Gene Watson's Peers: Tony Booth
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
Tony Booth, which he
submitted to this site on Wednesday 30 January 2008.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to
Tony Booth who has made a
special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone
Star Hero'.
Tony Booth
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 30 January 2008
'I spent twelve years in the Gene Watson band. It was a
good experience in my career.
I would put Gene in a class with Marty Robbins in that in all those twelve
years I never heard him hit a bad note'.
Thank you, Tony Booth, for
your support of Gene Watson.
About Tony Booth...
Tony Booth is a native of
Tampa, Florida where he was born on Sunday 7 February in 1943. He won a
contest in New Port Richey, Florida for playing guitar when he was 14 years
old.
After high school, Tony attended the University of New Mexico with the
intention of becoming a schoolteacher, but he decided to give music a try &
began his music career with the Mel Savage Band & later began touring with
Jimmy Snyder.
Tony Booth's first single was 'Wishful thinking' (which was backed with 'I
think I can'); his first album was 'Country 67' which was released under the
stage name 'Johnny Booth' by Universal City Records in 1967.
Tony Booth's first album did not yield a chart position, so he formed a band
called Modern Country in 1968 & performed for a time in Las Vegas, Nevada
before moving to Los Angeles, California.
The band, which renamed itself the
Tony Booth Band became the house band at LA's Palomino Club & included
members Jay Dee Maness (who went on to become a member of the Desert Rose
Band) & Tony's younger brother Larry.
Tony recorded a single with K-Ark Records - 'Big lonely world' was backed
with 'It's alright' but it failed to achieve chart success.
Things changed for the better in 1979 when Tony recorded
Merle Haggard's
song about interracial love 'Irma Jackson' (backed with Tony's own
composition 'One too many times') which reached the charts. Tony's band also
won an Academy of Country Music award, which they would take home for three
consecutive years.
Gene Watson recorded Tony Booth's 'One too many times' & included the track
on 'Old Loves Never Die' (MCA Records, 1981).
The album 'On the Right Track' followed soon after on MGM Records & in 1971.
Tony won the Academy of Country Music Award for 'Most Promising Male
Vocalist' & subsequently signed with Capitol Records & became one of several
artists to record under Buck Owens.
Tony Booth released two albums a year for Capitol Records between 1972 &
1974. The first was 'The Key's in the Mailbox' which included three hit
singles.
The 'Lonesome 7-7203' album was released in 1972 & the title track was a hit
single too. Tony was also nominated for the Academy of Country Music 'Male
Vocalist of the Year' Award in 1973.
Other Tony Booth albums released by Capitol Records included 'When a Man
Loves a Woman' in 1973, 'This is Tony Booth' in 1973 & 'Happy Hour' in 1974.
Tony Booth's cover of Jim Croce's 'Workin' at the car wash blues' made it to
No.22 on the Billboard country music singles chart while the album of the
same name 'Workin' at the Car Wash Blues' (Capitol Records, 1974) won an ASCAP Award in 1974. Tony Booth departed Capitol
Records in 1975 & was picked up by United Artists Records the following
year.
Tony Booth then went on tour with Gene Watson's Farewell Party Band where he
remained a member for twelve years (Tony joined Gene Watson's Farewell Party
Band on Friday 1 October 1982); he played bass guitar & sang backup on many
of Gene's mid-1980s album releases.
Tony Booth's 'One too many times' was included on Gene Watson's 'No
One will Ever Know' (Capitol Records, 1980).
Tony Booth's younger brother Larry played bass guitar on Gene Watson's 'Sometimes
I Get Lucky' (MCA Records, 1983); this album was the first Gene Watson
release that featured the Farewell Party Band.
Tony Booth played tic-tac bass & his younger brother Larry played bass
guitar on Gene Watson's 'Heartaches,
Love & Stuff' (MCA Records, 1984).
Tony Booth played tic-tac bass & his younger brother Larry played bass
guitar on Gene Watson's 'Little by Little' (MCA
Records, 1984); the album includes 'My memories of you' which was co-written
by Daniel T. Rainwater & Larry Booth.
Tony Booth played bass guitar on Gene Watson's 'Memories
to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985); the album was co-produced & mixed by Gene
Watson & Tony's younger brother Larry Booth.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson quote (January 2008),
Tony Booth was living in Alvin, Texas & was appearing regularly in the band at the
Alvin Opry with his brother
Larry.
Visit Tony Booth's Official
Site
Visit Tony Booth's Official
MySpace Site