Gene Watson's Peers: Tim Stafford
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 a quote from
Tim Stafford, which he submitted
to this site on Wednesday 26 July 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Tim Stafford who has made a
special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone
Star Hero'.
Tim Stafford
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 26 July 2006
'Sure, we'd be glad to provide a quote. We (the Blue
Highway Band) did a gig with Gene & Eddie Lee, his piano player, in Japan a
few years back. I had always admired his singing, which was flawlessly
consistent & reminiscent of Merle Haggard & Lefty Frizzell at their best.
Gene can sell a song better than anybody I know. But I was actually bowled
over by the guy in Japan as a human being. He's just a super fellow, very
funny & personable. It's great when people you admire end up being nice
people!'
Thank you, Tim Stafford, for your
support of Gene Watson.
About Tim Stafford...
Tim Stafford, who is from
Kingsport, Tennessee began playing guitar seriously at the age of 18 after
starting out on the banjo four years earlier. He played with various groups
in the Tri-Cities area of East Tennessee as a teenager, including Mountain
Memories.
As a member of Kingsport's Boys in the Band, he was a judge at the 1980
National Flat-picking Championship in Winfield, Kansas. He also helped to
found the band Dusty Miller, which was named International Bluegrass Band
champions in 1990.
It was also in 1990 that Tim joined Alison Krauss & Union Station, along
with Adam Steffey & Barry Bales. Union Station was named IBMA Entertainer of
the Year in 1991.
Tim Stafford left Union Station in May 1992 in order to
spend more time with his son Daniel, who was born in January of that year.
Tim won a Grammy Award in January 1993 for his work on the Alison Krauss &
Union Station album 'Every Time You Say Goodbye' (Rounder Records, 1992).
In 1994, Tim organized the group
Blue Highway, whose first project, 'It’s a Long, Long Road' (Rebel
Records, 1994), spent six months at the top of the Bluegrass Unlimited
charts & went on to win IBMA’s 'Album of the Year' Award in 1996. Blue
Highway were also awarded the Emerging Artist of the Year Award in 1996 &
Gospel Recording of the Year in 1997.
The band’s project on Ricky Skaggs' Ceili Music label, 'Blue Highway' (Ceili
Music, 1999), spent two months at No.1 on the Bluegrass Now charts.
Blue Highway's gospel recording, 'Wondrous Love' (Rounder Records, 2003) was
nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass
Gospel Album category, while the album also won the Dove Award in 2004 for
'Best Bluegrass Recording'.
Tim Stafford’s songs have been recorded by Ronnie Bowman,
Claire Lynch, Dan Tyminski, Lonesome River Band, in addition to Blue Highway.
Visit Tim Stafford's Official Site