Gene Watson's Peers: Sammy Kershaw
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 2008 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
Sammy Kershaw, which he submitted
to this site on Saturday 5 January 2008.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Sammy Kershaw who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online
'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Sammy Kershaw
This quote was submitted on Saturday 5 January 2008
'Gene Watson is one of the greatest vocalists in the
history of country music, and a very nice man.
There are not many left in this business like Gene Watson. God bless!'
Thank you, Sammy Kershaw, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Sammy Kershaw...
Sammy Kershaw was born on 24 February
1958 in Abbeville, Louisiana & was raised in Kaplan, Louisiana (he is
the third cousin of Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw). Sammy was
the eldest of four children & tragically lost his father when he was
eleven
years old.
It was also at the age of eleven that Sammy got his first guitar, a gift
from his grandfather. Thereafter he worked a variety of jobs by day while playing
roadhouses at night in order to support his family.
Sammy began performing in Acadiana with Louisiana legend J.B. Pere. He
subsequently opened shows for Ray Price,
Merle Haggard &
George Jones while barely into his teens.
When the pressures of growing up fast took their toll in the form of a
serious drug & alcohol problem, Sammy quit his bad habits in 1988 & took a
break from music to work as a remodelling supervisor at Wal-Mart.
One of Sammy Kershaw's demonstration tapes made its way to Mercury Records,
which released his debut album 'Don't Go Near the Water' (Mercury Records,
1991). This album was certified platinum by the RIAA & produced four
hit singles.
The lead-off single, 'Cadillac style', went to No.3 in late 1991/early 1992,
which was followed by the title track which reached No.12, 'Yard sale' which
reached No.17 & finally 'Anywhere but here' which reached No.10.
Sammy was initially reluctant to release 'Cadillac style' because he felt
that it was not suitable for his style; however, his co-producer,
Buddy
Cannon, convinced him to give the song a chance. Kershaw's often
honky-tonk material & singing voice led to critical comparisons to
George Jones; one of Jones' early singles,
'What am I worth', was covered on his debut as well.
Sammy Kershaw's second album, 'Haunted Heart' (Mercury Records), followed in
1993. Its lead-off single, 'She don't know she's beautiful', became
his only No.1 hit in April of that year. It was followed by the title
track, the Dennis Linde-penned 'Queen of my double-wide trailer' & 'I can't
reach her anymore', all of which reached the Top 10 as well. Like his
debut album, 'Haunted Heart' (Mercury Records, 1993) was also a platinum
album.
'Feelin' Good Train' (Mercury Records, 1994) was the title of Sammy
Kershaw's third album, which was released in the latter part of 1994; the
album also produced four more hits, including two consecutive No.2s in
'National working woman's holiday' & 'Third rate romance', the latter track
a cover of the Amazing Rhythm Aces hit from 1975. The track 'Soundbound'
reached No. No.27 & 'If you're gonna walk, I'm gonna crawl' reached No.18,
both in 1995.
'Feelin' Good Train' (Mercury Records, 1994) also included a duet with
George Jones on 'Never bit a bullet like
this', a track that had previously been included on Jones' 'High
Tech Redneck' (MCA Records, 1993).
'Feelin' Good Train' (Mercury Records, 1994), which was certified gold, was
followed by 'Christmas Time's A-Coming' (Mercury Records, 1994) & 'The Hits,
Chapter 1' (Mercury Records, 1995); the latter produced a No.47 peaking
single with 'Your tattoo' (written by Kostas & Jack Tempchin), the first
single of Sammy Kershaw's career not to reach the Top 40.
Sammy Kershaw's fourth album, the gold-certified 'Politics, Religion & Her'
(Mercury Records, 1996), was issued in 1996 & produced Top Ten hits 'Meant
to be' & 'Vidalia'. These songs were followed by 'Fit to be tied down'
& the title track, both of which reached the Top 30. Also included on
'Politics, Religion & Her' (Mercury Records, 1996) were covers of Chuck
Berry's 'Memphis, Tennessee' & Sammy Johns' 'Chevy van'.
Sammy Kershaw's 'Labor of Love' (Mercury Records, 1997) was released in 1997
& was his fifth album. Unlike his previous albums, this one was
predominantly composed of ballads. It produced a No.2 hit with 'Love
of my life' and, although none of the other three singles ('Matches', 'Honky
tonk America' & 'One day left to live') reached higher than No.22, the album
was nonetheless certified platinum as well.
Sammy's next album (his sixth) was 'Maybe Not Tonight' (Mercury Records,
1999) & included a Top 20 duet with Lorrie Morgan. The album was
commercially less successful than its predecessors & became the first album
of Sammy Kershaw's career not to achieve an RIAA certification.
Following 'Maybe not tonight' were the singles 'When you love someone' & 'Me
& Maxine', both of which peaked in the Top 30. 'Louisiana hot sauce',
the final release from 'Maybe Not Tonight (Mercury Records, 1999), was also
the first single of Sammy's career not to enter the Billboard charts.
In 2000, Sammy Kershaw saw the release of 'Coverin' the Hits' (Mercury
Records, 2000), an album of cover songs; the album comprised ten cover songs
that Kershaw had recorded in his career & also included a rendition of Dr.
Hook's 'Little bit more', a previously unreleased cover which Sammy had
recorded during the sessions for 'Labor of Love' (Mercury Records, 1997).
By 2001, Sammy Kershaw & Lorrie Morgan had married. The two recorded
'I Finally Found Someone' (BNA Records, 2001), a vocal duet album, the title
track of which was a cover of the Bryan Adams/Barbra Streisand duet.
'I Finally Found Someone' (BNA Records, 2001) was even less successful
commercially, with its only Top 40 hit being the No.39 hit 'He drinks
tequila'. Shortly afterward, a second greatest hits collection was
released & Kershaw left Mercury Records.
In 2003, Sammy Kershaw signed with Audium Entertainment & saw the release of
'I Want My Money Back'; the album produced a No.33 hit with the title track,
but the second single fell short of the Top 40. The third & final
single, 'Beer, bait & ammo', which failed to chart, was previously recorded
by Kevin Fowler & included as the title track of his debut album 'Beer, Bait
& Ammo' (Tin Roof Records, 2000).
'Beer, bait & ammo' was also recorded by Mark
Chesnutt & was included on 'Savin' the Honky Tonk' (Vivaton Records,
2004).
After Audium Entertainment closed its Nashville division, Sammy Kershaw
signed with Category 5 Records, then a newly-established independent label,
in 2006. His first release for the label & first chart single in three
years, 'Tennessee girl', fell three spaces short of the Top 40 that year.
It was the first release from his 2006 album 'Honky Tonk Boots' (Category 5
Records, 2006).
The album's only other single, a cover of Mel McDaniel's No.1 hit 'Baby's
got her blue jeans on', failed to chart; Mel McDaniel's version of 'Baby's
got her blue jeans on' spent one week at No.1 on the Billboard country music
singles chart in February/March 1985.
Financial difficulties caused Category 5 Records to close in 2007; in
October of the same year, Sammy Kershaw divorced Lorrie Morgan, citing
irreconcilable differences.
In June 2007, Sammy Kershaw announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor
of Louisiana in the October 20 jungle primary. The position was held
by the incumbent Democrat, Mitch Landrieu. Kershaw also faced a second
Republican candidate, State Representative Gary Beard of Baton Rouge, an
engineer first elected to the state House in a 2001 special election.
Sammy finished second with thirty percent of the vote, but Landrieu won
re-election with a majority on the first ballot.
Sammy Kershaw's first single in two years, 'Real people', was released in
late 2008 on the Boomerville/Big Hit Records label.
In Kaplan, Louisiana Sammy established the Sammy Kershaw Foundation to
fulfil his goal of improving the lives of children; the Foundation helps
child-related charities & grants wishes through the 'Make a Wish
Foundation'.
Visit Sammy Kershaw's Official Site