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 2016, 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 Sandy Ramos, which she submitted to this site on Thursday 20 October 2016.

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





Sandy Ramos
This quote was submitted on Thursday 20 October 2016.

'The first time I heard Gene Watson sing my song over the radio, I sat down and cried.  I had been scrubbing my toilet bowl at the time.



I think it's every songwriter's dream to have a country Icon sing their song ('Don't Waste It On The Blues', which was co-written with Jerry Vandiver).

If anyone is a true legend, Gene Watson is.

That smooth voice can melt any heart.

I still have people come up to me today, thirty years later, and tell me how much they love that song.



I was just as proud of 'This Could Go On Forever' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) on his next CD, 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).

Jerry Vandiver and I had two great cuts in a row.

I feel very blessed to be on both of those CDs!'

 

Like them, Gene delivered chill bump-raising performances every time he wrapped his wonderful voice around a song'

Thank you, Sandy Ramos, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Sandy Ramos...



Sandy Ramos, like so many others, moved to Nashville in the fall of 1984.  In those days, there was no internet, no Facebook, no Reverbnation, nor Myspace.

So, if you wanted to make it as an artist or a songwriter, you had to be there!

After three years of knocking on countless publishers' doors, going to weekly workshops, and performing at the various writers' nights in town, Sandy Ramos landed a staff writing deal at Wrensong Publishing.



Sandy Ramos had her first major success as a songwriter, a Top 5 record, 'Don’t Waste It On The Blues' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) by acclaimed country music artist Gene Watson in 1988.

Sandy Ramos remained an exclusive staff songwriter at Wrensong for the next ten years and landed five major label cuts with Lee Greenwood, including the Billboard Top 10 single 'We’ve Got It Made'.

Another single, 'I Brake For Brunettes' by Rhett Akins, was a No.1 Dance Club hit, as well as reaching No.36 on the Billboard Country Singles & Tracks Chart.

Sandy Ramos has had her songs recorded by a number of acclaimed artists, including Faith Hill, Neal McCoy, Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020), Anne Murray, Wild Rose & The Whites, and her biggest album cut to date, 'Let ‘Er Rip' by Dixie Chicks, which has sold over 19 million copies.

After being an exclusive staff writer for ten years, Sandy Ramos decided to concentrate on her own company, Lawyer's Wife Music.

Sandy Ramos focused on co-writing with 'up-and-coming' new artists, including Mustang Sally Band, Karen Waldrup and Justin David.

Sandy Ramos also had co-writes with Fidel Hernandez, Corbette Jackson and Sammy Moore.

Sandy Ramos is an 'in demand' evaluator for Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), as well as a workshop presenter for TSA and NSAI.

Sandy Ramos has also served as a judge for many years in the annual NSAI / CMT Song Contest.

Sandy Ramos has spoken at workshops around the country and taught at the 'Band Jam' camp for aspiring teen songwriters / artists in Nashville.

Sandy Ramos has been a volunteer for the Country Music Hall of Fame's 'Words & Music' program, putting melodies to children's lyrics every year since 1985.

Sandy Ramos: The Song Tuner



Gene Watson recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Don’t Waste It On The Blues' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.



Wild Rose - Pamela Gadd (lead vocals, background vocals, banjo), Kathy Mac (bass guitar, vocals), Pam Perry (lead vocals, harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin), Nancy Given (drums, vocals) & Wanda Vick (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, Dobro, steel guitar) - recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Go Down Swingin' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Breaking New Ground' (Capitol Records, 1990); the track reached No.38 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.



Anne Murray recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Mean Old Moon' and included the track on 'You Will' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1990).



The Forester Sisters (Kathy, June, Kim & Christy) recorded Sandy Ramos' 'It's Gettin' Around' (co-written with Bob Regan) and included the track on 'Talkin' About Men' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).



Gene Watson recorded Sandy Ramos' 'This Could Go On Forever' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).



Lee Greenwood recorded Sandy Ramos' 'We’ve Got It Made' (co-written with Bob Regan) and included the track on 'Holdin' A Good Hand' (Capitol Records, 1990); the track reached No.14 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in January 1991.



Barbara Mandrell recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Before I'm Ever Over You' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Key's In The Mailbox' (Capitol Records, 1991).



Lee Greenwood recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Before I'm Ever Over You' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Love's On The Way' (Liberty Records, 1992); the track reached No.73 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.



Faith Hill recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Life's Too Short To Love Like That' and included the track on 'Take Me As I Am' (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).



Neal McCoy recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Mudslide' and included the track on 'No Doubt About It' (Atlantic Records, 1994).



Rhett Akins recorded Sandy Ramos' 'I Brake For Brunettes' (co-written with Rhett Akins) and included the track on 'A Thousand Memories' (Decca Nashville Records, 1995); the track reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.



The Whites (Sharon White, Cheryl White and Buck White) recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Give A Little Back' and included the track on 'Give A Little Back' (Step One Records, 1996).



Ty England recorded Sandy Ramos' 'It Starts with L' and included the track on 'Two Ways To Fall' (RCA Nashville Records, 1996).



Dixie Chicks recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Let 'Er Rip' (co-written with Billy Crain) and included the track on 'Wide Open Spaces' (Monument Records, 1998); the track reached No.64 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999.

Dixie Chicks' 'Wide Open Spaces' (Monument Records, 1998) included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'I Can Love You Better' (written by Pamela Brown Hayes and Kostas) (No.7, 1997)

'There's Your Trouble', which was written by Mark Selby (1960/1961 - Monday 18 September 2017) and Tia Sillers (No.1 for one week in August 1998)

'Wide Open Spaces' (written by Susan Gibson) (No.1 for one three weeks in November 1998)

'You Were Mine' (written by Emily Erwin and Martie Seidel) (No.1 for one week in March 1999)

'Tonight The Heartache's On Me', which was written by Mary Francis, Johnny MacRae (1929 - Wednesday 3 July 2013) and Bob Morrison (No.6, 1999)



Ricky Lynn Gregg recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Be Careful What You Wish For' and included the track on 'Be Careful What You Wish For' (Row Music Group Records, 2001); the track was released as a single in 2001, but it did not chart.



Kelly Lang recorded Sandy Ramos' 'These Are Them' and included the track on 'It's About Time' (Destiny Row Records, 2005).



Gene Watson re-recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Don’t Waste It On The Blues' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Best of The Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).

In 2013, Sherry Lynn saw the release of 'Christmas On My Mind', a non-album single, which was written by Sandy Ramos and Carmen Logan.



Sherry Lynn recorded Sandy Ramos' 'What A Day To Shake A Heartache' and included the track on 'A Beautiful Life' (Steal Heart Music, 2013).



On Friday 11 November 2016, Morello Records released Gene Watson's 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), along with Gene Watson's 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991), as a special '2-on-1' CD set.



Teea Goans recorded Sandy Ramos' 'Go Down Swingin' (co-written with Jerry Vandiver) and included the track on 'Swing, Shuffle & Sway' (Crosswind Corporation, 2017).



On Thursday 11 February 2021, Darrin Morris Band saw the release of 'Wrap You Up In Love' (Darrin Morris Band Independent Release, 2021); the title track was written by Sandy Ramos, Bronson Hetzer and Greg Smith.

• Visit Sandy Ramos' official site at thesongtuner.com