Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Norma Jean: June 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 Pretty Miss Norma Jean, which she submitted to this site on Friday 30 June 2006.

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

Pretty Miss Norma Jean
This quote was submitted on Friday 30 June 2006.

'Gene Watson is one of the finest artists we've ever had in the music business, and such a credit to us all!'

Thank you, Pretty Miss Norma Jean, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Pretty Miss Norma Jean...

Pretty Miss Norma Jean was born Norma Jean Beasler into a hard-working farm family near Wellston, Oklahoma on Sunday 30 January 1938. As a child, she wanted to be a country star like Kitty Wells (Saturday 30 August 1919 - Monday 16 July 2012) and made her professional debut singing 'If Teardrops Were Pennies', when she was twelve yeards old, on the radio in Oklahoma City. While in high school, she toured with a few Western swing bands, including those of Billy Gray and Merle Lindsay.

Norma Jean's big break came in 1958 when she became a cast member of the Springfield, Missouri-based ABC-TV show 'Ozark Jubilee', where Red Foley (Friday 17 June 1910 - Thursday 19 September 1968) suggested shortening her name to 'Norma Jean'. She recorded briefly for Columbia Records and then moved to Nashville in 1960, where she became a backup vocalist for the touring and television shows hosted by Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007).

Norma Jean's new level of exposure led to Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 - Saturday 30 June 2001) signing her to a recording contract with RCA Victor, where she achieved her first chart single; 'Let's Go All The Way'.  The song peaked at No.11 on the Billboard country music singles charts in 1963.

An album of the same name was produced and the album spawned two more Billboard Top 40 country music hits, starting with 'I'm A Walking Advertisement (For The Blues)', which was followed by 'Put Your Arm Around Her'.  Because of the singles' success, Norma Jean was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.

In late 1965, Norma Jean released an album; 'Pretty Miss Norma Jean' was the most successful album of her career, reaching No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.  The first single from the album, 'Go Cat Go', became a Billboard Top 10 hit, peaking at No.8.

Two more singles were released, starting with 'I Cried All The Way To The Bank', which also proved successful.  After that, 'I Wouldn't Buy A Used Car From Him', which was written by acclaimed songwriter Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 - Sunday 3 March 2002), was another Top 10 hit, making Norma one of the most popular female country singers of the era.

Between 1965 and 1967, Norma Jean produced a series of solid country music singles and albums.  She also continued to be very successful on Porter Wagoner's show; on television, she projected a wholesome image, singing hurting and cheating songs which were relevant to her personal life.

Norma Jean's biggest hit came in 1966 and was an unusual recording with Bobby Bare and Liz Anderson (Monday 13 January 1930 - Monday 31 October 2011); 'The Game Of Triangles' was a wife-husband-other woman drama that hit No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart and earned the trio a Grammy nomination.

Norma Jean's seven year association with Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) ended in 1967, when she was replaced by Dolly Parton. She continued to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, between 1965 and 1969, and recorded more singles for RCA Records.

In 1967, Norma Jean enjoyed two Billboard Top 30 country music hits, 'Don't Let That Doorknob Hit You' and 'Heaven Help The Working Girl'.  Norma Jean left RCA Records and returned to Oklahoma in the late 1960s; she had her last chart hit in 1971 with 'The Kind Of Needin' I Need'.

Norma Jean inched back into the country music industry in the 1980s with a few recordings and some personal appearances.  She made a minor chart appearance with Claude Gray with a remake of her 1963 hit, 'Let's Go All The Way'.

In recent years, Norma Jean has been associated with Cowboy Church in Branson, Missouri.  In 2005, Norma Jean saw the release of 'The Loneliest Star In Texas' (Heart Of Texas Records, 2005), her first album of new music in fifteen years.

Norma Jean's 'The Loneliest Star In Texas' (Heart Of Texas Records, 2005) contained a biographical song about her; 'Pretty Miss Norma Jean' was written by singer and performer Debbie Horton and recorded by rockabilly queen Wanda Jackson.

Norma Jean's 'The Loneliest Star In Texas' (Heart Of Texas Records, 2005) also included 'Good Morning' (written by Leona Williams), 'Crying Over You' (written by Rosie Flores) and 'Please Come Back With My Heart' (written by Levi Millen, who also played lead guitar on the album).

Norma Jean's 'The Loneliest Star In Texas' (Heart Of Texas Records, 2005) also featured backing vocals, on some tracks, from Amber Digby.

Norma Jean's accomplishments include performing at New York's Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden.

Visit Pretty Miss Norma Jean's Official Site