Original Gene Watson Fan Site - Gene Watson's Peers: Quote from Jesse Jones: March 2019

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 Jesse Jones, which he submitted to this site on Friday 8 March 2019.

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

Jesse Jones
This quote was submitted on Friday 8 March 2019.

'The first time I heard of Gene Watson was somewhere around 1974.

At the time, I was living in north-west Georgia and I was listening to a country radio station broadcasting from Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The DJ introduced a new song from a new artist. That's the first time I heard 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003). I thought, now this is a new sound! From that moment on, I was hooked.

In later years, I was fortunate enough to meet Gene several times after concerts around the Chattanooga area. I've never met an artist who was so genuinely interested in his fans. He has always been very connected to his fan base.

After all these years, I've never found another artist who literally has no rivals. There is only one Gene Watson. Nobody can sound like him and I think no one ever can.

With all the hits Watson has recorded, it still bothers me that the music industry has somehow overlooked his awesome talent. But, despite the lack of industry awards, I think that's what people love about him. It's not about a statue on the shelf. It's about recording the best songs the best way he knows how.

In my own recording and songwriting career, Gene is definitely a tremendous inspiration. Out of all the great artists out there, Gene Watson would be one of the only singers that I would certainly want to sing a song with.

He is a country song's best friend'

Thank you, Jesse Jones, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Jesse Jones...

Myra Rolen, Jesse Jones and Janice Maynard in 2017

Jesse Jones was born in Rainsville, Alabama on Thursday 19 December 1946, and is an acclaimed traditional country music singer and songwriter.

Music in north-east Alabama is as fertile as the soil, as fresh as the air, and as refreshing as water drawn from a cool mountain stream - Jesse Jones knows this all too well.

Jesse Jones' first recollection of country music, as a very young farm boy, was that of the voice of Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 - Monday 16 December 2013) & The Cherokee Cowboys emanating from the old radio in the front room of a shotgun shack.

Jesse Jones was drawn to the stories of the country music songs he heard at an early age.

Jesse Jones knew that he wanted to write songs like the ones he heard on late night radio stations, including WSM 650AM in Nashville and WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas.

However, Jesse Jones’ musical interests were not limited to the radio. His paternal grandmother’s family, The Wootten family, from Sand Mountain, Alabama were well known Sacred Harp singers and continue the tradition even today.

Jesse Jones' ancestors have been continuing the craft of 'shape note' singing for more than 150 years. But Jesse Jones was drawn more and more to the honky tonk country music sound throughout his life.

Jesse Jones and Tony Booth in 2013

A number of artists, including Darrell McCall, Tony Booth and Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 - Friday 16 October 2020), impacted Jesse Jones' songwriting style in the late 1960s, incorporating a Texas feel to the already folk / gospel upbringing he had in the mountains of north-east Alabama.

Larry C. Johnson: 'Drinkin' Whiskey Straight' (Larry C. Johnson Independent Release, 2011)

Larry C. Johnson recorded Jesse Jones' 'Drinkin' Whiskey Straight' and included the track on 'Drinkin' Whiskey Straight' (Larry C. Johnson Independent Release, 2011).

Jesse Jones: 'One Memory For The Road' (TEJ Entertainment, 2013) Alabama: 'Feels So Right' (RCA Records, 1981)

On Saturday 30 November 2013, Jesse Jones saw the release of 'One Memory For The Road' (TEJ Entertainment, 2013), which was recorded and mixed at Retrac Studios in Lineville, Alabama, and produced by Kevin Moon, which included the following tracks:

'Standing On Top of A Mountain'
'One More Memory For The Road'
'Honky Tonk Sunshine'
'Once We Had Love'

'Me Against The Walls' / In 2014, Jess Jones was nominated for The Academy of Western Artists Pure Country Awards for 'Male Artist of 2014' & 'Song of The Year for 'Me Against The Walls'

'Rodeo Pony'
'The Other Side of Midnight'
'A Touch of Missing You'
'Behind These Walls'
'I'm Stoned' (written by Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry) / the original version of this track was recorded by Alabama, who included it on 'Feels So Right' (RCA Records, 1981)

Personnel involved in the recording of Jesse Jones' 'One Memory For The Road' (TEJ Entertainment, 2013) included the following:

Jesse Jones (lead vocals)
Kevin Moon and Bryan Carter (harmony vocals)
George Webb (steel guitar)
Jess Ford (fiddle)
Tony Griffith (harmonica)
Bryan Carter (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, drums, piano, engineer)
Shawnta Dalton (photography)
Jerry Wilson (CD layout and design)

Jesse Jones: 'Shadow In My Mind' (TEJ Entertainment, 2014)

In 2014, Jesse Jones saw the release of 'Shadow In My Mind' (TEJ Entertainment, 2014), which was produced by Bryan Carter, and included the following tracks:

'Taming of An Outlaw'
'She's My Bridge'
'Shadow In My Mind'
'Cold Red Georgia Clay'
'Nothing Is Better Than You'
'Just Right Kind of Woman'
'I Miss Her Enough'
'Close To Love'
'Soft Summer Rain'
'Love Don't Care'
'Til Your Memory's Gone'
'A Little Bit of Jesus', which was written by Hal Bynum (Saturday 29 September 1934 - Thursday 2 June 2022)

In 2015, Jesse Jones saw the release of 'Yesterday & You' (TEJ Entertainment, 2015), which was produced by Bryan Carter at Retrac Recording Studios in Ashland, Alabama; one of the included tracks was 'All The Things A Man Should Do' (written by Ben Kitchens).

Jesse Jones: 'Honky Tonk Highway' (TEJ Entertainment, 2015)

In 2015, Jesse Jones saw the release of 'Honky Tonk Highway' (TEJ Entertainment, 2015), which was produced by Bryan Carter, and included the following tracks:

'Jack & A Beer On The Side'
'Some Bridges Just Won't Burn' (written by Jon Philibert)
'Too Close To Gone'
'Honky Tonk, Two-Steppin', Beer Drinkin' Saturday Night' (written by Jon Philibert)
'Empty Boxes'
'I Can't Get Past Yesterday'
'Honky Tonk Highway'
'All The Things A Man Should Do'
'And I Thought Canada Was Cold' (written by Jon Philibert)
'Sexy Texas Talk'

Jess Jones' country music influences include a number of acclaimed songwriters and artists, including the following:

• Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016)
• Darrell McCall
• Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 - Monday 16 December 2013)
• Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 - Friday 16 October 2020)
• Tony Booth
• Gene Watson
• Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016)
• George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013)
• Kris Kristofferson
• Willie Nelson
• Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 - Friday 20 August 2021)
• Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006)
• Wynn Stewart (Thursday 7 June 1934 - Wednesday 17 July 1985)
• The Louvin Brothers - Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 - Wednesday 26 January 2011) & Ira Louvin (Monday 21 April 1924 - Sunday 20 June 1965)
• Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 - Friday 12 September 2003)
• Cal Smith (Thursday 7 April 1932 - Thursday 10 October 2013)
• Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 - Saturday 12 December 2020)

Brian Mallery recorded Jesse Jones' 'Me Against The Wall' (co-written with Timothy Edward Jones and Larry C. Johnson) and included the track on 'Keepin' It Country' (Brian Mallery Independent Release, 2017).

Jesse Jones:'Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk' (Jesse Jones Independent Release, 2019)

In 2019, Jesse Jones saw the release of 'Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk' (Jesse Jones Independent Release, 2019), which included the following tracks:

'Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk' (written by Jon Philibert)

'Bottom of The Bottle' (written by Anne Young) / the original version of this track was recorded by Ira Louvin (Monday 21 April 1924 - Sunday 20 June 1965), who included it on 'The Unforgettable Ira Louvin' (Capitol Records, 1965)

'Home Is Where The Hurt Is' (written by Chuck Cusimano)
'One Beer At A Time'

'Dreams of A Dreamer', which was written by David Hugh 'Jug' Brown (Tuesday 28 July 1936 - Tuesday 7 May 2013) / the original version of this track was recorded by Darrell McCall & The Tennessee Volunteers, who included it on 'Reunion' (BGM Records, 1986) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)

'If I Ever Get That Close', which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016)
'Whiskey Get Busy' (written by Jon Philibert)

'Just Give Me What You Think Is Fair', which was written by Rex Gosdin (1938 - Monday 23 May 1983), V.L. Haywood and Jeff Twill / the original version of this track was recorded by Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), who included it on 'Today My World Slipped Away' (Ami Records, 1983)

'I'm Breaking My Own Heart'
'On My Way To Here' (written by Jon Philibert)