Gene Watson's Peers: Razzy Bailey
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 2010 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
Razzy Bailey, which he submitted to this site
on Monday 18 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Razzy Bailey
who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online
'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Razzy Bailey
This quote was submitted on Monday 18 January 2010
'I love Gene Watson's music; you can
depend on it'.
Thank you,
Razzy Bailey
for your support of Gene Watson.
About Razzy Bailey...
Razzy Bailey
was born on Tuesday 14 February 1939 in Hugley, Alabama & was raised on a
farm in Lafayette, Alabama. Razzy got his first experience of musical
performance as a member of his high school's Future Farmers of America
string band.
After graduation, he married & had children immediately and had little time
to pursue his career, but he spent many years playing occasional gigs at
honky tonks in Georgia & Alabama and developing his song-writing.
In 1966, Razzy took his material to Bill Lowery at Atlantic Records, who
arranged for him to record '9,999,999 Tears' which was backed by a studio
band featuring Billy Joe Royal, Joe South & Freddy Weller. The song
failed to hit the charts at that time, but Razzy was encouraged, forming the
pop trio Daily Bread which saw the release of a pair of albums on small
labels.
In the mid 1970s, Dickey Lee recorded '9,999,999 tears' which reached No.3
on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976; the song also became a
Top 10 pop hit the same year. In 1977, Dickey Lee repeated this
success with another
Razzy Bailey tune, 'Peanut butter', which also went into the charts.
As his song-writing talents became known, Razzy Bailey signed with RCA Records
where he worked with producer Bob Montgomery & in 1978
began releasing singles of his own songs.
Razzy's first hit as a
singer-songwriter was 'What time do you have to be back in heaven?' which
reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1978; the track
was included on 'If Love Had a Face' (RCA Records, 1979).
Razzy Bailey's self-titled 'Razzy Bailey' (RCA Records, 1980) produced his
first No.1 country hit; 'Loving up a storm' spent one week at No.1 in
October 1980.
Razzy Bailey achieved three double-sided No.1s in succession on the
Billboard country music singles charts namely 'I keep coming back/True life
country music' (No.1 for one week in February 1981), 'Friends/Anywhere
there's a jukebox' (No.1 for one week in June 1981) & 'Midnight
hauler/Scratch my back (and whisper in my ear)' (No.1 for one week in
October 1981.
Razzy Bailey became the first artist to take a trio of back-to-back hits to
No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart since Buck Owens in
1965/1966.
Razzy Bailey's fifth & final No.1 on the Billboard country music singles
chart was 'She left love all over me' (No.1 for one week in March/April
1982), which was included on 'Feelin' 'Alright' (RCA Records, 1982).
Visit Razzy Bailey's Official Site
Visit Razzy Bailey's Official
MySpace Site
