Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Tony Booth: January 2008

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 2008 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 Tony Booth, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 30 January 2008.

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

Tony Booth
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 30 January 2008.

'I spent twelve years in the Gene Watson band. It was a good experience in my career.

I would put Gene in a class with Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982), in that, in all those twelve years I never heard him hit a bad note'.

Thank you, Tony Booth, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Tony Booth...

Tony Booth is a native of Tampa, Florida where he was born on Sunday 7 February in 1943. He won a contest in New Port Richey, Florida for playing guitar when he was fourteen years old.

After high school, Tony Booth attended the University of New Mexico with the intention of becoming a schoolteacher, but he decided to give music a try and began his music career with the Mel Savage Band and later began touring with Jimmy Snyder.

Tony Booth's first single was 'Wishful Thinking' (which was backed with 'I Think I Can'); his first album was 'Country 67' (Universal City Records, 1967), which was released under the stage name 'Johnny Booth'.

Tony Booth's first album did not yield a chart position, so he formed a band called Modern Country in 1968 and performed for a time in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Los Angeles, California.

The band, which renamed itself The Tony Booth Band became the house band at LA's Palomino Club and included members Jay Dee Maness (who went on to become a member of the Desert Rose Band) and Tony's younger brother Larry Booth.

Tony Booth recorded a single with K-Ark Records; 'Big Lonely World' was backed with 'It's Alright', but it failed to achieve chart success.

Things changed for the better in 1970 when Tony Booth recorded Merle Haggard's song about interracial love; 'Irma Jackson' (No.67, 1970) was backed with Tony's own composition 'One Too Many Times'.  Tony Booth's band also won an Academy of Country Music award, which they would take home for three consecutive years.

Gene Watson recorded Tony Booth's 'One Too Many Times' and included the track on 'No One Will Ever Know' (MCA Records, 1981).

In 1970, Tony Booth's 'On The Right Track' (MGM Records, 1970) was released by MGM Records; one track, 'Give Me One Last Kiss And Go', was released, but it did not chart.  In 1971, Tony Booth won the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for 'Most Promising Male Vocalist' and subsequently signed with Capitol Records and became one of several artists to record under Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006).

Tony Booth released two albums a year for Capitol Records between 1972 and 1974. The first was 'The Key's In The Mailbox' (Capitol Records, 1972), which included three Billboard country music hit singles; 'Cinderella' (No.45, 1971), 'The Key's In The Mailbox' (No.15, 1972) and 'A Whole Lot Of Something' (No.18, 1972).

Tony Booth's 'Lonesome 7-7203' (Capitol Records, 1972) was released in 1972; the title track reached No.16 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972.  Tony Booth was also nominated for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) 'Male Vocalist of the Year' Award in 1973.

Tony Booth's 'When A Man Loves A Woman (The Way That I Love You)' (Capitol Records, 1973) was released by Capitol Records in 1973, the title track of which reached No.32 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973.

Tony Booth's 'This is Tony Booth' (Capitol Records, 1973) was released by Capitol Records in 1973 and included two tracks which were hits on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'Loving You' (No.41, 1973) and 'Old Faithful' (No.49, 1973).



The Tony Booth Capitol Records albums 'When A Man Loves A Woman (The Way That I Love You)' (Capitol Records, 1973) and 'This is Tony Booth' (Capitol Records, 1973) was re-released, by Brady, Texas-based Heart Of Texas Records, as a '2-for-1' set titled 'When A Man Loves A Woman (The Way That I Love You) And This Is Tony Booth' (Heart Of Texas Records, 2012).

Tony Booth's 'Happy Hour' (Capitol Records, 1973) was released by Capitol Records in late 1973 and included two tracks which were hits on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'Secret Love' (No.47, 1973) and 'Happy Hour' (No.49, 1973).

Tony Booth's 'Workin' At The Car Wash Blues' (Capitol Records, 1974) was released by Capitol Records in 1974 and won an ASCAP Award the same year; the album included two tracks which were hits on the Billboard country music singles chart; 'Lonely Street' (No.84, 1974) and a cover of Jim Croce's 'Workin' At The Car Wash Blues' (No.22, 1974).



Jim Croce (Sunday 10 January 1943 - Thursday 20 September 1973) recorded 'Workin' At The Car Wash Blues' (his own composition), and included the track on 'I Got A Name' (ABC Records US / Vertigo Records UK, 1973); the track reached No.32 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in July 1974.

Tony Booth departed Capitol Records in 1975 and signed a recording contract with United Artists Records in 1976.

On Friday 1 October 1982, Tony Booth joined Gene Watson's Farewell Party Band; he played bass guitar and sang backup vocals on many of Gene Watson's mid-1980s album releases.  Tony Booth remained a member of Gene Watson's Farewell Party Band for twelve years (1982 - 1994).

Gene Watson recorded Tony Booth's 'One Too Many Times' and included the track on 'No One will Ever Know' (Capitol Records, 1980).

Tony Booth's younger brother, Larry Booth, played bass guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson's 'Sometimes I Get Lucky' (MCA Records, 1983); this album was the first Gene Watson release to exclusively feature the Farewell Party Band.

Tony Booth played tic-tac bass and his younger brother, Larry Booth, played bass guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson's 'Heartaches, Love and Stuff' (MCA Records, 1984).

Tony Booth played tic-tac bass and his younger brother, Larry Booth, played bass guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson's 'Little by Little' (MCA Records, 1984); the album included 'My Memories Of You' which was co-written by Daniel T. Rainwater and Larry Booth.

Tony Booth played bass guitar, on all tracks, on Gene Watson's 'Memories to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985); the album was co-produced and mixed by Gene Watson and Tony Booth's younger brother Larry Booth.

At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote', in January 2008, Tony Booth was living in Alvin, Texas and was appearing regularly in the band at the Alvin Opry with his brother Larry Booth.

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