Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Ray Griff: September 2004

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 2004 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 Ray Griff, which he submitted to this site on Monday 6 September 2004.

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

Ray Griff
This quote was submitted on Monday 6 September 2004.

'Gene Watson is probably the last of the truly great traditional country music singers around today.

I've been a Gene Watson fan since he recorded my song 'Where Love Begins', and each and every time he has recorded one of my songs has been a natural high for me.

Gene is one of the few artists who sings a song the way the writer hears it in his head'.

Thank you, Ray Griff, for your support of Gene Watson.


About Ray Griff...

Ray Griff was born on Monday 22 April 1940 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the younger of two sons by Katherine and George Griff. Due to a breakup of the marriage and financial hard ships, Katherine left with her two sons and moved to Winfield, Alberta where she found employment as a bookkeeper.  Her sheer determination and years of sacrificing is what moulded Ray!

Having a great love for music, at the age of eight, Ray Griff, along with his brother Ken and three other local kids, formed a band calling themselves 'The Winfield Amateurs', a title that later became one of Ray's most popular songs (and the title of one of his albums, 'The Last Of The Winfield Amateurs' for Capitol Records in 1976). Ray sang and played drums in the band.

Saving his pennies, Ray Griff purchased a Palm Beach guitar that he taught himself to play. It was about this time that Ray started writing songs. His mum Katherine scraped together enough funds to buy an old upright piano; Ray taught himself to play the piano as well.

When Ray turned twelve, the family decided to move to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Coming into adulthood, Ray worked at a grocery store after school and on weekends to help with the family bills.

Ray Griff fronted his own group in the late 1950s called 'The Blue Echo's' and began to earn a name for himself in and around Calgary, performing at high school hops and at local community affairs. It was during one of these performances that he attracted the attention of local radio personality and promoter D'Arcy Scott, who asked Ray to be the opening act for Johnny Horton (Thursday 30 April 1925 - Saturday 5 November 1960) on a tour of Western Canada.

Johnny Horton (Thursday 30 April 1925 - Saturday 5 November 1960) recorded Ray Griff's 'Mister Moonlight' and included the track on 'The Spectacular Johnny Horton' (Columbia Records, 1959).

During the tour, Ray Griff played a song he had written for Johnny Horton (Thursday 30 April 1925 - Saturday 5 November 1960) called 'Mister Moonlight', which Johnny included on his classic album 'The Spectacular Johnny Horton' (Columbia Records, 1959). Ray decided to quit school and took a day job to make enough money to get to Nashville to pitch his songs. He also entertained at a local nightclub, being the first live entertainment to perform in Calgary when the Liquor Bill was passed.

Ray Griff made his first trip to Nashville in 1961 leaving countless tapes of his songs with music publishers and record labels. For the next two years, Ray fine-tuned his talents as a songwriter and performer. It was after a Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 – Friday 31 July 1964) concert in Calgary that Ray presented Jim with his song 'Where Do I Go From Here'.

Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 - Friday 31 July 1964) recorded Ray Griff's 'Where Do I Go From Here' and included the track on 'We Thank Thee' (RCA Records, 1963).

Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 – Friday 31 July 1964) not only recorded the song on his next album, 'We Thank Thee' (RCA Records, 1962), but he also invited Ray to move to Nashville. After completing a Canadian nightclub tour, Ray made the long anticipated move to Music City in 1964. Sadly, Jim Reeves, Ray Griff's friend and mentor, perished in a plane crash on Friday 31 July 1964.

Though devastated and alone, Ray Griff was determined to make it in the world of country music. He got a job repairing pianos from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon, when he would pitch his songs to record labels until closing time. He would then work from six until midnight at a record pressing plant to help make ends meet. Ray also managed to write songs as well as getting his high school diploma through a correspondence course.

Bob Ferguson, a record producer in Nashville, was so impressed with Ray Griff that he hired him to pitch songs for his publishing company. Ray then recorded 'Don't Lead Me On' and 'That Weepin' Willow Tree', both of which would later be included on 'The World of Ray Griff' (RCA Records, 1977).

The session was presented to Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 - Saturday 30 June 2001) at RCA Records and Ray Griff was signed to its subsidiary label, Groove Records. Ray remained with the label until artistic differences led him to be let out of his contract.

Wilma Burgess (Sunday 11 June 1939 - Tuesday 26 August 2003) recorded Ray Griff's 'Baby' and included the track on 'Don't Touch Me' (Decca Records, 1966); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1966.

Wilma Burgess (Sunday 11 June 1939 - Tuesday 26 August 2003) recorded Ray Griff's 'Wait Till The Sun Comes Up' and included the track on 'Don't Touch Me' (Decca Records, 1966).

Shortly after, Ray Griff played a song for renowned producer Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 - Wednesday 7 January 1998). The song was 'Baby', which Owen recorded with Wilma Burgess (Sunday 11 June 1939 - Tuesday 26 August 2003), a new artist on Decca - Ray's career as a songwriter and music publisher was under way.

For the next twenty plus years, Ray Griff would remain one of the hottest songwriters and music publishers in country music. He enjoyed forty eight singles in the Top 100, as well as being the recipient of eighty seven ASCAP and BMI citations as a songwriter, artist, producer and publisher, taking home an unprecedented sixteen ASCAP awards two years running in 1975 and 1976.

Ray Griff has written over two thousand songs with more than seven hundred of his songs recorded by such renowned artists, including the following:

Eddy Arnold
Johnny Duncan
Tennessee Ernie Ford (Thursday 13 February 1919 - Thursday 17 October 1991)
Crystal Gayle
George Hamilton IV
Johnny Horton (Thursday 30 April 1925 - Saturday 5 November 1960)
Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011)
Stonewall Jackson
George Jones
Jerry Lee Lewis
Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 - Sunday 8 March 2009)
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 - Wednesday 27 December 1978)
Loretta Lynn
Wayne Newton
Dolly Parton
Ray Price
Charley Pride
Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 – Friday 31 July 1964)
Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982)
Carl Smith (Tuesday 15 March 1927 - Saturday 16 January 2010)
Hank Snow (Saturday 9 May 1914 - Monday 20 December 1999)
Mel Tillis
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993)
Porter Wagoner
Gene Watson
Roger Whittaker
Slim Whitman
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996)

Marty Robbins (Saturday26 September 1925 - Wednesday 88 December 1982) recorded Ray Griff's 'She Means Nothing To Me Now' and included the track on 'R.F.D.' (Columbia Records, 1964).

Stonewall Jackson recorded Ray Griff's 'Lost In The Shuffle' and included the track on 'Greatest Hits' (Columbia Records, 1965).

Eddy Arnold recorded Ray Griff's 'After The Laughter Comes The Tears' and included the track on 'The Last Word in Lonesome' (RCA Records, 1966).

Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 - Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Ray Griff's 'Baby' and included the track on 'Suffer Time' (RCA Records, 1966).

Eddy Arnold recorded Ray Griff's 'At Sunset' and included the track on 'Somebody Like Me' (RCA Records, 1966).

Jean Shepard and Ray Pillow recorded Ray Griff's 'Corner Of Despair' and included the track on 'I'll Take The Dog' (Capitol Records, 1966).

Jean Shepard recorded Ray Griff's 'It's The Wine That's Talking' and included the track on 'Heart, We Did All That We Could' (Capitol Records, 1967).

Eddy Arnold recorded Ray Griff's 'Baby' and included the track on 'Lonely Again' (RCA Records, 1967).



George Hamilton IV recorded Ray Griff's 'Something Special' in September 1965; the track was subsequently included on 'The Gentle Country Sound of George Hamilton IV' (RCA Records, 1968).

Hank Locklin (Friday 15 February 1918 - Sunday 8 March 2009) recorded Ray Griff's 'Softly' and included the track on 'Softly' (RCA Records, 1968).

Bill Anderson recorded Ray Griff's 'Ring Around A Rosie' and included the track on 'Wild Weekend' (Decca Records, 1968).

Mel Tillis recorded Ray Griff's 'Something Special' and included the track on 'Something Special' (Kapp Records, 1968).

Johnny Carver recorded Ray Griff's 'Your Lily White Hands' and included the track on 'You're in Good Hands' (Imperial Records, 1968).

Wilma Burgess (Sunday 11 June 1939 - Tuesday 26 August 2003) recorded Ray Griff's 'Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow' and included the track on 'Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow' (Decca Records, 1969).

Connie Smith recorded Ray Griff's 'I'll Love You Enough (For Both Of Us)' and included the track on 'Connie's Country' (RCA Records, 1969).

Eddy Arnold recorded Ray Griff's 'Sweet Bird Of Youth' and included the track on 'The Glory of Love' (RCA Records, 1969).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Ray Griff's 'Handful Of Dreams' and included the track on 'I've Got Precious Memories' (Mercury Records, 1969).

Johnny Carver recorded Ray Griff's 'Sweet Wine' and included the track on 'Sweet Wine/Hold Me Tight' (Imperial Records, 1969).

George Hamilton IV recorded Ray Griff's 'Canadian Pacific' and included the track on 'Canadian Pacific' (RCA Victor Records, 1969).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Ray Griff's 'Game For Believers' (co-written with T. Bornhorst) and included the track on 'Wine Me Up' (Mercury Records, 1969).

Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) recorded  Ray Griff's 'Shuckin' Corn' and included the track on 'Me And My Boys' (RCA Records, 1969).

Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 - Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Ray Griff's 'Gettin' Back To Norma' and included the track on 'Norma' (Epic Records, 1970).

Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 - Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Ray Griff's 'Makin' A Mountain Out Of A Molehill' and included the track on 'Norma' (Epic Records, 1970).

Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) recorded Ray Griff's 'These Are The Reasons' and included the track on 'Your Sweet Love Lifted Me' (Capitol Records, 1970).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Ray Griff's 'Step Aside' and included the track on 'Step Aside' (Mercury Records, 1971).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Ray Griff's 'Hand That Feeds You' and included the track on 'Step Aside' (Mercury Records, 1971).

Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) and Dolly Parton recorded Ray Griff's 'Better Move It On Home' and included the track on 'The Best of Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton' (RCA Records, 1971).

Kitty Wells (Saturday 30 August 1919 - Monday 16 July 2012) recorded Ray Griff's 'Step Aside' and included the track on 'Pledging My Love' (Decca Records, 1971).

George Hamilton IV recorded Ray Griff's 'You Wanted Me To Tell You Like It Is' and included the track on 'Country Music in My Soul' (RCA Records, 1972).

Jim Ed Brown recorded Ray Griff's 'Darling' and included the track on 'Brown is Blue' (RCA Records, 1972).

Jerry Lee Lewis recorded Ray Griff's 'Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano' and included the track on 'Who's Gonna Play This Old Piano' (Mercury Records, 1972).

Loretta Lynn recorded Ray Griff's 'Mornin' After Baby Let Me Down' and included the track on 'One On The Way' (Decca Records, 1972).

Bill Anderson recorded Ray Griff's 'Mornin' After Baby Let Me Down' and included the track on 'Sings For All The Lonely Women in the World' (Decca Records, 1972).

Loretta Lynn recorded Ray Griff's 'Best Years Of My Life' and included the track on 'Here I Am Again' (Decca Records, 1972).

Bill Anderson recorded Ray Griff's 'Sugar In Your Coffee' and included the track on 'Don't She Look Good' (Decca Records, 1972).

Wayne Kemp recorded Ray Griff's 'Darling' and included the track on 'Kentucky Sunshine' (MCA Records, 1973).

Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011) recorded Ray Griff's 'Love Me Back Together' and included the track on 'Sweet Honky Tonk' (ABC Records, 1973).

Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Ray Griff's 'Darling' and included the track on 'She Needs Someone to Hold Her' (Decca Records, 1973).

Slim Whitman recorded Ray Griff's 'Hold Me' and included the track on 'I'll See You When' (United Artists Records, 1973).

Bill Anderson recorded Ray Griff's 'I Can't Mend It' and included the track on 'Bill' (MCA Records, 1973).

George Jones recorded Ray Griff's 'Darling' and included the track on 'The Grand Tour' (Epic Records, 1974).

Crystal Gayle recorded Ray Griff's 'Gonna Lay Me Down Beside My Memories' and included the track on 'Crystal Gayle' (United Artists Records, 1975).

Dave Dudley (Thursday 3 May 1928 - Monday 22 December 2003) recorded Ray Griff's 'Wave At 'Em, Billy Boy' and included the track on 'Uncommonly Good Country' (United Artists Records, 1975).

Loretta Lynn recorded Ray Griff's 'Hands Of Yesterday' and included the track on 'Back To The Country' (Decca Records, 1975).

Crystal Gayle recorded Ray Griff's 'What I've Been Needing' and included the track on 'Somebody Loves You' (United Artists Records, 1975).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'Where Love Begins' and included the track on 'Love in the Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975.

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'Her Body Couldn't Keep You (Off My Mind)' and included the track on 'Because You Believed in Me' (Capitol Records, 1976); the track reached No.52 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976.

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'How Good A Bad Woman Feels' and included the track on 'Because You Believed in Me' (Capitol Records, 1976).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'Hey Louella' and included the track on 'Because You Believed in Me' (Capitol Records, 1976).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'And Then You Came Along' and included the track on 'Because You Believed in Me' (Capitol Records, 1976).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'If The Shoe Fits, Wear It' and included the track on 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol Records, 1977).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'Don't Look At Me (In That Tone Of Voice)' and included the track on 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol Records, 1977); Ray Griff recorded 'Don't Look At Me (In That Tone Of Voice)' and included the track on 'Ray Griff Sings' (GRT Records, 1972).



T.G. Sheppard recorded Ray Griff's 'Baby's Gettin' Around' and included the track on 'T.G.' (Warner Bros. Records, 1978).

Johnny Duncan and Janie Fricke recorded Ray Griff's 'It Couldn't Have Been Any Better' and included the track on 'Nice 'N' Easy' (Columbia Records, 1980).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'Between This Time And The Next Time' and included the track on 'Between This Time & The Next Time' (MCA Records, 1982); the track reached No.17 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.

In 1989, Ray Griff was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Tommy Cash recorded Ray Griff's 'Too Little Too Late' (co-written with Tommy Rocco) and included the track on '25th Anniversary Album' (Playback Records, 1990).

Gene Watson recorded Ray Griff's 'Hold That Thought' and included the track on 'Uncharted Mind' (Step One Records, 1993).

In 1998, Ray Griff was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Association's Hall Of Honor, an event which took place during Country Music Week (Friday 11 September - Monday 14 September 1998) in Calgary.

Visit Ray Griff's Official Site