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 Watson's Peers, who were contacted during 2010, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Kelly Lang, which she submitted to this site on Wednesday 10 February 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Kelly Lang who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Kelly Lang
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 10 February 2010.
'The music of Gene Watson is of comfort, lonesome, yet refreshing, poetic, heart-wrenching, yet uplifting.
Like a wonderful movie, with ups and downs, happy and sad turns, Gene's catalogue of music, takes you on a journey, as you hear the pain in his voice, leaving you to believe that he has actually lived the words he is singing.
His signature piano licks has every fan knowing that Gene has truly put his remarkable stamp on 'Fourteen Carat Mind', which was written by Dallas Frazier and Larry Lee Favorite (1939 - Saturday 26 May 2001), and leaves them wanting more.
A genuine country music legend!'
Thank you, Kelly Lang, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Kelly Lang...
Kelly Lang, one of four children, was born in Oklahoma City and raised in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Her father, Velton Lang, worked as Conway Twitty's road manager for more than twenty-five years.
Kelly Lang recalled: 'As a little girl, I used to sit on the side of the stage with my Dad and watch Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) perform…and I remember thinking to myself, now that's what I want to do when I grow up!'
Kelly Lang remembers thinking too that growing up around Conway and the biggest name in country music was something quite natural.
Kelly Lang recorded her first Billboard single, 'Lady, Lady' when she was fifteen years old and she filmed a video which came to the attention of CMT (Country Music Television).
For six years, Kelly Lang was also a regular on Ralph Emery's local morning program in Nashville.
Kelly Lang also opened concerts for Ronnie Milsap, Brenda Lee, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Skaggs and T.G. Sheppard. However, Kelly Lang left the music business in her late teens to get married and raise a family.
During this time, Kelly Lang concentrated on song-writing and Lorrie Morgan produced some demos for her.
In 2003, Kelly Lang signed to the independent Destiny Row Records label in Nashville; she wrote her first single for that label, 'Goodbye Darling', as a tribute to Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) and the track was included on Kelly Lang's debut album, 'It’s About Time' (Destiny Row Records, 2004).
Confident and comfortable onstage, Kelly Lang launched into more national spotlights: The Statler Brothers Show, Church Street Station, Fantasy and Pickin' in the Paradise - she was an in demand young artist for virtually every Nashville based production of the day.
Kelly Lang became a semi-regular artist on Ralph's Emery's popular 'Nashville Now' on The nashville Network (TNN), pulling in major viewer mail and a large national fan base.
On the road in concert, Kelly Lang shared billings with many country music legends, including Ronnie Milsap, Brenda Lee, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Skaggs and T.G. Sheppard, as well as many of the hot new artists from her own peer group.
Kelly Lang won raves for acting roles in commercials for Oldsmobile with fellow artist Mark Collie and in her rare time off the road, she fielded national modelling offers.
To the music industry's surprise, in her late teens, Kelly Lang married and moved out of the spotlight, ultimately to have two beautiful daughters, Payton and Kennedy, both of whom became the consuming lights of her life.
Although happy in the role of motherhood, Kelly Lang still somehow never lost her desire for music and the desire for success in the love of music that had been instilled in childhood.
While not actively touring or doing major television, Kelly Lang reached deep within herself to pull out a yet untapped goldmine of creativity - song-writing. Her songs were deep, sensitive and reflective, or bright and filled with the sparkle which became a Kelly Lang trademark. Each held an obvious spark of the heart and soul of their writer.
Kelly Lang and T.G. Sheppard
On most days, Kelly Lang can be found writing either with her dear friend, Lorrie Morgan and co-writer Mark Oliverius (the trio worked together on Lorrie Morgan's 'I Walk Alone' for Stroudavarious Records in 2010), or working alongside her new husband, country music legend, T.G. Sheppard, in the studio.
Kelly Lang had so many songs stored up in her catalogue from her life experiences, from going through a divorce, becoming a single mother of two girls for seven years and a battle with aggressive breast cancer, it was time she began to share them with a listening audience and they began to strike a lot of nerves and pull at heartstrings.
Kelly Lang's love of life and passion for helping others showed in the 'Night of Healing' tornado benefit she spearheaded and raised money for the victims. Kelly Lang's career highlight was singing a duet that evening with her favourite artist, Barry Gibb.
Kelly Lang Fact Sheet
Regular on Ralph Emery Morning Show (seven years)
Three-time winner on Ed McMahon's 'Star Search'
Regular on 'Music City Tonight' (starring Crook & Chase)
Writer / singer on new album for Cracker Barrel Baby L ('Lullaby Country', August 2008)
Host of television show 'Give a Living Rose'
Writer / singer on three songs in Burt Reynolds' movie 'Deal' (April 2008)
National spokesperson for Cindy Crawford's skin care line 'Meaningful Beauty' in 2008
Opening act for most country music legends for years
Writer on compilation album 'Gone Fishing' for Bandit Records (featuring Lorrie Morgan on the song 'Something Fishy Going On')
Co-writer on Lorrie Morgan's 'I Walk Alone' (Stroudavarious Records, 2010)
In 2005, Kelly Lang saw the release of 'It's About Time' (Destiny Row Records, 2005); one of the included tracks was 'These Are Them', which was written by Sandy Ramos.
Kelly Lang provided the lead vocal on 'My First Christmas without You', a track which was included on the Christmas compilation album 'Still Believing in Christmas' (Seasong Recordings, 2006), an album which also included guest contributions from a number of fellow country music legends, including Gene Watson, Bill Anderson, Tanya Tucker, Lorrie Morgan, T.G. Sheppard and Crystal Gayle.
A number of acclaimed country music artists have recorded Kelly Lang's songs, including Crystal Gayle, BJ Thomas, Jimmy Fortune, Lorrie Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, T.G. Sheppard, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), Janie Fricke and Jerry Lee Lewis.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'Down On My Knees' and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from The Oak Ridge Boys.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'The Killer' (co-written with T.G. Sheppard and Bobby Tomberlin) and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from Jerry Lee Lewis.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'The Next One' (co-written with Lorrie Morgan and Mark Oliverius) and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from Lorrie Morgan.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Lelly Lang's '100% Chance of Pain' (co-written with T.G. Sheppard) and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from BJ Thomas and Jimmy Fortune.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'It's A Man Thing' (co-written with Frank Solesby) and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'Dead Girl Walking' and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from Kelly Lang.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'I'm Not Going Anywhere' and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from Crystal Gayle.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'If You Knew' (co-written with Lorrie Morgan, Mark Oliverius and T.G. Sheppard) and included the track on 'T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music' (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from Ricky Skaggs & The Whites.
Lorrie Morgan recorded Kelly Lang's 'Mirror, Mirror' (co-written with Lorrie Morgan and Mark Oliverius) and included the track on 'A Picture of Me: Greatest Hits & More' (Cleopatra Records, 2016).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'Addicted To You' and included the track on 'Midnight In Memphis' (Leopard Entertainment, 2019).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'Good Man' and included the track on 'Midnight In Memphis' (Leopard Entertainment, 2019).
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang's 'Sober' (co-written with Jacky Dawn Valeras and Breann Young) and included the track on 'Midnight In Memphis' (Leopard Entertainment, 2019).
• Visit Kelly Lang's official site at kellylang.net
