Leona Williams (June 2006)
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
Leona Williams' quote, which she submitted to this site on Monday 19 June 2006.
I (Sean Brady)
would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Leona Williams who has made a special contribution to a unique part
of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
 Leona
Williams
This quote was submitted on Monday 19 June 2006
'Gene Watson is one of the greatest singers in the
industry. His voice is unmatched in its ability to
capture an audience with sincerity and communicate
that feeling to everyone in the building.
Gene
Watson is pure country at its finest'.
Thank you,
Leona Williams,
for your support of Gene Watson.
About Leona Williams...
Leona Williams
was born (Leona Belle Helton) in Vienna, Missouri in January
1943, and picked up her professional last name from her first
husband. She became a member of
Loretta
Lynn's band in 1966, where she played upright bass &
provided harmony vocals.
Leona became
Merle Haggard's third wife on 7 October 1978, a ceremony at
which Bonnie Owens (Merle's second wife) served as a bridesmaid.
(Merle had married Bonnie Owens in 1965, but they separated in
1976). Bonnie Owens had also
been married to country music legend
Buck Owens
in the years between 1948 & 1953.
Leona & Merle enjoyed a Top 10 hit on the Billboard country
music singles chart in America with 'The bull and the beaver' in
early 1979. Leona also became a valuable member of Merle's
backing group.
Leona also contributed a number of songs to Merle, two of which
reached No.1 on Billboard's country music singles chart in the
USA; 'You take me for granted' (1 week at No.1 in
May/June 1983) & 'Someday when things are good' (1 week at No.1 in June 1984).
In 1983, Leona left Merle & filed for divorce. She moved back to
Vienna, Missouri where she lived on a farm with her new husband
Dave Kirby
(a former member of Merle Haggard's band, the Strangers) who she
married in 1985.
Sadly,
Dave Kirby passed away on 17th April 2004 at the age of 63. Dave,
a native of Brady in Texas, where he was born on 10th July 1938, was a
masterful songwriter and had the privilege of having twenty four of his
compositions recorded by Gene Watson.
Leona Williams recorded
'Memories
to Burn' & included the track on her 'Honorary Texan' album, which was
released by Heart
of Texas Records (catalogue number 104) in 2003.
 Gene Watson's 'Memories to Burn' album, which was released on
Epic Records in 1985, includes the
song 'Cold
summer day in Georgia', a track which features beautiful backing vocals
from Leona Williams, along with the exquisite
guitar work of Dave Kirby (RIP).
 The 'Cold summer day in Georgia'
track
was included (for the first time on CD) on the 'Ultimate Collection' album, which was released on
Universal/Hip-O Records in 2001.
Visit
Leona Williams' Official Website
Gene Watson's Peers...
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2004 | 2005
| 2006 | 2007 |
2008
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