.6, 1979) and 'Take Me In Your Arms And Hold Me' (No.10, 1980). All three duets were released as singles and made the Billboard Top 10 on the country charts for Reeves' longtime label, RCA Records. Deborah Allen was billed as 'The Mystery Singer' on the first release, an innovative promotion by label head, Joe Galante.
Visit Maxine Brown's Official Site