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Tony Booth (January 2008)

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 Tony Booth's quote, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 30 January 2008.

I (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 BoothTony 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 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 'Wishful thinking' (which was backed with 'I think I can') & the 'Country 67' album were released under the stage name 'Johnny Booth' by Universal City Records in 1967.

Larry BoothTony'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' backed with 'It's alright' 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.

The album 'On the Right Track' followed soon after on MGM Records & in 1971 Tony won the Academy of Country Award for 'Most Promising Male Vocalist'.  Tony 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.

Tony's cover of Jim Croce's 'Workin' at the car wash blues' made it to No.22 on the country charts while the album of the same name won an ASCAP Award in 1974.  Tony Booth departed the Capitol Records label 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; he played bass guitar & sang backup on many of Gene's mid-1980s album releases.

'No One will Ever Know' (Capitol Records, 1980)Tony Booth's composition 'One too many times' was included on Gene Watson's 'No One will Ever Know' album, which was released on Capitol Records in 1980.



'Sometimes I Get Lucky' (MCA Records, 1983)Tony Booth's younger brother Larry played bass guitar on Gene Watson's 'Sometimes I Get Lucky' album, which was released on MCA Records in 1983.  This album was the first Gene Watson release that featured the Farewell Party Band.


'Heartaches, Love & Stuff' (MCA Records, 1984)Tony Booth played tic-tac bass & his younger brother Larry played bass guitar on Gene Watson's 'Heartaches, Love & Stuff' album, which was released on MCA Records in 1984.



'Little by Little' (MCA Records, 1984)Tony Booth played tic-tac bass & his younger brother Larry played bass guitar on Gene Watson's 'Little by Little' album, which was released on MCA Records in 1984.  The album includes 'My memories of you' which was co-written by Daniel T. Rainwater & Larry Booth.

'Memories to Burn' (Epic Records, 1985)Tony Booth played bass guitar on Gene Watson's 'Memories to Burn' album, which was released on Epic Records in 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 was living in Alvin, Texas & was appearing regularly in the band at The Alvin Opry with his brother Larry.

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