Gene Watson: Opry - October 2006
The music of Gene Watson is part of the very constitution of country music.
It is in Gene Watson's country music recordings that the tradition of
heartfelt, genuine country music is preserved for all time.
Gene Watson is a singer in country music's grand tradition & has the skill
to give powerful vocal performances and draw all the emotion from his
selected material effortlessly. Gene has remained true to his Texas music
roots for the best part of 40 years & is a standard bearer for honest,
traditional country music.
Gene Watson's 'Beautiful Country' speaks for itself. It is a music of the
people, for the people and ultimately by one of the people. His music is
part of the very constitution of country music.
It is here that we celebrate Gene Watson's appearance on the hallowed stage
of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on the night of Tuesday 10 October 2006.
Gene Watson's Farewell Party Band (Rick Hawthorne on rhythm guitar, Kenneth
'Corky' Owens on steel guitar, Todd Hines on drums, Staley Rogers on bass
guitar & Joe Eddie Gough on piano) also graced the stage & supported Gene in
their exemplary & professional manner.
Gene Watson sang three songs on his segment of Tuesday night's Grand Ole
Opry performance; 'I don't need a thing at all', 'Carmen' & 'You gave me a
mountain'.
'I don't need a thing at all' was originally included on 'Beautiful
Country' (Capitol Records, 1977), 'Carmen' was originally included on 'Memories
to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985), while 'You gave me a mountain' was
originally included on 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol
Records, 1977).
Two important & vital members of the country music community (Corey
Frizzell & Joe Nichols) made a point of
meeting up with Gene Watson backstage at the Grand Ole Opry on the night of
Tuesday 10 October 2006.
Corey Frizzell
When you hear the name Frizzell, you immediately think of music. However, a
certain member of the Frizzell family has taken a different road other than
music. Corey is the son of Allen
Frizzell & the nephew of David Frizzell
& Lefty Frizzell (RIP). Lefty passed away in July 1975.
Corey Frizzell is a phenomenal artist; his passion for art began with
cartoons & then moved into comic book art. Corey then developed into a
portrait artist, all of his drawings are custom done from photographs with
pencil. Corey has created portraits for such great country artists as
George Jones,
Mark Chesnutt, Craig Morgan, Keith Whitley (RIP) & Loretta Lynn.
Corey Frizzell's first solo art exhibition, 'Roots', showcased his artistic
talents while paying homage to his country music heritage & was held at The
Renaissance Center, 855 Highway 46 South, Dickson, Tennessee (some 35 miles
west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172); the exhibition ran for six
weeks from 2 June to 15 July 2006.
Corey Frizzell produced a special portrait of Gene Watson from a personal
photograph that Corey received from Gene. With the assistance of Sarah
Brosmer, Gene Watson's Day-to-Day Manager at
Lytle Management in Nashville, plans
were made for Corey to make a special presentation of the portrait to Gene.
This special event took place backstage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
on the night of Tuesday 10 October 2006, following Gene Watson's performance
on its hallowed stage with his Farewell Party Band.
Joe Nichols
A native of Rogers, Arkansas where he was born in November 1976, Joe Nichols
grew up surrounded by the sound of traditional country music. Joe was
particularly drawn to the classic honky tonk sounds of Gene Watson, who he
regards as his ultimate country music hero.
On Friday 21 July 2006, the entertainment editor of Maxim Magazine invited
Joe to pose in a fashion spread for the publication. The theme of the
fashion shoot was 'New Artists & their Heroes'. Joe has been a fan of Gene
Watson all his life & to get the opportunity to meet a man who had
influenced his music so much was one that was too good to be missed.
Joe invited Gene to come to Nashville & be a part of Maxim Magazine's
'Fashion, Country Style' feature. According to Joe after the photo shoot,
Gene was everything he thought he would be; a real gentleman & lots of fun
to spend the afternoon with.
Joe Nichols & Gene Watson took over Lawrence Record Shop on Nashville's
Lower Broadway & between signing autographs, put their best fashion foot
forward for the magazine, the results can be seen in the August 2006 issue
of Maxim Magazine.
On the night of Tuesday 10 October 2006, Joe Nichols performed his set of
songs immediately after his hero Gene Watson. When Joe performed his No.1
hit 'Brokenheartsville' (a track included on Joe's debut album 'A Man with a
Memory' on Universal South Records from 2002), Gene was standing in the
wings & was noted singing along to the track.
Joe Nichols is such a devotee of Gene Watson that he has recorded two of
Gene's classic songs.
Joe Nichols 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).
Joe Nichols also recorded Gene Watson's 'Should I come home (or should I go
crazy)' & included the track on 'Joe Nichols III' (Universal South Records,
2005); the original version of 'Should I come home (or should I go crazy)'
was recorded by Gene Watson & included on 'Should I
Come Home' (Capitol Records, 1979).
Courtesy of Corey Frizzell & Sarah Brosmer
of Lytle Management in Nashville, you
can view a special selection of photos taken backstage at the Grand Ole Opry,
Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Tuesday 10 October 2006
here.
Source
Sarah Brosmer, Lytle Management,
Nashville
Corey Frizzell
