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 2013, 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 A.J. Masters, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 13 January 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to A.J. Masters who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
A.J. Masters
This quote was submitted on Sunday 13 January 2013.
'Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 - Friday 3 January 2014) said 'Before there were ProTools, there were Pros'.
Gene Watson is most definitely one of those Pros'
Thank you, A.J. Masters, for your support of Gene Watson.
About A.J. Masters...
A.J. Masters was born Arthur John Masaracchia in Walden, New York on Wednesday 20 December 1950, not too far from the Hudson River, but grew up in Southern California, in Compton, a community of many minorities.
A.J. Masters recalls his contemporaries as largely made up of 'Dustbowl kids and grandkids from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas'; it was a truly American mix.
At the age of fourteen, A.J. Masters began playing bass guitar in his brother’s band, 'The Hustlers', who played parties, covered songs by The Everly Brothers, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Zombies, The Animals and other popular bands of the era.
At the age of sixteen, A.J. Masters picked up the guitar and began writing his own songs, folk-rock tunes with a bluesy edge.
A.J. Masters' songwriting would be vital to his career as an artist.
In 1978, drummer Mickey Jones (of Kenny Rogers' First Edition fame) gave A.J. Masters his first cut when he recorded 'I'm No Cowboy', which A.J. Masters had co-written with Dan Hudson.
In the 1980s, A.J. Masters signed with an independent record label, Bermuda Dunes Records, and within three years had ten charted singles.
In 1986, A.J. Masters was voted 'Independent Male Vocalist of The Year' and was nominated by the Academy of Country Music (ACM) for 'Best New Male Vocalist'.
In 1987, A.J. Masters performed on the New Faces Show with Lyle Lovett, Dwight Yoakum, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Sweethearts of The Rodeo.
In the 1990s, A.J. Masters played acoustic guitar for the great Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 - Tuesday 25 July 1995), and he continued writing.
A.J. Masters' songwriting was honoured with the BMI Millionaire Award for 'Change My Mind', a multi-platinum award for 'Love Ain’t Like That' (recorded by Faith Hill) and an 'Independent Song of The Year' Award for 'We’re Here To Stay'.
In 1992, Kimberly Rhodes (prior to her becoming a part of Little Big Town) recorded A.J. Masters' 'Page 25' (co-written with Jason Blume) and A.J. Masters' 'Nine Lives' (co-written with Janis Leibhart).
A.J. Masters is a lifetime member of NSAI and, since 1984, he has had his songs recorded by Faith Hill, Randy Travis, Diamond Rio, John Berry, The Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Rich Junior, Ronna Reeves, Gene Watson, Ray Scott, Zona Jones, Steve Azar, Jo-El Sonnier, Frazier River Band, Jennifer Hanson, Georgia Middleman, Nash3, Waymore Outlaws, Jara Johnson, Mary Fletcher, Jerry Lansdowne and R.W. Hampton.
In 2005, Ray Scott recorded A.J. Masters' 'Makin' My Way' (co-written with Phillip Moore and Ray Scott) and included the track on 'My Kind of Music' (Warner Bros. Records, 2005); A.J. Masters played acoustic guitar on most of the tracks, and also played bass on the track 'Makin' My Way'.
Amazingly, in the midst of all his writing, playing and singing, A.J. Masters made time to contribute his songs and his talents to Michelle's Angels Foundation.
Music Director Ken Harrell brought A.J. Masters into the fold and he played the Foundation's first benefit concert at The Bluebird in Nashville on Monday 17 September 2005, along with Ken Harrell, Greg Johnson and Tonya Rose as they performed a private Hope Concert for Michelle Knoll.
In the Winter of 2011, Michelle's Angels Foundation named A. J. Masters 'The MAF Featured Angel Artist'.
Terry Brown recorded A.J. Masters' 'Cowgirls Make The Rules' (co-written with Terry Brown) and included the track on 'It's A Cowboy Thang' (THB Records, 2012); the track was Terry Brown's new single at the time.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote', in January 2013, A.J. Masters was producing and playing guitar in the studio and performing at songwriter shows, festivals and house concerts throughout the United States. And, he had a family, with whom he lived on a small farm just outside Nashville.
It was also at this time, in early 2013, when A.J Masters produced an album for Texas artist Scott Vance, produced new album projects for both Mary Fletcher and DJ Miller. And, A.J. Masters also played acoustic guitar on a radio tour with Cotton Valley Records artist Mark Cooke.
On Monday 12 January 2015, following a battle with prostate cancer, A.J. Masters passed away.
A.J. Masters - Songwriter Extraordinaire!
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