Gene Watson's Peers: Joe Nichols
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 2006 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
Joe Nichols, which he submitted to
this site on Wednesday 23 August 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Joe Nichols who has made a special
contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star
Hero'.
Sean Brady would also like to say 'thank you' to Sarah Brosmer at
Lytle Management in Nashville for her
help in acquiring this valuable quote from
Joe Nichols.
Joe Nichols
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 23 August 2006
'I grew up with Gene Watson's music & I consider him to
be one of the best country singers ever. Gene is definitely one of my
musical heroes'.
Thank you, Joe Nichols, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Joe Nichols...
Joe Nichols, who was born Joe Edward
Nichols in Rogers, Arkansas on 26 November 1976, grew up surrounded by the
sound of traditional country music. Joe's father drove a truck but also
played bass & sang. Joe would hear & watch his dad perform at VFW dates.
Like Joe's grandfather & uncles, his dad played classic country music.
When he was twenty years old, Joe made his debut with a self-titled album on
the independent Intersound label; 'Joe Nichols' (Intersound Records, 1996).
The album produced the singles 'Six of one, half a dozen of the other', 'I
hate the way I love you', 'To tell you the truth, I lied' & 'Wal-Mart
parking lot social club'.
None of these singles charted on the
Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the United States, but 'Six of one,
half a dozen (of the other)' reached No.74 on the RPM Top Country Tracks
chart in Canada.
The 'Joe Nichols' album was re-issued twice; firstly in 2002 as 'Six of One,
Half Dozen of the Other' (Row Music Group Records, 2002) & again in 2003 as
'The Early Years' (Infinity Nashville, 2003). The 2003 re-issue
featured the tracks in a different order, as well as a bonus DVD featuring
four videos.
Despite the minor success of the 'Six of one, half a dozen (of the other)'
single in Canada, the 'Joe Nichols' album did not sell well & Joe was
subsequently dropped from the Intersound Records roster. A second
record deal followed, this time with Warner Bros. Records, but it was
short-lived & did not produce any singles or albums.
In 1999, Joe Nichols met Brent Rowan, a Nashville session guitarist who
helped him land a recording contract with Universal South Records, then a
newly-formed label.
In 2002, Joe saw the release of his second album, 'Man with a Memory'
(Universal South Records, 2002); its lead-off single, 'The impossible',
reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart & was declared by
Billboard as the tenth most-played country song of 2003.
'Man with a Memory' earned Nichols a Top New Male Vocalist award from the
Academy of Country Music, as well as three Grammy Award nominations & RIAA
platinum certification. The album's second single, 'Brokenheartsville',
became Joe's first No.1 hit on the Billboard country music singles chart in
2003, while 'She only smokes when she drinks' & 'Cool to be a fool' both
reached the Top 20.
In 2004, Joe Nichols saw the release of his second album for Universal South
Records; 'Revelation' (Universal South Records, 2004) produced the Top Ten
hits 'If nobody believed in you' & 'What's a guy gotta do'.
Joe Nichols is such a devotee of Gene Watson that he recorded one of Gene's
classic songs; Joe recorded 'Farewell party' & included the track on
'Revelation' (Universal South Records, 2004). The original version of
'Farewell party' was recorded by Gene Watson & included on 'Reflections'
(Capitol Records, 1978).
In 2005, Joe Nichols saw the release of his third album for Universal South
Records, 'III' (Universal South Records, 2005). Its lead-off single,
'Tequila makes her clothes fall off', became his second Billboard No.1 hit;
both the single & the album received gold certifications from the RIAA.
'III' also produced the Top Ten hits 'Size matters (someday)' & 'I'll wait
for you'. It was also in 2005 (and again in 2006) Nichols joined Toby
Keith on tours.
It was also on the 'III' (Universal South Records, 2005) album that Joe
Nichols once again looked to the back catalogue of Gene Watson; Joe recorded
Gene Watson's 'Should I come home (or should I go crazy)' & included it on
'III'.
The original version of 'Should I come home (or should I go crazy)' was
recorded by Gene Watson & the track was the title cut of 'Should
I Come Home' (Capitol Records, 1979).
'Real Things' (Universal South Records, 2007) was the title of Nichols'
fourth Universal South Records album & was released in mid-2007; its
lead-off single, 'Another side of you', reached the Top 20 on the
Billboard country
music singles chart, as did the follow-up, 'It ain't no crime'.
'Real Things' (Universal South records, 2007) also included a cover of
Merle Haggard's
'If I could only fly', a track which featured guest vocals from
Lee Ann Womack.
Overall, Joe Nichols' four studio albums for Universal South Records ('Man
with a Memory', 'Revelation', 'III' & 'Real Things') have accounted for ten
singles on the country charts, including two No.1s & five more Top Ten hits.
On 9 September 2007, Joe Nichols married Heather Singleton in Savannah,
Georgia; he had known Singleton since they were both eighteen years old.
Visit Joe Nichols' Official Site
