Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Tim Stafford: July 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 Tim Stafford, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 26 July 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Tim Stafford who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Tim Stafford
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 26 July 2006.
'Sure, we'd be glad to provide a quote. We (The Blue Highway Band) did a gig with Gene and Eddie Lee, his piano player, in Japan a few years back.
I had always admired his singing, which was flawlessly consistent and reminiscent of Merle Haggard and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) at their best.
Gene can sell a song better than anybody I know. But I was actually bowled over by the guy in Japan as a human being. He's just a super fellow, very funny and personable. It's great when people you admire end up being nice people!'
Thank you, Tim Stafford, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Tim Stafford...
Tim Stafford, who is from Kingsport, Tennessee began playing guitar seriously at the age of eighteen after starting out on the banjo four years earlier. He played with various groups in the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee as a teenager, including Mountain Memories.
As a member of Kingsport's Boys in the Band, Tim Stafford was a judge at the 1980 National Flat-picking Championship in Winfield, Kansas. He also helped to found the band Dusty Miller, which was named International Bluegrass Band champions in 1990.
It was also in 1990 that Tim Stafford joined Alison Krauss and Union Station, along with Adam Steffey and Barry Bales. Union Station was named IBMA Entertainer of the Year in 1991.
Tim Stafford left Union Station in May 1992 in order to spend more time with his son Daniel, who was born in January of that year. Tim won a Grammy Award in January 1993 for his work on the Alison Krauss and Union Station album 'Every Time You Say Goodbye' (Rounder Records, 1992).
In 1994, Tim Stafford organised the group Blue Highway.
Blue Highway's first project, 'It’s A Long, Long Road' (Rebel Records, 1994), spent six months at the top of the Bluegrass Unlimited Chart and went on to win IBMA’s 'Album of the Year' Award in 1996.
Blue Highway were also awarded the 'Emerging Artist of the Year' Award in 1996 and 'Gospel Recording of the Year' in 1997.
Blue Highway's project on Ricky Skaggs' Ceili Music label, 'Blue Highway' (Ceili Music, 1999), spent two months at No.1 on the Bluegrass Now charts.
Blue Highway's gospel recording, 'Wondrous Love' (Rounder Records, 2003) was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album category, while the album also won the Dove Award in 2004 for 'Best Bluegrass Recording'.
Tim Stafford’s songs have been recorded by Ronnie Bowman, Claire Lynch, Dan Tyminski and Lonesome River Band, in addition to Blue Highway.