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 2013, 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 Anthony Smith, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 21 April 2013.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Anthony Smith who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.





Anthony Smith
This quote was submitted on Sunday 21 April 2013.

'Gene Watson is one of the greatest country singers of all time'

Thank you, Anthony Smith, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Anthony Smith...



Anthony Smith was born in Warsaw, Indiana and is a country music singer, songwriter and record producer.

Anthony Smith was raised in eastern Tennessee and his musical interests began at the early age of five.

When he was nine years old, Anthony Smith had joined his first band and, by the age of twelve, he was arranging music at his church.

Anthony Smith moved to Kentucky in his early twenties and joined several bands.



George Strait recorded Anthony Smith's 'Run' (co-written with Tony Lane) and included the track on 'The Road Less Traveled' (MCA Records, 2001); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in December 2001.



Montgomery Gentry - Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry (Wednesday 5 April 1967 - Friday 8 September 2017) - recorded Anthony Smith's 'Carrying On' (co-written with Bobby Terry and Kevin Brandt) and included the track on 'Carrying On' (Columbia Records, 2001).



Confederate Railroad recorded Anthony Smith's 'What Brothers Do' (co-written with Chris Wallin) and included the track on 'Unleashed' (Audium Entertainment Records, 2001); the track reached No.39 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2001.



Confederate Railroad recorded Anthony Smith's 'Still One Outlaw Left' (co-written with Jess Brown and Tony Lane) and included the track on 'Unleashed' (Audium Entertainment Records, 2001).



Lonestar recorded Anthony Smith's 'Without You' (co-written with Bobby Terry) and included the track on 'I'm Already There' (BNA Records, 2001).



Lorrie Morgan & Sammy Kershaw recorded Anthony Smith's '3 Seconds' (co-written with Jeffrey Steele and Chris Wallin) and included the track on 'I Finally Found Someone' (RCA Records, 2001).



Trace Adkins recorded Anthony Smith's 'I'm Trying' (co-written with Jeffrey Steele and Chris Wallin) and included the track on 'Chrome' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2001); the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2001.



Trace Adkins recorded Anthony Smith's 'Chrome' (co-written with Jeffrey Steele) and included the track on 'Chrome' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2001); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2002.

In 2002, Anthony Smith was granted a songwriting deal from BMI and began to write songs for other country music artists.

Luke Lewis, head of Mercury Nashville Records, received a demo tape of Anthony Smith's music and, in 2002, he signed the artist to a recording deal.

 

On Tuesday 25 June 2002, Anthony Smith saw the release of his debut album, 'If That Ain't Country' (Mercury Nashville Records, 2002), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'If That Ain't Country' (written by Anthony Smith and Jeffrey Steele) (No.26, 2002)

'John J. Blanchard' (written by Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin) (No.40, 2002)

'Half A Man' (written by Anthony Smith) (No.40, 2003)

Anthony Smith's debut album, 'If That Ain't Country' (Mercury Nashville Records, 2002), also included the following tracks:

'Who Invented The Wheel' (written by Anthony Smith, Craig Wiseman and Bobby Terry) / this track was also recorded by Trisha Yearwood, who included it on 'Jasper County' (MCA Nashville Records, 2005)
'Impossible To Do' (written by Anthony Smith, Chris Wallin and Tony Lane)
'Metropolis' (written by Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin)
'Up To The Depth' (written by Anthony Smith, Chris Wallin and Bobby Terry)
'Airborn' (written by Anthony Smith)
'What Brothers Do' (written by Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin)
'Hell of A Question' (written by Anthony Smith and John Burchett)
'Venus' (written by Anthony Smith and Chris Wallin)
'Infinity' (written by Anthony Smith)

Personnel involved in the recording of Anthony Smith's debut album, 'If That Ain't Country' (Mercury Nashville Records, 2002), included the following:

Shannon Forest (drums)
Mark Hammond (drum loops)
Shelby Kennedy (background vocals on 'Venus')
Jami McMahon (background vocals on 'Infinity' and 'If That Ain't Country')
Russell Terrell (background vocals)
Anthony Smith (vocals; electric guitar on 'Impossible To Do')
Bobby Terry (background vocals, all other instruments)
Darrell Franklin, Catt Gravitt, Scott Gunter and Jill Terry (background vocals on 'If That Ain't Country')
David Angell, David Davidson, Carl Gorodetzky, Pam Sixfin and Mary Kathryn Vanosdale (violins on 'Metropolis' and 'Up To The Depth')
Kris Wilkinson (viola on 'Metropolis' and 'Up To The Depth')
John Catchings and Bob Mason (cellos on 'Metropolis' and 'Up To The Depth')



Tommy Shane Steiner recorded Anthony Smith's 'John J. Blanchard' (under the title 'The Mind of John J. Blanchard') (co-written with Chris Wallin) and included the track on 'Then Came The Night' (RCA Records, 2002).

In 2002, Montgomery Gentry - Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry (Wednesday 5 April 1967 - Friday 8 September 2017) - recorded Anthony Smith's 'Didn't I'; the track was included on the soundtrack of 'We Were Soldiers' (Icon Productions / Paramount Pictures, 2002), which starred Mel Gibson.



Rascal Flatts recorded Anthony Smith's 'My Worst Fear' (co-written with Al Anderson) and included the track on 'Melt' (Lyric Street Records, 2002).  Although a music video was made to accompany 'My Worst Fear', the track was never released as a single.



Faith Hill recorded Anthony Smith's 'I Think I Will' (co-written with Steve Robson) and included the track on 'Cry' (Warner Bros. Records, 2002).

In 2003, Anthony Smith left Mercury Nashville Records, but he continued to write songs for other artists.



Sammy Kershaw recorded Anthony Smith's 'Metropolis' (co-written with Chris Wallin) and included the track on 'I Want My Money Back' (Audium Records / Koch Entertainment, 2003).



Sammy Kershaw recorded Anthony Smith's 'Stitches' and included the track on 'I Want My Money Back' (Audium Records / Koch Entertainment, 2003).



George Strait recorded Anthony Smith's 'Cowboys Like Us' (co-written with Bob DiPiero) and included the track on 'Honkytonkville' (MCA Records, 2003); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in late 2003.



Tim McGraw recorded Anthony Smith's 'Kill Myself' (co-written with Bob DiPiero and Bobby Terry) and included the track on 'Live Like You Were Dying' (Curb Records, 2004).

 

Trisha Yearwood recorded Anthony Smith's 'Who Invented The Wheel' (co-written with Bobby Terry and Craig Wiseman) and included the track on 'Jasper County' (MCA Nashville Records, 2005); the original version of this track was included on Anthony Smith's debut album, 'If That Ain't Country' (Mercury Nashville Records, 2002).



Trick Pony recorded Anthony Smith's 'Hillbilly Rich' (co-written with Ira Dean) and included the track on 'R.I.D.E.' (Asylum Records / Curb Records, 2005).



Trace Adkins recorded Anthony Smith's 'Metropolis' (co-written with Chris Wallin) and included the track on 'Songs About Me' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2005).



Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Anthony Smith's 'Half A Man' and included the track on 'Water & Bridges' (Capitol Records, 2006).



Montgomery Gentry - Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry (Wednesday 5 April 1967 - Friday 8 September 2017) - recorded Anthony Smith's 'What Do Ya Think About That' (co-written with Brett Jones) and included the track on 'Some People Change' (Columbia Records, 2006); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 2007.



Shooter Jennings recorded Anthony Smith's 'Last Time I Let You Down' (co-written with Ted Russell Kamp) and included the track on 'The Wolf' (Universal South Records, 2007).



Tim McGraw recorded Anthony Smith's 'Kristofferson', which was co-written with Reed Nielsen (1950 - Saturday 15 November 2014), and included the track on 'Let It Go' (Curb Records, 2007); the track reached No.16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 2008.



Halfway To Hazard (David Tolliver and Chad Warrix) recorded Anthony Smith's 'Daisy' (co-written with David Tolliver and Chad Warrix) and included the track on 'Halfway To Hazard' (Mercury Nashville Records / Style Sonic, 2007); the track reached No.39 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2007.



Halfway To Hazard (David Tolliver and Chad Warrix) recorded Anthony Smith's 'Got Back Up' (co-written with David Tolliver and Chad Warrix) and included the track on 'Halfway To Hazard' (Mercury Nashville Records / Style Sonic, 2007).

In 2008, Anthony Smith signed to a second recording contract, this time with Stroudavarious Records.

On Tuesday 1 July 2009, Anthony Smith's first single for Stroudavarious Records, 'Bringin' Back The Sunshine', was released, and reached No.60 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.

Anthony Smith also saw the release of an extended play (EP) disc for Stroudavarious Records.

In early 2010, Anthony Smith left Stroudavarious Records and formed his own record label, Krankit Records.

Anthony Smith's first release on Krankit Records was 'Love Is Love Is Love' (Krankit Records, 2010).



Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Anthony Smith's 'Infinity' and included the track on 'And So It Goes' (Sugar Hill Records, 2012).

• Visit Anthony Smith's official site at anthonysmith.com
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