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 2019, 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 Dee White, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 3 October 2019.

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





Dee White
This quote was submitted on Thursday 3 October 2019.

'When I was 15 years old, I won a talent show and the prize was to open one of Gene’s shows in Georgia.

He’s been a hero of mine ever since.

His voice and delivery are among the finest to ever be shared.

A master of the vocal instrument.

Every country singer wants to sing like Gene'

Thank you, Dee White, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Dee White...



Dee White makes classic-minded country music for the modern world.

Raised in Slapout, Alabama, Dee White is a raw, natural songwriter, spinning the sounds and stories of the American South into songs that nod to the past while still chasing down new horizons.



It was Harold Shedd, the music mogul responsible for signing Alabama, discovering Shania Twain, and producing Reba McEntire's first gold record, who encouraged Dee White to pursue music.  A friend of Dee White's father, Harold Shedd immediately saw something promising in the young teenager.

The list of artists who Harold Shedd has guided to major success is quite impressive, and includes Alabama, Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 - Tuesday 8 August 2017), Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Shania Twain, K.T. Oslin (Friday 15 May 1942 - Monday 21 December 2020), Kentucky Headhunters, Billy Ray Cyrus, Toby Keith, Kathy Mattea, Mark McGuinn, Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 - Sunday 25 October 1992), Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), Louise Mandrell, Dobie Gray (Friday 26 July 1940 - Tuesday 6 December 2011) and Amie Comeaux (Saturday 4 December 1976 - Sunday 21 December 1997).

Impressed with Dee White's unschooled, captivating voice and sharp writing chops, Harold Shedd became an unlikely mentor.  Although separated by nearly seventy years, the two quickly found common ground, bonding over old guitars, antique furniture, and enduring music.

With Harold Shedd's support, Dee White began turning his focus toward songwriting, transforming a hobby into something far more potent.



Not long after graduating high school, Dee White sent his mentor a batch of original songs, including 'Ol' Muddy River' (written by Dee White), which would later find its way onto 'Southern Gentleman' (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Music Nashville, 2019), and received an offer to come sharpen his craft in Nashville.



Before recording his debut album, 'Southern Gentleman' (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Music Nashville, 2019), Dee White spent most of his high school free time on the water in Slapout, Alabama.  A competitive fisherman, Dee White visited Lake Jordan every afternoon as a teenager.  He would take along his phone, too, soundtracking those daily fishing trips with the sounds of internet radio.  Almost by osmosis, the sounds of timeless country music seeped into Dee White's head, laying the brickwork for a career that would eventually find him co-writing songs in Nashville and duetting with Alison Krauss at the tender age of nineteen.

Dee White left college and began making trips to Tennessee, where he found another mentor in Dan Auerbach.  Together, Dan Auerbach and Dee White co-wrote a number of new songs, often teaming up with additional composers in town.  Alison Krauss sings on four songs, lending her harmonies to album standouts, including 'Bucket of Bolts' and 'Tell The World I Do'.

Eventually, Dan Auerbach and Dee White whittled down the list of songs to two dozen finalists.  They then recorded all twenty-four songs in two weeks, using Dan Auerbach's studio, Easy Eye Sound, which consisted of vintage recording gear and analog equipment, as their home base.  'Southern Gentleman' (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Music Nashville, 2019) features ten of those tunes, along with guest appearances by a number of titans from the folk music, country music, and bluegrass music worlds.

On Friday 24 August 2018, Dee White previewed five tracks, 'Wherever You Go' (written by Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and Dee White), 'Rose of Alabam' (written by Brian Burke, Jackson Miller and Dee White), 'Bucket of Bolts' (written by Joe Allen, Dan Auerbach and David Ferguson), 'Crazy Man' (written by Ann J. Morton and Jim Mundy) and 'Tell The World I Do' (written by Dan Auerbach, Dee White and Bobby Wood), from his debut album, 'Southern Gentleman' (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Music Nashville, 2019), which was produced by Dan Auerbach and David 'Fergie' Ferguson.



On Friday 1 March 2019, Dee White saw the release of his highly acclaimed debut album, 'Southern Gentleman' (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Brothers Nashville, 2019), which was produced by Dan Auerbach and David 'Fergie' Ferguson, and included the following tracks:

'Wherever You Go' (written by Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and Dee White)
'Rose of Alabam' (written by Brian Burke, Jackson Miller and Dee White)
'Bucket of Bolts' (written by Joe Allen, Dan Auerbach and David Ferguson) / this track featured harmony vocals from Alison Krauss
'Crazy Man' (written by Ann J. Morton and Jim Mundy)
'Tell The World I Do' (written by Dan Auerbach, Dee White and Bobby Wood) / this track featured harmony vocals from Alison Krauss
'Ol' Muddy River' (written by Dee White)
'Road That Goes Both Ways' (written by Joe Allen, Dan Auerbach and Dee White) / this track was a duet with Ashley McBryde
'Way Down' (written by Dan Auerbach and Russ Pahl)
'Oh, No' (written by Dan Auerbach and Lawrence Russell Brown)
'Under Your Skin' (written by Dan Auerbach and Roger Cook)

Personnel involved in the recording of Dee White's highly acclaimed debut album, 'Southern Gentleman' (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Brothers Nashville, 2019), included the following:

Dee White (vocals)
Dan Auerbach (guitar)
Gene Chrisman and Bobby Wood (percussion, keys)
Billy Sanford (guitar)
Hargus 'Pig' Robbins (keyboards)
Mickey Raphael (harmonica)



John Anderson recorded Dee White's 'What's A Man Got To Do' (co-written with John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and David Ferguson) and included the track on 'Years' (Easy Eye Sound, 2020).





• Visit Dee White's official site at deewhite.com
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