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 2020, 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 T.W. Hale, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 29 April 2020.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to T.W. Hale who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.





T.W. Hale
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 29 April 2020.

'As a fellow Texan, who grew up listening to the classic soulful vocals of Gene Watson, I was thrilled beyond belief that, when I first moved to Nashville as a writer, that my first cut and single was with Gene Watson.



I called home to tell all the family in Texas...they thought I'd won the lottery.  I did too!

It was also so wonderful to hear that Gene was inducted into The Grand Ole Opry in 2020.  It's well deserved.

Keep singing, Gene, country music needs your voice!'

Thank you, T.W. Hale, for your support of Gene Watson.



About T.W. Hale...



T.W. Hale was born Terry Lynn Welborn and is a graduate of North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, one of the nation's leading music schools.

After graduating from college, T.W. Hale moved to Dallas, where he sang, wrote and produced for local jingle companies, as well as performing in some of the area's top bands.

T.W. Hale later moved to Los Angeles to write, perform with and produce a number of acts, including Jeffrey Steele (Boy Howdy) and Grant Goodeve (of television's 'Eight Is Enough').  While he was in Los Angeles, T.W. Hale's music appeared in the Dick Clark television movie of the week, 'Reaching For The Stars', and he also wrote music for the animated feature 'The Scarecrow' and the children's video series 'Tales From The Arc'.

In 1987, T.W. Hale moved to Nashville to continue writing and producing.

T.W. Hale has had songs recorded by a number of acclaimed artists, including Reba McEntire ('Why Haven't I Heard From You), George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) ('Smack Dab In The Middle of Love'), Billy Ray Cyrus ('Back To Memphis'), Gene Watson ('Snake In The House'), Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 - Sunday 29 March 2020) ('A Night To Remember'), Randy Travis ('I'll Be Right Here Loving You'), Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Rhett Akins, and Jeffrey Steele, along with Bluegrass artists, Del McCoury, and David Parmley.

T.W. Hale was featured on a critically acclaimed Discovery Channel episode of the show 'The Travelers' where he wrote and produced the hosts of the show on their single 'Meant To Be'.

T.W. Hale's producing talents have been instrumental in the signings of a number of artists, icluding Danni Leigh to Decca Records in Nashville and Dalia Garcia to Polygram Latino in Mexico, along with the production of a series of children's sing-a-long audio and video projects.



Gene Watson recorded T.W. Hale's 'Snake In The House' (co-written with Royal Wade Kimes) and included the track on 'Uncharted Mind' (Step One Records, 1993), which was produced by Ray Pennington (Friday 22 December 1933 - Wednesday 7 October 2020); the track was released as a single in 1993, but it did not chart.



Reba McEntire recorded T.W. Hale's 'Why Haven't I Heard From You' (co-written with Sandy Knox) and included the track on 'Read My Mind' (MCA Records, 1994); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in July 1994.



Kate Wallace recorded T.W. Hale's 'Every Time Love Falls Apart' (co-written with Kate Wallace) and included the track on her debut album; 'Kate Wallace' (Honest Entertainment Records, 1995).



The Del McCoury Band recorded T.W. Hale's 'Snake In The House' (co-written with Royal Wade Kimes) and included the track on 'The Cold Hard Facts ‎(Rounder Records, 1996).



Rhett Akins recorded T.W. Hale's 'I'll Be Right Here Lovin' You' (co-written with Jeffrey Steele) and included the track on 'What Livin's All About' (MCA Nashville Records, 1998).



George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded T.W. Hale's 'Smack Dab (In The Middle of Love)' (co-written with Kerry Kurt Philips) and included the track on 'It Don't Get Any Better Than This' (MCA Nashville Records, 1998).



Stephanie Beaumont recorded T.W. Hale's 'Let's Do Something About It' (co-written with Jeffrey Steele) and included the track on 'Way Over My Heart' (Iron Music Group, 1998); the track reached No.45 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1999.

 

Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 - Sunday 29 March 2020) recorded T.W. Hale's 'A Night To Remember' (co-written with Max T. Barnes) and included the track on 'A Night To Remember' (Epic Records, 1999) (No.6 in July 1999) / this track, which was Joe Diffie's highest entry on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart, reaching No.38 in 1999, was subsequently included on Joe Diffie's '16 Biggest Hits' (Epic Records / ‎Legacy Recordings, 2002).



Randy Travis recorded T.W. Hale's 'I'll Be Right Here Lovin' You' (co-written with Jeffrey Steele) and included the track on 'A Man Ain't Made of Stone' (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 1999); the track reached No.68 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2000.



Marie Sisters recorded T.W. Hale's 'Strong For You' (co-written with Max T. Barnes) and included the track on 'Marie Sisters' (Universal / Republic Records, 2002).



Billy Ray Cyrus recorded T.W. Hale's 'Back To Memphis' (co-written with Rusty Tabor) and included the track on 'Time Flies ‎(Madacy Entertainment, 2003).



Ken Mellons recorded T.W. Hale's 'Smack Dab (In The Middle of Love)' (co-written with Kerry Kurt Philips) and included the track on 'Sweet' (Home Records, 2004).



Michael Ball recorded T.W. Hale's 'Why Haven't I Heard From You' (co-written with Sandy Knox) and included the track on 'Love Changes Everything: The Essential Michael Ball' (Universal Music, 2004).



Todd Fritsch recorded T.W. Hale's 'Memory Do Your Thing' (co-written with J.D. Steele) and included the track on his self-titled debut album, 'Todd Fritsch' (Diamond Music, 2005).






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