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 2010, 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 Billy Arr, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 2 June 2010.

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





Billy Arr
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 2 June 2010.

'I have worked fulltime in the Nashville music industry since 1967, as a songwriter, a recording artist, a music publisher and as a travelling entertainer on the road, playing piano and opening shows for the stars.

I have seen and heard most of the country music stars and heard many great voices and, in my opinion, Gene Watson is absolutely one of the best country music singers ever in the business, probably in the Top 5 of all time.

One of my proudest moments in the business was the day I picked up a copy of my song, 'The Minds of Lonely Men', recorded by Gene Watson.  It was never released as a record and finally wound up in the 'demo' publishing files of Surefire Music, a company owned by Doyle Wilburn (Monday 7 July 1930 - Saturday 16 October 1982) and Teddy Wilburn (Monday 30 November 1931 - Monday 24 November 2003), but I think I will cherish that moment forever'

Thank you, Billy Arr, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Billy Arr...



Billy Arr was born and raised on traditional country music in Dixon, Missouri.

Billy Arr joined the United States Army where he served eleven years until he finally realised that he was spending a lot more time playing music in Army Clubs than he was soldiering.

Billy Arr resigned from the United States Army and stayed in Germany, playing music for a year before returning to the United States.  Once he was back home in Missouri, Billy Arr immediately put a band together and played the same club for a year and a half.  Billy Arr then hit the road with the band, playing Indianapolis, Peoria, Kansas City and St. Louis.

Billy Arr signed on and worked as a frontman for Cristy Lane in Peoria for about a year before he finally settled in Topeka, Kansas.  A bass-playing army buddy and Billy Arr bought two clubs there; one was a 300-seater with live music six nights a week, while the other was a 'Surf & Turf' restaurant with a piano bar.

In the early part of 1970, Billy Arr made his first three-day trip to Nashville and took with him only eleven of his 300-plus songs.

Luckily, Billy Arr was able to play all eleven of those songs for Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016), noted songwriter of many classic country music hits, including 'D.I.V.O.R.C.E' and 'Green, Green Grass of Home'.

At the time, Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016) owned Green Grass Music and Tree Publishing Company was handling his catalogue.  Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016) listened to all eleven tracks, selected nine for his publishing company, called a demo session for the next day and asked Billy Arr to sing the demos, which were recorded in Tree Publishing's small 4-track studio.

Later, hit songwriters Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004) and Bobby Braddock, were two of the musicians who participated on the recording session.



After the recording session, Billy Arr returned to Topeka and waited.

Four weeks later, Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016) called to say that Charlie Walker (Tuesday 2 November 1926 - Friday 12 September 2008) had recorded one of the songs, 'Let's Go Fishin' Boys, The Girls are Biting' as his next single; the track was subsequently included on Charlie Walker's 'Honky Tonkin' (Epic Records, 1971) and reached No.52 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1970.

Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016) called Billy Arr the night Charlie Walker first sang 'Let's Go Fishin' Boys, The Girls are Biting' on The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.  The song reached No.52 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1970, so Billy Arr moved permanently to Nashville.

Things in Nashville were a little bit slow initially for Billy Arr, so he put another band together and toured the club circuit, booked by Nashville's Buddy Lee Agency.  It was also at this time that Billy Arr recorded for both Rice Records and GRT Records.

After a year on his own, Billy Arr signed on as frontman and keyboard player for Dave Dudley (Thursday 3 May 1928 - Monday 22 December 2003) and also acted as his road manager for a couple of years.

Billy Arr then worked the same gig for Billie Jo Spears (Friday 14 January 1938 - Wednesday 14 December 2011), Wayne Kemp (Sunday 1 June 1941 - Monday 9 March 2015), Dicky Lee and Del Reeves (Thursday 14 July 1932 - Monday 1 January 2007).

It was fortunate during this period when Billy Arr saw his songs being recorded by some of the biggest names in country music, including Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996), Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 - Tuesday 4 October 2022), The Wilburn Brothers - Doyle Wilburn (Monday 7 July 1930 - Saturday 16 October 1982) and Teddy Wilburn (Monday 30 November 1931 - Monday 24 November 2003), The Kendalls - Royce Kendall (Wednesday 25 September 1935 - Friday 22 May 1998) and Jeannie Kendall, Freddie Hart (Tuesday 21 December 1926 - Saturday 27 October 2018), Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022), Gene Watson, Dave Dudley (Thursday 3 May 1928 - Monday 22 December 2003), Billie Jo Spears (Friday 14 January 1938 - Wednesday 14 December 2011) and Roy Rogers (Sunday 5 November 1911 - Monday 6 July 1998).



Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Billy Arr's 'Left to Right or Right to Wrong' (co-written with Faron Young and Bill Rigsby) and included the track on 'This Little Girl of Mine' (Mercury Records, 1972).



Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 - Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded Billy Arr's 'Love's on the Loose' and included the track on 'One's on The Way' (Decca Records, 1972).



The Wilburn Brothers - Doyle Wilburn (Monday 7 July 1930 - Saturday 16 October 1982) and Teddy Wilburn (Monday 30 November 1931 - Monday 24 November 2003) - recorded Billy Arr's 'The Minds of Lonely Men' and included the track on 'Portrait' (MCA Records, 1973).



Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Billy Arr's 'Lookin' for Tomorrow (& Finding Yesterday)' (co-written with David Allds) and included the track on 'M-M-Mel' (MGM Records, 1975).



Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Billy Arr's 'What is It', which was co-written with Wayne Kemp (Sunday 1 June 1941 - Monday 9 March 2015), and included the track on 'Smokin' (Playboy Records, 1976).



The Kendalls - Royce Kendall (Wednesday 25 September 1935 - Friday 22 May 1998) and Jeannie Kendall - recorded Billy Arr's 'You're My Man' and included the track on 'Let The Music Play / Heaven's Just a Sin Away' (Ovation Records, 1977).

Billy Arr is also very proud of his songs which have been recorded by country music artists in Denmark, Germany, Norway, Canada, Brazil, Asia and South Africa.

Billy Arr lives in Nashville with his wife, Wanda Kay.  He loves to produce records, publish music and play dates, both in and outside of Tennessee.  Billy Arr works with a band out of Nashville called 'Roadhouse' and a band out of Missouri called 'The Jazzabillies' when he plays west of the Mississippi, while Wanda Kay's band is called 'The Arrangers'.

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