Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Skip Ewing: September 2007

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 2007 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 Skip Ewing, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 13 September 2007.

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

Skip Ewing
This quote was submitted on Thursday 13 September 2007.

'Gene Watson is the real thing and a true talent. His voice immediately evokes the very heart and tradition of country music to me.

I am honoured that he would record some of my songs'.

Thank you, Skip Ewing, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Skip Ewing...

Skip Ewing was born Donald Ralph Ewing in Redlands, California on Friday 6 March 1964 and grew up in a military family and moved around often as a child. Skip discovered country music through listening to country music legends Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) and took up the guitar at a young age.

Skip Ewing began writing songs as a teenager; he also learned to play the banjo, which he played at bluegrass festivals. He took a job performing in a country show at the Busch Gardens theme park in Virginia. From there he moved to Nashville at the age of nineteen where he took a similar job at the Opryland theme park.

Now that he was now in Nashville, Skip branched out into demo and commercial singing. He worked diligently at his song-writing, so much so that he landed a staff job with the famous Acuff-Rose music publishing house.

It was soon evident that Skip Ewing was an accomplished songwriter and he began to supply material to some of country music biggest artists, including George Jones, George Strait and Charley Pride.

In 1987, Skip Ewing landed a recording deal of his own with MCA Records; he recorded his debut album 'The Coast Of Colorado' (MCA Records, 1988); the album yielded a number of Billboard country music hit singles; 'Your Memory Wins Again' (No.17, 1988), 'I Don't Have Far To Fall' (No.8, 1988), 'Burnin' A Hole In My Heart' (No.3, 1988), 'The Gospel According To Luke' (No.10, 1989) and 'The Coast Of Colorado' (No.15, 1989).

Ricky Van Shelton recorded Skip Ewing's 'Let Me Live With Love (And Die With You)' (co-written with Red Lane) and included the track on 'Loving You' (Columbia Records, 1988).

Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Skip Ewing's 'Pieces Of You', which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004), and included the track on 'House On Old Lonesome Road' (MCA Records, 1989).

In 1989, Skip Ewing saw the release of 'The Will To Love' (MCA Records, 1989), which included two tracks which were hits on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'It's You Again' (No.5, 1989) and 'If A Man Could Live On Love Alone' (No.70, 1990).

In 1991, Skip Ewing saw the release of 'Naturally' (Liberty Records, 1991), which included two tracks which were hits on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'I Get The Picture' (No.73, 1991) and 'Naturally' (No.71, 1992).



In 1993, Skip Ewing saw the release of 'Homegrown Love' (Liberty Records, 1993), from which two tracks were released as singles.  However, both 'Losing You Is New To Me' and 'Grandma's Garden' did not chart at all on the Billboard country music singles chart.



In 1997, Skip Ewing saw the release of 'Until I Found You' (Word Records, 1997), which included two tracks which were hits on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'Mary Go Round' (No.58, 1997) and 'Answer To My Prayer' (No.66, 1997).

By the end of the 1990s, Skip Ewing's compositions were gracing the albums of a number of high profile country music artists, including the following:

George Strait recorded Skip Ewing's 'Don't Mind If I Do' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'If You Ain't Lovin', You Ain't Livin' (MCA Records, 1988).



Sweethearts Of The Rodeo (Kristine Arnold and Janis Gill) recorded Skip Ewing's 'You Look At Love That Way' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'Buffalo Zone' (Columbia Records, 1990).

Collin Raye recorded Skip Ewing's 'Love, Me' and included the track on 'All I Can Be' (Epic Records, 1991); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1991.

Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 - Thursday 13 June 1996) recorded Skip Ewing's 'If You Want To Find Love', which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004), and included the track on 'Keith Palmer' (Epic Records, 1991).

Lorrie Morgan recorded Skip Ewing's 'Autumn's Not That Cold' and included the track on 'Something In Red' (RCA Records, 1991).

Reba McEntire recorded Skip Ewing's 'Lighter Shade Of Blue', which was co-written with Troy Seals and Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004), and included the track on 'It's Your Call' (MCA Records, 1992).

Randy Travis recorded Skip Ewing's 'If I Didn't Have You', which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Saturday 11 January 2004), and included the track on 'Greatest Hits: Volume 1' (Warner Bros. Records, 1992); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks chart in 1992.

Clinton Gregory recorded Skip Ewing's 'If I Were A Painting' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'Master Of Illusion' (Step One Records, 1993).

Kenny Rogers recorded Skip Ewing's ‘Reason To Go’ (co-written with Debbie Hupp) and included the track on 'If Only My Heart Had A Voice' (Giant Records, 1993).

Kenny Rogers recorded Skip Ewing's ‘If You Were The Friend’ (co-written with Debbie Hupp) and included the track on 'If Only My Heart Had A Voice' (Giant Records, 1993).

Doug Stone recorded Skip Ewing's 'Little Houses' (co-written with Mickey Cates) and included the track on 'Greatest Hits, Volume 1' (Epic Records, 1994).

Bryan White recorded Skip Ewing's 'Someone Else's Star' (co-written with Jim Weatherly) and included the track on 'Bryan White' (Elektra Records, 1994).

Bryan White recorded Skip Ewing's 'Rebecca Lynn' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'Bryan White' (Elektra Records, 1994).

Linda Davis recorded Skip Ewing's 'When You Took Your Love Away' (co-written with Liz Hengber) and included the track on 'Shoot For The Moon' (Arista Records, 1994).

Linda Davis recorded Skip Ewing's 'Don't You Want My Love?' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'Shoot For The Moon' (Arista Records, 1994).

Neal McCoy recorded Skip Ewing's 'Please Don't Leave Me Now' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'You Gotta Love That' (Atlantic Records, 1995).

Joe Diffie recorded Skip Ewing's 'Back To The Cave' (co-written with Tim Johnson) and included the track on 'Life's So Funny' (Epic Records, 1995).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'Me And You' (co-written with Ray Herndon) and included the track on 'All I Need To Know' (BNA Records, 1995).

James Bonamy recorded Skip Ewing's 'All I Do Is Love Her' (co-written with Wayland Patton) and included the track on 'What I Live To Do' (Epic Records, 1996); the track reached No.27 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1996.

James Bonamy recorded Skip Ewing's 'Heartbreak School' (co-written with Donny Kees) and included the track on 'What I Live To Do' (Epic Records, 1996).

Ricochet recorded Skip Ewing's 'The Truth Is, I Lied' (co-written with Bill Anderson) and included the track on 'Ricochet' (Columbia Records, 1996).



Mindy McCready (Sunday 30 November 1975 - Sunday 17 February 2013) recorded Skip Ewing's 'Without Love' (co-written with Tim Johnson) and included the track on 'Ten Thousand Angels' (BNA Records, 1996).

Diamond Rio recorded Skip Ewing's 'Just Another Heart' (co-written with Tim Johnson) and included the track on 'Four' (Arista Records, 1996).

Mark Wills recorded Skip Ewing's 'Leavin' Comin' On' (co-written with Jerry Kilgore) and included the track on 'Mark Wills' (Mercury Records, 1996).

Billy Dean recorded Skip Ewing's 'In The Name Of Love' (co-written with Doug Stone) and included the track on 'It's What I Do' (Capitol Records, 1996).

Bryan White recorded Skip Ewing's 'I'm Not Supposed To Love You Anymore' (co-written with Donny Kees) and included the track on 'Between Now And Forever' (Asylum/Elektra Records, 1996).

Tim McGraw recorded Skip Ewing's 'Ain't That The Way It Always Ends' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'Everywhere' (Curb Records, 1997).

Bryan White recorded Skip Ewing's 'Leave My Heart Out Of This' (co-written with Bob DiPiero) and included the track on 'The Right Place' (Asylum Records, 1997).

Bryan White recorded Skip Ewing's 'Tree Of Hearts' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'The Right Place' (Asylum Records, 1997).

Ricochet recorded Skip Ewing's 'Connected At The Heart' (co-written with Donny Kees) and included the track on 'Blink Of An Eye' (Columbia Records, 1997); the track reached No.44 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1997.



James Bonamy recorded Skip Ewing's 'Roots And Wings' (co-written with Bill Anderson) and included the track on 'Roots And Wings' (Epic Records, 1997).

James Bonamy recorded Skip Ewing's 'Long As I Got You' (co-written with Don Sampson) and included the track on 'Roots And Wings' (Epic Records, 1997).

Sammy Kershaw recorded Skip Ewing's 'Matches' (co-written with Roger Springer) and included the track on 'Labor Of Love' (Mercury Records, 1997); the track reached No.22 on the Billboard Hot Country Tracks and Singles Chart in 1997.

Skip Ewing's 'Matches' (co-written with Roger Springer) was also included on Sammy Kershaw's 'The Ultimate Collection' (HumpHead Country, 2008).

Clint Black recorded Skip Ewing's 'Something That We Do' (co-written with Clint Black) and included the track on 'Nothin' But The Taillights' (RCA Records, 1997); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in 1997.

Joe Diffie recorded Skip Ewing's 'Twice Upon A Time' (co-written with Kim Williams) and included the track on 'Twice Upon A Time' (Epic Records, 1997).

Ty Herndon recorded Skip Ewing's 'Tears In God's Eyes' (co-written with Kim Williams and Kent Blazy) and included the track on 'Big Hopes' (Epic Records, 1998).

Rhett Akins recorded Skip Ewing's 'Rest Of Forever' (co-written with Kent Blazy) and included the track on 'What Living's All About' (Decca Records, 1998).

Suzy Bogguss recorded Skip Ewing's 'When I Run' and included the track on 'Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt' (Liberty Records, 1998).

Randy Travis recorded Skip Ewing's 'The Hole' (co-written with James Dean Hicks) and included the track on 'You And You Alone' (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 1998); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1998.

Mark Wills recorded Skip Ewing's 'Wish You Were Here' (co-written with Bill Anderson and Debbie Moore) and included the track on 'Wish You Were Here' (Mercury Records, 1998).

Mark Wills recorded Skip Ewing's 'Help Me Fall' (co-written with Donny Kees) and included the track on 'Wish You Were Here' (Mercury Records, 1998).



Linda Davis recorded Skip Ewing's 'Make It Through' (co-written with Tim Mensy) and included the track on 'I'm Yours' (DreamWorks Records, 1998); the track was a duet with Randy Travis.

Paul Brandt recorded Skip Ewing's 'There's A World Out There' (co-written with Kent Blazy) and included the track on 'That's The Truth' (Reprise Records, 1999).

Clint Black recorded Skip Ewing's 'Love She Can't Live Without' (co-written with Clint Black) and included the track on 'D'lectrified' (RCA Records, 1999); the track reached No.30 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in 2000.

Mark Chesnutt recorded Skip Ewing's 'Jolie' (co-written with Paul Overstreet and Paul Davis) and included the track on 'I Don't Want to Miss a Thing' (Decca Records, 1999).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'You Had Me From Hello' (co-written with Kenny Chesney) and included the track on 'Everywhere We Go' (BNA Records, 1999).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'I Might Get Over You' (co-written with Kent Blazy) and included the track on 'Everywhere We Go' (BNA Records, 1999).

Tracy Byrd recorded Skip Ewing's 'Put Your Hand In Mine' (co-written with Jimmy W. Barber) and included the track on 'It's About Time' (RCA Records, 1999).

Mark Wills recorded Skip Ewing's 'Because I Love You' (co-written with Chuck Cannon) and included the track on 'Permanently' (Mercury Records, 2000).

Chad Brock recorded Skip Ewing's 'Love Lives (Events Of The Heart)' (co-written with Danny Wilde) and included the track on 'Yes' (Warner Bros. Records, 2000).

Kenny Rogers recorded Skip Ewing's 'I Wish That I Could Say That' (co-written with James Dean Hicks) and included the track on 'There You Go Again' (Dreamcatcher Records, 2000).

Gene Watson recorded Skip Ewing's 'The Truth Is I Lied' (co-written with Bill Anderson) and included the track on 'From The Heart' (RMG Records, 2001).

Mark Wills recorded Skip Ewing's 'Back On Earth' (co-written with Donny Kees) and included the track on 'Loving Every Minute' (Mercury Nashville Records, 2001).

Diamond Rio recorded Skip Ewing's 'You Make Me Feel' (co-written with Bob DiPiero) and included the track on 'One More Day' (Arista Records, 2001).

Diamond Rio recorded Skip Ewing's 'I Believe' and included the track on 'Completely' (Arista Records, 2002).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'Dreams' (co-written with Kenny Chesney) and included the track on 'No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems' (BNA Records, 2002).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'I Can't Go There' (co-written with Kenny Chesney) and included the track on 'No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems' (BNA Records, 2002).

Kenny Rogers recorded Skip Ewing's 'Tears In God's Eyes' (co-written with Kent Blazy and Kim Williams) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Dreamcatcher Records, 2003).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'Being Drunk's A Lot Like Loving You' (co-written with Kenny Chesney) and included the track on 'When The Sun Goes Down' (BNA Records, 2004).

Kenny Chesney recorded Skip Ewing's 'Outta Here' (co-written with Kenny Chesney) and included the track on 'When The Sun Goes Down' (BNA Records, 2004).

Gene Watson recorded Skip Ewing's 'What Was I Thinking' (co-written with James Dean Hicks) and included the track on 'In a Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007).

Reba McEntire recorded Skip Ewing's 'Every Other Weekend' (co-written with Connie Harrington); the track, which was a duet with Kenny Chesney, was included on Reba McEntire's 'Duets' (MCA Records/HumpHead Country, 2007).

Visit Skip Ewing's Official Site