Gene Watson Peer's Quote from Ty Herndon: January 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 Ty Herndon, which he submitted to this site on Friday 26 January 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Ty Herndon who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Ty Herndon
This quote was submitted on Friday 26 January 2007.
'A monumental moment in my life was when I won a talent show at the age of fourteen singing the Gene Watson classic 'Fourteen Carat Mind'.
Gene Watson is one of the reasons that I love and have pursued a career in country music'.
Thank you, Ty Herndon, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Ty Herndon...
Ty Herndon, like many new country singers of the mid-1990s, has fused neo-traditionalist country with a slick, rock-oriented sense of style and production.
Born in Meridian, Mississippi and raised in Butler, Alabama Ty Herndon became involved in music as he was growing up. He sang gospel music and learned how to play piano. After he graduated from high school, he moved to Nashville. Initially, he had a difficult time gaining a foothold in the music industry, spending ten years without making any real headway.
Ty Herndon left the Music City and headed to Texas, where he began slogging it out in local honky tonks, developing a dedicated following of fans. In 1993, he won the 'Texas Entertainer Of The Year' Award and later that year signed to Epic Records.
Ty Herndon's first single, ‘What Mattered Most’, hit No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart in the spring of 1995. The track won 'Song Of The Year' at the annual 'Music Row' magazine awards and Ty Herndon was named 'Best New Artist' at the 1995 Country Radio Music Awards.
'What Mattered Most' (Epic Records, 1995) was released by Epic Records in April 1995; the title track became a Billboard Top 10 country hit. The second single, ‘I Want My Goodbye Back’, reached No.7.
Seemingly, the world was in his hands, but Ty Herndon's first year of stardom was a difficult one, as he was arrested for drug possession on Tuesday 13 June 1995, in Fort Worth, Texas. Nevertheless, the arrest didn't halt his career; his third single, ‘Heart Half Empty’, was a hit.
Ty Herndon's second album for Epic Records, ‘Living In A Moment’ (Epic Records, 1996), debuted at No.6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart upon its release in the summer of 1996. The album ‘Big Hopes’ (Epic Records, 1998) was released in 1998 and in 1999 Ty Herndon resurfaced with ‘Steam’ (Epic Records, 1999).
Ty Herndon was certainly one of American country music’s most consistent radio favourites of the 1990s, receiving an American Music Award nomination in 1997 and a Contemporary Achievement honour from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Ty Herndon's 'What Mattered Most' (Epic Records, 1995) and 'Living In A Moment' (Epic Records, 1996) albums achieved gold status sales-wise.
During the late 1990s, Ty Herndon sold more than four million discs and his blazing live-performance style made him one of country music’s finest concert attractions.
After 2002, Ty Herndon vanished from radio charts and concert stages. Family, friends and Nashville songwriters rallied around him as he turned his life around, regained his health, lost his excess weight and began to sing again. Ty Herndon returned to the stage with a Music City nightclub showcase in the summer of 2004.
Ty Herndon's impressive album discography also includes 'Ty Herndon: Greatest Hits' (Epic Nashville, 2002), 'Not So Silent Night' (Riviera Entertainment, 2003) and 'Right About Now' (Titan Pyramid, 2007).
Ty Herndon was the first country music artist signed by Titan Pyramid Records, a roster that boasted acts such as The Band, Eric Carmen, Doobie Bros., Dave Edmunds, Stray Cats, Robert Palmer (Wednesday 19 January 1949 - Tuesday 26 September 2003), Joe Walsh, Nik Kershaw, Stephen Stills and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Visit Ty Herndon's Official Site
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