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 2018, 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 Stan Hitchcock, which he submitted to this site on Friday 7 December 2018.

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





Stan Hitchcock, Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (Sunday 2 September 1945 - Wednesday 18 July 2012) and Gene Watson on 'Heart To Heart' in 1994

Stan Hitchcock
This quote was submitted on Thursday  December 2018.

'Gene Watson is a singers' singer.

Most of my fellow artists would list Gene as the favorite of their Top 10 singers.



One of my special memories is the time, in 1994, when Gene came to appear on my television show 'Stan Hitchcock's Heart To Heart'.

For an hour, I was privileged to play my J45 Gibson guitar, as Gene sang some of his incredible songs.

Gene is a friend, but also a hero of our music.

Long may he live and perform with his God's Gift of Music'

Thank you, Stan Hitchcock, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Stan Hitchcock...



Stan Hitchcock was born Stanley Edward Hitchcock, on Saturday 21 March 1936, in Pleasant Hope, near Kansas City in Missouri.

In 1940, Stan Hitchcock’s family relocated to a farm in Springfield.

Stan Hitchcock was taught the guitar as a boy and first appeared on a local talent show in 1948.

Stan Hitchcock performed regularly during his teens on KWTO and WTTS in Springfield.

After completing his education, Stan Hitchcock enlisted in the United States Navy where he formed a country band that entertained on ship and at various countries the ship visited, including Japan.

When he was discharged four years later, Stan Hitchcock became involved with Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, an organisation who aimed to help neglected and homeless children.  Stan Hitchcock sang gospel music over various radio stations in order to raise funds for the project.

In 1961, Stan Hitchcock made his first recordings, for Donald Firth ‘Don’ Law (Monday 24 February 1902 - Monday 20 December 1982) at Columbia Records.

It was also in 1961 when Stan Hitchcock & The Waymakers saw the release of 'The Good Samaritan Boys'.

During his career, Stan Hitchcock achieved far more success from radio and television work than from his recordings.

After working as a disc jockey on KWTO and KTTS, Stan Hitchcock moved to Nashville in 1962, where he hosted the WLAC-TV morning show, and also guested on most of the top programmes.

Between 1964 and 1970, Stan Hitchcock presented 'The Stan Hitchcock Show', which was syndicated.



In 1965, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Just Call Me Lonesome' (Epic Records, 1965), which was produced by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015), and included the following tracks:

'Lonely Wine'
'On My Knees'
'Back In My Baby's Arms' (written by B. Montgomery)
'Ole Bad'
'Candy Apple Red'
'So Many Reasons'
'Just Call Me Lonesome'
'Looking Through A Teardrop'
'Little By LIttle'
'Lonely Weekends', which was written by Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 - Tuesday 25 July 1995)
'Faded Love', which was written by John Wills and Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 - Tuesday 13 May 1975)
'Thumbing My Way Home' (written by R. Davis)



In 1968, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'I'm Easy To Love' (Epic Records, 1968), which was produced by Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 - Tuesday 17 April 2007) and Stan Hitchcock, and included the following tracks:

'I'm Easy To Love', which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016) / this track reached No.57 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1968
'Imitation of A Man', which was written by Joe South (Wednesday 28 February 1940 - Wednesday 5 September 2012)
'Such A Little Teardrop'
'Rings', which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Ray Pennington (Friday 22 December 1933 - Wednesday 7 October 2020) / this track reached No.66 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1967
'Swiss Made Heart', which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 - Tuesday 17 April 2007)
'He Took My Place', which was written by Red Lane (Thursday 2 February 1939 - Wednesday 1 July 2015)
'She's Looking Good', which was written by Robert Autry Inman (Sunday 6 January 1929 - Tuesday 6 September 1988) / this track reached No.54 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1967
'The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me'
'Don't Do Like I've Done (Do Like I Say)' (written by Bobby Bare)
'Don't Do It Darlin'
'Have I Stayed Away Too Long'

In 1968, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'The Phoenix Flash', which was written by Red Lane (Thursday 2 February 1939 - Wednesday 1 July 2015) and Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016), and reached No.60 on the Billboard country music singles chart.



In 1969, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Honey, I'm Home' (Epic Records, 1969), which included the following tracks:

'‎Honey, I'm Home' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice) / this track reached No.17 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1968
'Someday You'll Call My Name' (written by E. Hill and J. Branch)
'The Woman In My Life'
'The Test of Time', which was written by Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 - Tuesday 17 April 2007) and George Richey (Saturday 30 November 1935 - Saturday 31 July 2010)
'Slip-Up & She'll Slip Away', which was written by Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 - Tuesday 17 April 2007), Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Stan Hitchcock
'Call Me Gone' (written by Jerry Foster)
'Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye'
'She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye'
'But You Know I Love You'
'You Gave Me A Mountain', which was written by Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982)
'But, I Won't Cry'



In 1969, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Softly and Tenderly' (Epic ‎Records, 1969), which included the following tracks:

'Softly & Tenderly'
'I Can't Find It Here', which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016)
'Where No One Stands Alone'
'Room At The Cross'
'I Was There When It Happened'
'I Feel Like Traveling On'
'In The Garden', which was written by Charles Austin Miles (7 January 1868 - Sunday 10 March 1946)
'Sorry, I Never Knew You'
'The Night Watch'
'So Many Reasons'

In 2006, Stan Hitchcock's 'Softly & Tenderly' (Epic ‎Records, 1969) was re-issued, on Stan Hitchcock Records, as 'Softly & Tenderly / From The Old Country Church' (Stan Hitchcock Records, 2006), with new tracks added as bonus material.

In 1970, Stan Hitchcock saw the release, on Epic Records, of 'Call Me Gone' (written by Jerry Foster), which reached No.46 on the Billboard country music singles chart.



In 1970, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Dixie Belle' (GRT Records, 1970), which included the following tracks:

'Dixie Belle' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice) / this track reached No.54 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1970
'For The Good Times' (written by Kris Kristofferson)
'Sunday Morning Coming Down' (written by Kris Kristofferson)
'We Can Love Together'
'Ruins of A Broken Home'
'Wonder Could I Live Anymore'
'Love Don't Live Here Anymore'
'Crystal Chandelier', which was written by Ted Harris (Monday 2 August 1937 - Sunday 22 November 2015)
'I Did It All For You' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'The Shadow of Your Smile'
'Walking, Running, Stumbling'
'Let Me Roll'

In 1971, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'At Least Part of The Way' (written by Jerry Foster & Bill Rice), which reached No.59 on the Billboard country music singles chart.

In 1973, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Half-Empty Bed' (written by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill), which reached No.91 on the Billboard country music singles chart.

In 1973, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'The Same Old Way' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice), which reached No.65 on the Billboard country music singles chart.



In November 1973, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Stan Hitchcock Country' (Cinnamon Records, 1973), which was produced by Tommy Alsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 - Wednesday 11 January 2017), and included the following tracks:

'Half-Empty Bed' (written by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill)
'Oklahoma Wind' (written by B.Terry and T. Pairamore)
'For The Good Times' (written by Kris Kristofferson)
'Let Me Roll' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'Talk To A Carpenter' (written by Willie Redden)
'The Same Old Way' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'Dixie Bell' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'Lonely Wine' (written by R. Wells)
'I Did It All For You' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'The Shadow of Your Smile' (written by Webster and Mandel)
'Never You Mind' (written by Bob McDill)

In 1974, Stan Hitchcock saw the release, on Cinnamon Records, of 'I'm Free' (written by Jimmy Lumus Peppers and Tommy Cash), which reached No.80 on the Billboard country music singles chart.

In 1978, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Falling', which was written by Eddie Struzick (1951 - Wednesday 25 June 2008) and Lenny LeBlanc, which reached No.100 on the Billboard country music singles chart.

It was also in 1978 when Stan Hitchcock moved record labels again to MMI Records, where he managed to chart 'Falling' (No.100), along with a duet with Sue Richards, 'Finders, Keepers, Losers, Weepers' (No.85).

Between 1979 and 1983, Stan Hitchcock hosted the 'Stan Hitchcock From The Ozarks' television show, and also started the 'Heart To Heart' show (also on television).

In 1981, Stan Hitchcock saw the release, on Ramblin' Records, of 'She Sings Amazing Grace' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice), which reached No.81 on the Billboard country music singles chart, and was his final Billboard chart entry.



In 1982, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Music Row' (Audiograph Records, 1982), which included the following tracks:

'Half-Empty Bed' (written by Allen Reynolds and Bob McDill)
'Oklahoma Wind' (written by B.Terry and T. Pairamore)
'For The Good Times' (written by Kris Kristofferson)
'Let Me Roll' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'Talk To A Carpenter' (written by Willie Redden)
'The Same Old Way' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'Dixie Belle' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'Lonely Wine' (written by R. Wells)
'I Did It All For You' (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
'The Shadow of Your Smile' (written by Webster and Mandel)
'Never You Mind' (written by Bob McDill)

In 1982, Stan Hitchcock was an important member of the team that founded Country Music Television (CMT), which was initially called CMTV, and headed the Nashville operations of the organisation.

In 1991, when Country Music Television (CMT) was sold to Gaylord Entertainment, Stan Hitchcock relocated to Branson, Missouri, where he became founder, president and chairman of the cable television channel Americana Television Network, which presented round-the-clock programmes featuring a wide selection of all forms of American folk music, country music, gospel music, Bluegrass and blues music.

In 2000, Stan Hitchcock saw the release of 'Stan Hitchcock With The Waymakers' (May Apple, 2000), which included some of his earlier, western-themed material from 1959 - 1961, before Stan Hitchcock emerged as a solo performer.



On Saturday 21 March 2009, Stan Hitchcock saw the publication of 'At The Corner of Music Row & Memory Lane' (Hitchcock Enterprises, Inc., 2009), a self-published memoir, which was an insider's look at Nashville.

At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote', in December 2018, Stan Hitchcock was residing in Gallatin, Tennesee and was still active within the country music industry but mainly in administrative work.

On Wednesday 4 January 2023, Stan Hitchcock passed away.





Denise & Stan Hitchcock

• Visit Stan Hitchcock's official site at hitchcockcountry.com
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