Gene Watson's Peers: Jimmy Melton
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 2008 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 Jimmy Melton, which he submitted to this site on Monday
6 October 2008.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Jimmy Melton who has
made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of
a Lone Star Hero'.
Jimmy Melton
This quote was submitted on Monday 6 October 2008
'I think Gene Watson has to be considered in the top
three country singers of all time...right up there with
Merle Haggard &
George Jones.
He's been my favourite since I was a kid listening to him on the tractor
radio & going to many of his concerts. His live performances are simply the
best in the business & I've been in the business a while myself.
I love Gene's singing so much that I tried my best to copy his phrasing on a
song I wrote a few years back called 'The coast of Texas'. I sang the demo,
and when Gene heard it, he said 'that's just the way I'm gonna sing it', and
he did (except he beat me on it!).
Hearing Gene Watson's voice on something I wrote is one of the biggest
thrills of my life as a songwriter...I'm still his biggest fan'.
Thank you, Jimmy Melton,
for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jimmy Melton...
Jimmy Melton began his
career as a musician at the age of eight when his father taught him how to
play the guitar. He later learned how to play the banjo and, at the age of
twelve, he became one of the youngest performers ever to appear on the
hallowed stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
It was soon thereafter that Jimmy was invited to appear with guitar legend
Chet Atkins (RIP) on 'Pop Goes the Country', a popular country music series
on television. It was also at this time that Jimmy had the opportunity to
perform with artists he considered heroes such as bluegrass music legends
Bill Monroe (RIP) & Earl Scruggs. By the time he reached his late teens,
Jimmy had spent the greater part of ten years touring various summer
bluegrass festivals & fairs.
Jimmy Melton moved on from the bluegrass music scene in his early twenties,
formed a country band, bought a big PA system & played the county fair and
dancehall circuit in & around his native west Tennessee.
Jimmy Melton has dabbled in song-writing as far back as he can recall so he
moved to Nashville in order to pursue his career; he landed his first
publishing deal in 1996 with Murrah Music, owned by Hall of Fame songwriter
Roger Murrah.
Jimmy then moved on to write for another Hall of Famer, the legendary Harlan
Howard (RIP), an opportunity which gave him a further opportunity to hone
his craft with one of the great writers in country music.
Jimmy entered into a new publishing agreement with Universal Music
Publishing in Nashville & began working on building a catalogue there. He
also worked as a session musician, playing on many albums as well as his own
recordings.
Jimmy Melton's original compositions have been recorded by a stellar line-up
of artists that reads like a who's who of country music, namely Hank
Williams Junior, Mark Chesnutt ('She was', 'Mama's house') Blake Shelton,
Trace Adkins, Kenny Rogers, Neal Coty, Steve Fox & Gene Watson ('The coast of
Texas'), Ken Mellons,
Chely Wright ('Sea of cowboy hats'), Amber Dotson,
Kevin Denney, Brian McComas ('Sixteen again'), Craig Morgan ('Every Friday
afternoon'), Trent Willmon, Tracy Lawrence, Dierks Bentley ('I bought the
shoes'), Neal McCoy, Shannon Walker, Dean Brody, Ash Bowers,
Joe Nichols &
George Jones.
Gene Watson recorded 'The Coast of Texas' (co-written by
Jimmy Melton &
Dale
Dodson) & included the track on 'Gene
Watson...Sings' (Intersound Records, 2003).
Visit Jimmy Melton's
Official MySpace Site