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 by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2006, 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 Gretchen Peters, which she submitted to this site on Monday 4 September 2006.

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





Gretchen Peters
This quote was submitted on Monday 4 September 2006.

'I remember very clearly the first time I heard Gene Watson's voice.

 

I was driving my old Pontiac in Denver, Colorado late at night, and 'Farewell Party', which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 - Thursday 26 July 2007), came on the radio.  I was a new convert to country music back then, just soaking up whatever I could find.

The last note Gene sings on that record pinned my ears back and nearly made me wreck the car.  It was an astonishing voice and a perfect song.  I was blown away.

The next day I went out and bought every Gene Watson record I could find.

He remains, to this day, one of my very favourite country singers'

Thank you, Gretchen Peters, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Gretchen Peters...



Gretchen Peters was born on Thursday 14 November 1957 in Bronxville, New York and has been hailed by many as one of Nashville's best contemporary songwriters, her intelligent and introspective songs having been covered by pop, country, blues and folk artists all over the world.

Gretchen Peters, although born in New York was, in fact, raised in Boulder, Colorado but moved to Nashville in the late 1980s.

It was in Nashville where Gretchen Peters found work as a songwriter, composing hits for Martina McBride, Etta James (Tuesday 25 January 1938 - Friday 20 January 2012), Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Billy Ray Cyrus, Pam Tillis and George Strait, as well as for rock singer Neil Diamond, along with co-writing songs with Bryan Adams.



Highway 101 (lead vocalist Paulette Carlson) recorded Gretchen Peters' 'I'll Paint The Town' and included the track on 'Paint The Town' (Warner Bros. Records, 1989).



Larry Boone recorded Gretchen Peters' 'To Be With You' and included the track on 'One Way To Go' (Columbia Records, 1991); the track reached No.34 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.



George Strait recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Chill of An Early Fall' (co-written with Daniel Green) and included the track on 'Chill of An Early Fall' (MCA Records, 1991).



Randy Travis recorded Gretchen Peters' 'High Lonesome' and included the track on 'High Lonesome' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).



Karen Tobin recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Love From A Heart of Stone' and included the track on 'Carolina Smokey Moon' (Atlantic Records, 1991), which was produced by Keith Stegall; the track was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992, but it did not chart.



Lionel Cartwright recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Susannah' and included the track on 'Chasin' The Sun' (MCA Records, 1991).



Martina McBride recorded Gretchen Peters' 'When You Are Old' and included the track on 'The Time Has Come' (RCA Records, 1992).



Patricia Conroy recorded Gretchen Peters' 'My Baby Loves Me (Just The Way That I Am)' and included the track on 'The Way That I Am' (Warner Music Canada, 1992); the track reached No.8 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1992.



Pam Tillis recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Let That Pony Run' and included the track on 'Homeward Looking Angel' (Arista Records, 1992); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.



Holly Dunn (Thursday 22 August 1957 - Tuesday 15 November 2016) recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Golden Years', which was co-written with Sam Hogin (1950 - Monday 9 August 2004), and included the track on 'Getting It Dunn' (Warner Bros. Records, 1992); the track reached No.51 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.



Martina McBride recorded Gretchen Peters' 'My Baby Loves Me (Just The way That I Am)' and included the track on 'The Way That I Am' (RCA Nashville Records, 1993); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.



Martina McBride recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Independence Day' and included the track on 'The Way That I Am' (RCA Nashville Records, 1993); the track reached No.12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.



Suzy Bogguss recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Souvenirs' and included the track on 'Something Up My Sleeve' (Liberty Records, 1993); the track reached No.65 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994.

In 1994, Gretchen Peters won the Country Music Association (CMA) 'Song of The Year' Award for 'Independence Day'.



Patty Loveless recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Ships' and included the track on 'When Fallen Angels Fly' (Epic Records, 1994).



Patty Loveless recorded Gretchen Peters' 'You Don't Even Know Who I Am' and included the track on 'When Fallen Angels Fly' (Epic Records, 1994); the track, which reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in June 1995, earned Gretchen Peters a Grammy Award nomination.



Maureen McCormick recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Go West' and included the track on 'When You Get A Little Lonely' (Phantom Hill Records, 1995).



Trisha Yearwood recorded Gretchen Peters' 'On A Bus To St. Cloud' and included the track on 'Thinkin' About You' (MCA Records, 1995); the track reached No.59 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 1996.

As an artist, Gretchen Peters regularly tours in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Europe to sold out crowds, and continues to do so.

As a recording artist in her own right, Gretchen Peters has seen the release of a number of studio albums, all of which have been released to widespread critical acclaim.

 

On Tuesday 4 June 1996, Gretchen Peters saw the release of her debut album, 'The Secret of Life' (Purple Crayon Productions, 1996); the album was re-issued, with a different album cover, by Purple Crayon Productions / Valley Entertainment / Grapevine Records in 2001.

Gretchen Peters' 'The Secret of Life' (Purple Crayon Productions, 1996) included one track, which was a minor hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'When You Are Old' (written by Gretchen Peters) (No.68, 1996)

Gretchen Peters' 'The Secret of Life' (Purple Crayon Productions, 1996) also included the following tracks:

'Waiting For The Light To Turn Green' (written by Gretchen Peters and Suzy Bogguss)
'Border Town' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'I Ain't Ever Satisfied' (written by Steve Earle)
'I Was Looking For You' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'On A Bus To St. Cloud' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Over Africa' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'This Uncivil War' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'The Secret of Life' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'A Room With A View' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Circus Girl' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Independence Day' (written by Gretchen Peters)

Personnel involved in the recording of Gretchen Peters' 'The Secret of Life' (Purple Crayon Productions, 1996) included the following:

Gretchen Peters (vocals, acoustic guitar, Dobro)
Chris Leuzinger and Michael Severs (guitars)
Dan Dugmore (lap steel guitar, pedal steel guitars)
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar)
Steve Conn (accordion)
Daniel Green (keyboards, organ, percussion)
Barry Walsh (keyboards, Hammond organ, piano, melodica)
Phil Kenzie (soprano sax)
Dave Pomeroy (electric bass, acoustic bass, drums, percussion)
Brian Barnett and Tommy Wells (drums, percussion)
The Nashville String Machine (strings, arranged and conducted by Connie Elisor)
Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, James House, Raul Malo, Harry Stinson and Billy Thomas (vocal backing, harmony vocals)



Neil Diamond recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Talking Optimist Blues (Good Day Today)' (co-written with Neil Diamond) and included the track on 'Tennessee Moon' (Columbia Records, 1996).



Michelle Wright recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Nobody's Girl' and included the track on 'For Me It's You' (Arista Records, 1996).



Alabama recorded Gretchen Peters' 'New Year's Eve 1999' and included the track on 'Christmas Volume II' (RCA Records, 1996); the track reached No.55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.



Anne Murray recorded Gretchen Peters' 'What Would It Take' (co-written with Bryan Adams) and included the track on 'Yes I Do' (Capitol Records, 1996); the track was a duet with Bryan Adams.



Patty Loveless recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Like Water Into Wine' and included the track on 'Long Stretch of Lonesome' (Epic Records, 1997).



Claire Lynch recorded Gretchen Peters' 'If Wishes Were Horses' and included the track on 'Silver & Gold' (Rounder Records, 1997).



Etta James (Tuesday 25 January 1938 - Friday 20 January 2012) recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Love's Been Rough On Me' and included the track on 'Love's Been Rough On Me' (Private Music, 1997).

The Woodys (Michael & Dyann Woody) recorded Gretchen Peters' 'High Lonesome' and included the track on 'The Woodys' (Rounder Records, 1998).



Faith Hill recorded Gretchen Peters' 'The Secret of Life' and included the track on 'Faith' (Warner Bros. Records, 1998); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in April 1999, and No.46 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1999.



Martina McBride recorded Gretchen Peters' 'This Uncivil War' and included the track on 'Emotion' (RCA Records, 1999).



Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Hey, Elvis' (co-written with Bryan Adams) and included the track on 'Southern Rain' (Monument Records, 2000).



On Tuesday 13 February 2001, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Gretchen Peters' (Purple Crayon Productions / Valley Entertainment / Grapevine Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:

'Souvenirs' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'In A Perfect World' (written by Gretchen Peters and Bryan Adams)
'I Don’t Know' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Love & Texaco' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Love Is A Drug' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Like Water Into Wine' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Eddie’s First Wife' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Picasso & Me' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Lilies of The Field' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Waiting For Amelia' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Revival' (written by Gretchen Peters)



Trisha Yearwood recorded Gretchen Peters' 'Inside Out' (co-written with Bryan Adams) and included the track on 'Inside Out' (MCA Records, 2001); this track, which was a duet with Don Henley, reached No.31 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2001.



Lee Ann Womack recorded Gretchen Peters' 'I Saw Your Light' and included the track on 'Something Worth Leaving Behind' (MCA Nashville Records, 2002).



Claire Sweeney recorded Gretchen Peters' 'My Baby Loves Me (Just The Way That I Am)' and included the track on 'Claire' (Telstar Records, 2002).



Andy Griggs recorded Gretchen Peters' 'If Heaven' and included the track on 'This I Gotta See' (RCA Records, 2004); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2004.



On Monday 31 May 2004, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Halcyon' (Purple Crayon Productions / Curb Records UK, 2004), which included the following tracks:

'Tomorrow Morning' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'The Aviator’s Song' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Blessing In Disguise' (written by Gretchen Peters and Bryan Adams)
'Child of Mine' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'A Cool Goodbye' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Imogene' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'This Used To Be My Town' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'If Heaven' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Germantown' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Drowning In You' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Museum' (written by Gretchen Peters)



On Tuesday 28 March 2006, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Gretchen Peters Trio Live' (Purple Crayon Productions, 2006), which included the following tracks:

'Museum'
'Circus Girl'
'Like Water Into Wine'
'Souvenirs'
'Main Street'
'You Don’t Even Know Who I Am'
'The Secret of Life'
'Revival'
'Over Africa'
'This Used To Be My Town'
'American Tune'
'On A Bus To St. Cloud'
'When You Are Old'



On Tuesday 7 August 2007, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Burnt Toast & Offerings' (Scarlet Letter Records / Curb Records UK, 2007), which included the following tracks:

'Ghost' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Sunday Morning (Up & Down My Street)' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Summer People' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Jezebel' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Thirsty' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'England Blues' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'The Lady of The House' (written by Gretchen Peters and David Mead)
'One For My Baby' (written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer)
'The Way You Move Me' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'This Town' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Breakfast At Our House' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'To Say Goodbye' (written by Gretchen Peters)



On Tuesday 21 October 2008, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Northern Lights' (Scarlet Letter Records, 2008), her first album of Christmas-related material, which included the following tracks:

'Song For A Winter's Night' (written by Gordon Lightfoot)
'Coventry Carol' (prelude)
'Coventry Carol'
'I Wonder As I Wander'
'December Child' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'(Charlie’s) Angel'
'Waitin’ On Mary' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'In The Bleak Midwinter'
'Careful How You Go'
'Northern Lights' (written by Gretchen Peters)
'Christmas Time Is Here'
'Silent Night'



On Sunday 1 February 2009, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'One To The Heart, One To The Head' (Frontera Records / Scarlet Letter Records, 2009), an album project she recorded with Tom Russell, which included the following tracks:

'North Platte' (written by Barry Walsh) / this track was an instrumental
'Prairie In The Sky' (written by Mary McCaslin)
'Billy 4' (written by Bob Dylan)
'Blue Mountains of Mexico' (written by Ian Tyson)
'These Cowboys Born Out of Their Time' (written by Tom Dundee)
'Guadalupe' (written by Tom Russell)
'Sweet & Shiny Eyes' (written by Nan O’Byrne)
'Wolves' (written by Stephanie Davis)
'Snowin' On Raton', which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 - Wednesday 1 January 1997)
'Old Paint' (traditional)
'My Last Go Round', which was written by Rosalie Sorrels (Saturday 24 June 1933 - Sunday 11 June 2017)
'If I Had A Gun' (written by Rebecca Folsom, Celeste Krenz, Elizabeth Barnez and Diana Jones)
'Prairie Melancholy' (written by Jennifer Warnes and Nancy Bacal)



On Tuesday 12 May 2009, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Circus Girl' (Scarlet Letter Records, 2009), a 'Best of' compilation album, which included the following tracks:

'Circus Girl'
'The Aviator’s Song'
'Sunday Morning (Up & Down My Street)'
'The Secret of Life'
'If Heaven'
'On A Bus To St. Cloud'
'In A Perfect World'
'This Town'
'Picasso & Me'
'When You Are Old'
'Independence Day'
'Tomorrow Morning'
'The Way You Move Me'
'Don’t You Know'
'Nobody’s Girl'



In 2011, Gretchen Peters saw the release of 'Wine, Women & Song' DVD, which featured Matraca Berg, Gretchen Peters and Suzy Bogguss.

'Little World'



Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Gretchen Peters' 'When You Love Someone', which was co-written with Michael Arnold Kamen (Thursday 15 April 1948 - Tuesday 18 November 2003), and included the track on 'You Can't Make Old Friends' (Warner Bros. Nashville Records, 2013).

Trisha Yearwood recorded Gretchen Peters' 'The Matador' and included the track on 'Every Girl' (Gwendolyn Records, 2019).