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 Paul Worley, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 5 January 2019.

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





Paul Worley
This quote was submitted on Saturday 5 January 2019.

'Gene Watson is one of the best singers I ever worked with!



His voice is so smooth and soulful.

A true legend in our industry!'

Thank you, Paul Worley, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Paul Worley...



Paul Worley was born Paul N. Worley on Thursday 16 February 1950 in Nashville.

Paul Worley is an acclaimed producer, session guitarist and singer.

Paul Worley, along with Wally Wilson (another Nashville record producer) and two partners, founded a publishing company known as Skyline Music Publishing.



In January 1989, Gene Watson saw the release of 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), which was produced by Paul Worley, Ed Seay and Gregg Brown; the production assistant was Sharon Eaves (1961 - Friday 25 September 2015).

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), which was the first of two albums he recorded for Warner Bros. Records, included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Don't Waste It On The Blues' (written by Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver) (No.5, 1988)

Gene Watson recorded 'I Picked A San Antone Rose', which was written by James Dean Hicks and Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 - Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track as the 'B' side of the 'Don't Waste It On The Blues' 45rpm vinyl single, which was released on Warner Bros. Records (catalogue number 27692) in 1989 / However, Gene Watson's version of 'I Picked A San Antone Rose' was not included on 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)

'Back In The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid) (No.20, 1989) / this track also reached No.24 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1989

'The Jukebox Played Along’, which was written by Ken Bell and Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 - Friday 19 August 2022) (No.24, 1989) / this track also reached No.40 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1989

'The Great Divide' (written by John Lindley and Randy Travis) (No.41, 1989)

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) also included the following tracks:

'Dreams of A Dreamer', which was written by David Hugh 'Jug' Brown (Tuesday 28 July 1936 - Tuesday 7 May 2013)
'Somewhere Over You' (written by Gene Watson, Dave Lindsey and Jim Rushing)

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) is unique in that it is the only album which features a song which Gene Watson had a hand in writing; 'Somewhere Over You' was co-written by Gene, along with Jim Rushing and Dave Lindsey.

'Ain't No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone' (written by Buddy Cannon and Luke Reed)
'Just How Little I Know' (written by Wayland Patton and Jim Rushing)
'She Found The Key', which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer)
'When A Fool Learns' (written by Steve Clark and Rick Peoples)

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) included the following album notes:

FROM GENE

'Very special thanks to Lib Hatcher for all her concern and encouragement.

Without her my career would have probably ended.  She gave me a new 'beginning'.  I can't begin to thank her enough for everything.



Thanks to: Randy Travis (for remaining a friend for twelve years and for giving me my favourite song: 'The Great Divide'), Martha Sharp (for signing me to Warner Bros.), Gregg Brown (for taking time out of his busy schedule and working with me for days on end, selecting and reviewing my music), and to Paul Worley and Nick Hunter and the entire staff at Warner Bros. Records (for being so warm and enthusiastic).

It's the first time in my career that I've had people care so much.

This is a brand new start and career for Gene Watson'.

Special Thanks from Paul Worley to Fred Cameron for 'Hot Rod Mics'

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was recorded and mixed by Ed Seay with assistance from Mike Poole, Clarke Schleicher and Gary Paczosa.  Additional Engineering was undertaken by Clarke Schleicher.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was recorded at Treasure Isle Recorders, with overdubs undertaken at The Money Pit.

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) was mixed at Nightingale Studio and was recorded and mixed using Monster Cable; the album was mastered at Georgetown (Masters by Denny Purcell).

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989.



You can read a Country Music People review of Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the review, which was written by Craig Baguley, was published in the March 1989 issue of the United Kingdom monthly publication Country Music People.



Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) included the following:

Eddie Bayers and Steve Turner (drums)
Mike Brignardello (bass)
Steve Gibson, John Jorgenson, Paul Worley and Gregg Brown (electric guitar)
Larry Byrom, Paul Worley, Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 - Monday 1 June 2020) and Pete Wade (acoustic guitar)
Dennis Burnside, Barry Beckett and Michael Rojas (piano)
Mark O'Connor (fiddle)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)

  

Gene Watson's 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), along with Gene Watson's 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991), was released, by Morello Records, as a special '2-on-1' CD set (WMRLL 66), on Friday 11 November 2016.

This special CD brought together two pivotal albums from Gene Watson's brief, but extraordinary time, with Warner Bros. Records; 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) and 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).



In 1978, Burl Ives (Monday 14 June 1909 - Friday 14 April 1995) saw the release of 'We Americans: A Musical Journey With Burl Ives' (National Geographic Society, 1978); some of the tracks included the following:

'The Blue-Tail Fly'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Jack Jackson (bass)
Burl Ives, John Pell and Paul Worley (guitar)
Burl Ives (vocals)

'Oh! Susanna', which was written by Stephen Foster (4 July 1826 - 13 January 1864)
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Hoot Hester (Monday 13 August 1951 - Tuesday 30 August 2016) (banjo)
Jack Jackson (bass)
Eddie Bayers, Mike Foster, Paul Worley and Tom Brannon (chorus)
Gove Scrivenor, John Pell and Paul Worley (guitar)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 - Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
Burl Ives (lead vocals)

'Go Tell Aunt Rhody'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Jack Jackson (bass)
Burl Ives, Gove Scrivenor, John Pell and Paul Worley (guitar)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 - Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
Eddie Bayers (percussion)
Burl Ives (vocals)

'Get Along Little Doggies'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Burl Ives, John Pell and Paul Worley (guitar)
Burl Ives (vocals)

'Green Grow The Lilacs'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Tony Migliore (accordian)
Dennis Burnside (string arrangements, conducting)
John Pell and Paul Worley (guitar)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 - Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards)
Eddie Bayers (percussion, vibraphone)
The Sheldon 'Shelly' Kurland (Saturday 9 June 1928 - Wednesday 6 January 2010) Strings (strings)
Burl Ives (vocals)

'Jack Was Every Inch A Sailor'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track:
Tony Migliore (accordian)
Paul Worley (banjo, guitar)
Jack Jackson (bass)
Dorothy Ives, Eddie Bayers, Gove Scrivenor, John Pell, Mike Foster and Paul Worley (chorus)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards)
Burl Ives (lead vocals)
Eddie Bayers (percussion)

'On Top of Old Smoky'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Gove Scrivenor (autoharp)
Jack Jackson (bass)
Eddie Bayers, Mike Foster, Paul Worley and Tom Brannon (chorus)
John Pell and Paul Worley (guitar)
Burl Ives (lead vocals)

'Thanks For The Buggy Ride'
Personnel involved in the recording of this track included:
Jack Jackson (bass)
Paul Worley (guitar)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards)
Denis Solee (saxophone)
Dennis Goode (trombone)
Don Sheffield and Doug Yoder (trumpet)
Burl Ives (vocals)



In 1979, Billy Edd Wheeler ‎saw the release of 'Wild Mountain Flowers' (Flying Fish Records, 1979), which included the following tracks:

'Coal Tattoo'
'Gypsies, Drink, Whiskey'
'Flowers'
'Lullabye For Dad'
'The Coming of The Roads'
'The Rev. Mr. Black' (written by Jed Peters)
'High Flyin' Bird'
'All American Boy' (written by Steve Clark)
'Whistling In The Rain'
'A Picker's Prayer'

Personnel involved in the recording of Billy Edd Wheeler's 'Wild Mountain Flowers' (Flying Fish Records, 1979) included the following:

Mark Casstevens (banjo, Harmonica)
Jack Johnson (bass)
Eddie Bayers (drums, percussion)
Fox Watson (fiddle)
Paul Worley and Rafe Van Hoy (guitar)
Billy Edd Wheeler (lead vocals, guitar)
Dennis Burnside (piano, organ, clavinet)
Pete Drake (Saturday 8 October 1932 - Friday 29 July 1988) (steel guitar)



In May 1980, Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) saw the release of 'That's All That Matters To Me' (Epic Records, 1980), which was produced by Jim Ed Norman, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'True Love Ways', which was written by Buddy Holly (Monday 7 September 1936 - Tuesday 3 February 1959) and Norman Petty (Wednesday 25 May 1927 - Wednesday 15 August 1984) (No.1 for one week in July 1980) / this track also reached No.66 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1980

'That's All That Matters To Me', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010) (No.1 for one week in December 1980)

'A Headache Tomorrow (Or A Heartache Tonight)', which was written by Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 - Friday 21 January 2022) (No.1 for one week in April / May 1981)

Mickey Gilley's 'That's All That Matters To Me' (Epic Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:

'Blues Don't Care Who's Got 'Em' (written by Wayland D. Holyfield and Dickey Lee)
'More I Turn The Bottle Up' (written by Stanley Garland)
'Jukebox Argument' (written by Gary Nicholson)
'Million Dollar Memories' (written by David Allan Coe and Carol Anderson)
'Blame Lies With Me' (written by Sterling Whipple)
'Lyin' Again', which was written by Larry Butler (Thursday 26 March 1942 - Friday 20 January 2012) and Lincoln Wayne 'Chips' Moman (Saturday 12 June 1937 - Monday 13 June 2016)
'So Easy To Begin' (written by Jules Shear)

Personnel involved in the recording of Mickey Gilley's 'That's All That Matters To Me' (Epic Records, 1980) included the following:

Barry Burton, Paul Worley, Mark Casstevens and Rafe Van Hoy (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Joe Osborn and Mike Leech (bass)
Eddie Bayers, Kenneth Buttrey and Larrie London (Friday 15 October 1943 - Monday 24 August 1992) (drums)
Ron Levine (fiddle)
Dennis Burnside and Tony Migliore (piano)
The Sheldon 'Shelly' Kurland (Saturday 9 June 1928 - Wednesday 6 January 2010) Strings (strings)
Diane Tidwell, Donna Levine, Orsa Lia, Phil Forrest, Sheri Kramer, Terry Dearmore and Tom Brannon (vocals)
Bergen White, Dennis Burnside and Mike Leech (arrangements)

Mickey Gilley's 'That's All That Matters To Me' (Epic Records, 1980), which was recorded, in 1979, at Audio Media Studio in Nashville, and Richey House Studio in Nashville, reached No.8 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1980, and No.177 on the Billboard Top 200 pop music albums chart in 1980.



In July 1981, Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) saw the release of 'You Don't Know Me' (Epic Records, 1981), which was produced by Jim Ed Norman, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'You Don't Know Me', which was written by Cindy Walker (Saturday 20 July 1918 - Thursday 23 March 2006) and Eddy Arnold (Wednesday 15 May 1918 - Thursday 8 May 2008) (No.1 for one week in September 1981) / this track also reached No.55 on the Billboard pop music singles chart in 1981

'Lonely Nights' (written by Keith Stegall and Stewart Harris) (No.1 for one week in February 1982) / Keith Stegall worked at this time with April / Blackwood Music, duping and delivering tape copies for the company during the day, writing mostly in the evenings. Roger Murrah was his mentor at the company, and Keith Stegall wrote 'Lonely Nights' on Roger Murrah's piano.

'Tears of The Lonely' (written by Wayland D. Holyfield) (No.3, 1981)

Mickey Gilley's 'You Don't Know Me' (Epic Records, 1981) also included the following tracks:

'Ladies Night' (written by Gary Nicholson)
'My Affection' (written by Delbert McClinton)
'Drinking Old Memories Down' (written by Stanley Garland)
'She Left You (A Long Time Ago)' (written by Jeff Tweel)
'We've Watched Another Evening Waste Away' (written by Steve Michaels)
'Learning To Live Without You' (written by Steve Michaels)
'Clinging To A Memory', which was written by Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 - Friday 21 January 2022)

Personnel involved in the recording of Mickey Gilley's 'You Don't Know Me' (Epic Records, 1981) included the following:

Mickey Gilley (vocals, piano)
Paul Worley and Rafe Van Hoy (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Joe Osborne and Mike Leech (bass)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Dennis Burnside (piano, keyboards)
Tony Magliore (piano)
Diane Tidwell, Phil Forrest, Sheri Huffman and Tom Brannon (vocals)
Bergen White and Dennis Burnside (arrangements)

Mickey Gilley's 'You Don't Know Me' (Epic Records, 1981), which was recorded, in 1981, at Audio Media Recorders in Nashville, reached No.19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1981, and No.170 on the Billboard Top 200 pop music albums chart in 1981.



In September 1981, Johnny Lee saw the release of 'Bet Your Heart On Me' (Asylum Records, 1981), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Bet Your Heart On Me' (written by Jim McBride) (No.1 for one week in December 1981) / this track also reached No.54 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1981, and No.5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1981

'Be There For Me Baby', which was written by Tommy Rocco and Charlie Williams (Friday 20 December 1929 - Thursday 15 October 1992) (No.10, 1982) / thia track also reached No.5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982

'When You Fall In Love' (written by John Scott Sherrill and Steve Earle) (No.14, 1982) / this track also reached No.46 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982

Paul Worley provided background vocals on Johnny Lee's 'Bet Your Heart On Me' (Asylum Records, 1981), which reached No.9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1981.



In July 1982, Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) saw the release of 'Put Your Dreams Away' (Epic Records, 1982), which was produced by Jim Ed Norman, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Put Your Dreams Away' (written by Richard Leigh and Wayland D. Holyfield) (No.1 for one week in October 1982)

'Talk To Me' (written by Joe Seneca) (No.1 for one week in January / February 1983) / this track also reached No.106 on the Billboard Top 200 pop music singles chart in 1983

Mickey Gilley's 'Put Your Dreams Away' (Epic Records, 1982) also included the following tracks:

'Don't You Be Fooling With A Fool' (written by Lewis Anderson)
'I Really Don't Want To Know', which was written by Donald Irwin Robertson (Tuesday 5 December 1922 - Monday 16 March 2015) and Howard Barnes
'If I Can't Hold Her On The Outside' (written by Stephen Griggs)
'Texas Heartache No.1' (written by Paul Hotchkiss and Mike Terry)
'She Beats All I've Ever Seen' (written by Don Singleton)
'Beginning of The End' (written by Rafe Van Hoy)
'Honky Tonkin' (Guess I Done Some)' (written by Delbert McClinton)
'Rocky Road To Romance' (written by Rafe Van Hoy, Deborah Allen and Rosetta Posey)

Personnel involved in the recording of Mickey Gilley's 'Put Your Dreams Away' (Epic Records, 1982) included the following:

Paul Worley and Rafe Van Hoy (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Joe Osborn (bass)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Hoot Hester (Monday 13 August 1951 - Tuesday 30 August 2016) (fiddle)
Tony Migliore (piano)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards)
The Nashville String Machine (strings)
Dennis Burnsid, Tom Brannon, Phil Forrest, Sheri Huffman, Diane Tidwell and Lori Westerman Brooks (vocals)
Bergen White (arrangements)

Mickey Gilley's 'Put Your Dreams Away' (Epic Records, 1982), which was recorded, in April 1982, at Audio Media Recorders in Nashville, and at Bullet Recording Studio in Nashville, reached No.10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1982.



In April 1983, Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) saw the release of 'Fool For Your Love' (Epic Records, 1983), which was produced by Jim Ed Norman, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Fool For Your Love' (written by Don Singleton) (No.1 for one week in June / July 1983)

'Your Love Shines Through' (written by Wayland D. Holyfield and Gary Nicholson) (No.5, 1983)

Mickey Gilley's 'Fool For Your Love' (Epic Records, 1983) also included the following tracks:

'I'm Gonna Love You Right Out of The Blues' (written by Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield)
'Wish You Were Mine Again' (written by Don Lowery and Lewis Anderson)
'It's Just A Matter of Time', which was written by Clyde Otis (Thursday 11 September 1924 - Tuesday 8 January 2008), Brook Benton (Saturday 19 September 1931 - Saturday 9 April 1988) and Belford Hendricks (Tuesday 11 May 1909 - Saturday 24 September 1977)
'Little Heaven's Rubbing Off On Me', which was written by Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 - Sunday 23 November 2008) and John Scott Sherrill
'Shakin' A Heartache', which was written by Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 - Monday 7 December 2015) and Gary Nicholson
'I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore' (written by Glen Clark)
'Pretending' (written by Don Singleton)
'Ruby Louise' (written by Delbert McClinton)

Personnel involved in the recording of Mickey Gilley's 'Fool For Your Love' (Epic Records, 1983) included the following:

Paul Worley and Rafe Van Hoy (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Joe Osborn (bass)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Tony Migliore (piano)
Dennis Burnside (keyboards)
Don Sheffield (trumpet)
Bill Puett and Don Jackson (sax)
Dennis Good (trombone)
The Nashville String Machine (Carl Gorodetzky) (strings)
Tom Brannon, Phil Forset, Sheri Huffman, Lisa Silver, Paul Worley, Dennis Wilson and Don Gant (vocals)

Mickey Gilley's 'Fool For Your Love' (Epic Records, 1983), which was recorded, in 1983, at Woodland Sound Studio in Nashville, reached No.20 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1983.



In November 1983, Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) saw the release of 'You've Really Got A Hold On Me' (Epic Records, 1983), which was produced by Jim Ed Norman, and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'You've Really Got A Hold On Me' (written by Smokey Robinson) (No.2, 1983)

Mickey Gilley's 'You've Really Got A Hold On Me' (Epic Records, 1983) also included the following tracks:

'Then You Can Tell Goodbye', which was written by John D. Loudermilk (Saturday 31 March 1934 - Wednesday 21 September 2016)
'Easy Come, Hard To Go' (written by Pat Alger and Rick Beresford)
'You Look So Good In Love', which was written by Rory Bourke, Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 - Tuesday 1 February 2022) and Glen Ballard
'I Don't Want To Lose Your Love' (written by Joey Carbone)
'Good Lookin' Texas Women' (written by Jimmy Hydrick and Wendel Adkins)
'Giving Up On Getting Over You', which was written by Gary Nicholson, Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 - Friday 21 January 2022) and Robb Strandlund
'Slow Down', which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015), Mark Sherrill and Lacy J. Dalton
'She Got The Green & I Got The Blues', which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 - Monday 27 June 2005) and David Shulman
'You Never Cross My Mind', which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016), Rafe VanHoy and Deborah Allen

Personnel involved in the recording of Mickey Gilley's 'You've Really Got A Hold On Me' (Epic Records, 1983) included the following:

Paul Worley, Byrd Burton and Rafe Van Hoy (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Joe Osborne and Mike Leech (bass)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Dennis Burnside (piano, keyboards)
Tony Magliore (piano)
The Sheldon 'Shelly' Kurland (Saturday 9 June 1928 - Wednesday 6 January 2010) Strings (strings)
Diane Tidwell, Phil Forrest, Sheri Huffman, Tom Brannon, Lisa Silver, Dennis Wilson and Don Gant (vocals)
Bergen White and Tom Brannon (arrangements)

Mickey Gilley's 'You've Really Got A Hold On Me' (Epic Records, 1983), which was recorded, in August 1983, at Audio Media Recorders in Nashville, reached No.48 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1983.



Hank Williams Jr. recorded Paul Worley's 'I'm Tired' (co-written with Jack Daniels, Nesbett Lashburn and Dink Suggins) and included the track on 'Out of Left Field' (Curb Records / Capricorn Records, 1993).

Further Paul Worley information will be added to this page soon!





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