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.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Grand Ole Opry, Nashville

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'.

Gene Watson: 'Beautiful Country' (Capitol Records, 1977) Gene Watson: 'Memories to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985) Gene Watson: 'Paper Rosie' (Capitol Records, 1977)

'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.

Read Corey Frizzell's Quote about Gene Watson Here

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.

Read Joe Nichols' Quote about Gene Watson Here

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.

Joe Nichols: 'Man with a Memory' (Universal South Records, 2002)

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: 'Revelation' (Universal South Records, 2004) Gene Watson: 'Reflections' (Capitol Records, 1978)

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: 'Joe Nichols III' (Universal South Records, 2005) Gene Watson: 'Should I Come Home' (Capitol Records, 1979)

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.

Gene Watson Fan Site

Source
Sarah Brosmer, Lytle Management, Nashville
Corey Frizzell

Gene Watson Fan Site