Gene Watson's Peers: Jan Howard
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's Peers who were contacted in 2007 were most gracious with their
time & words. It is here, within this special part of gene-watson.com, that
you have an opportunity to read a quote from
Jan Howard, which she submitted to
this site on Wednesday 14 February 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Jan Howard who has made a special
contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star
Hero'.
Jan Howard
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 14 February 2007
'Gene Watson has a voice & style entirely his own. And,
as been said by many, 'Gene is a singer's singer'. He puts his whole being
into every song.
And yet, with what seems to be little or no effort, with his talent he
reaches the depth & height of every emotion when he sings.
He is one of the greatest artists to ever grace a stage. And I am proud to
say 'I am a Gene Watson fan'.
Thank you, Jan Howard, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Jan Howard...
Jan Howard was, during the 1960s, one
of the hottest female vocalists in country music. She was born Lula Grace
Johnson in Birch Tree, Missouri on Friday 13 March 1931 to a Cherokee mother
& an Irish father & spent much of her early life in West Plains, Missouri.
In 1953, Jan became involved with songwriter
Harlan Howard (8 September 1929 -
3 March 2002), whom she married a month after they first met - they married
in Las Vegas on Friday 10 May 1957. Harlan helped
Jan break into country music, sending her demos to various record companies.
As a result of this, she began singing demos for Tex Ritter & Johnny Bond.
After meeting Johnny Cash (26 February 1932 - 12 September 2003) & June
Carter (23 June 1929 - 15 May 2003) in the late 1950s, Jan started a tour
with Johnny Horton (30 April 1927 - 5 November 1960).
In 1960, Harlan & Jan headed for Nashville; once there, Jan appeared on the
Prince Albert Show segment of the Grand Ole Opry. In the late part of 1960,
Harlan & Jan moved to Nashville permanently, where Jan's successful duet
('The one you slip around with') with Wynn Stewart (7 June 1934 - 17 July
1985) resulted in her first solo single, which made the Top 10; her next
song, another duet with Wynn, reached the Top 30.
In 1962, Jan charted with 'I wish I was a single girl again' & saw the
release of an eponymous album. Although she didn't do well on the country
music charts, Jan continued to tour extensively. In 1964, Jan's career finally gained momentum. Her songs of the period,
however, reflected her troubled marriage.
In 1966, she reached the Top 30
with 'What makes a man wander?' (a HArlan Howard composition).
Later that year, Jan joined Bill Anderson's
touring & television shows; she & Bill scored two hits with 'I
know you're married (but I love you still') & 'Time out'.
Towards the end of 1967, she achieved her only No.1 hit with 'For loving
you', a duet with Bill Anderson. Other Jan Howard/Bill Anderson country hits
during this period included 'If it's all the same to you' (1969), 'Someday
we'll be together' (1970) & 'Dissatisfied' (1971).
Jan Howard also saw the release of a number of solo singles, including 'Evil on your mind'
(No.5, 1966), 'Bad seeds' (1966) & 'My son' (1968).
In 1971, Jan Howard became a fully fledged member of the Grand Ole Opry. She joined the
Johnny Cash Show and, in 1977, enjoyed three minor hits including 'To love a
rolling stone'. In 1979, she & Tammy Wynette (5 May 1942 - 6 April 1998)
embarked on a tour of the US & Great Britain.
In 1984, Jan released the album 'Tainted Love', which was followed by 'Life of a Country Girl Singer' in 1987. It was also in 1987 that she
published her best-selling autobiography 'Sunshine & Shadow'. Jan remarried
on Friday 17 August 1990 & continued to appear on the Opry.
Visit Jan Howard's Official Site