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Biography
Born, Gary Gene Watson, 11 October 1943,
Palestine, Texas, USA. Raised in Paris, Texas, in a musical family, he first worked as a
professional at the age of 13. In 1963, he moved to Houston, where he found daytime
employment in car engine and bodywork repairs. During the evenings, his vocal style, with
its slight nasal sound in the best country tradition, made him a very popular honky-tonk
singer around the local clubs, such as the Dynasty, where he was resident for several
years. He recorded for several labels including Reeder (whose owner Russ Reeder went on to
become his manager and producer), Wide World and Stoneway before gaining his first country
chart entry with 'Bad Water' on the Resco label in 1975. The same year, he moved to
Capitol Records and had a US Top 10 country hit with the suggestive 'Love In The Hot
Afternoon'. Further Top 10 hits followed, including 'Paper Rosie', 'One Sided
Conversation', 'Farewell Party', 'Should I Come Home?' and 'Nothing Sure Looked Good On
You'. In 1981, after moving to MCA Records, his recording of 'Fourteen Carat Mind' gave
him his first US country number 1. He moved to Epic in 1985, gaining a number 5 hit with
'Memories To Burn', but changed to Warner Brothers Records in 1988, where he immediately
repeated the success with 'Don't Waste It On The Blues'. Although he charted regularly
throughout the 80s, he failed to find another number 1. In 1987, he recorded 'Tempted'
with Tammy Wynette, which appears on her Higher Ground album. In 1989, Watson enjoyed
three chart hits, namely 'Back In The Fire' (number 20), 'The Jukebox Played Along'
(number 24) and 'The Great Divide' (number 41). In 1991, At Last showed that he had lost
none of his ability to render honky tonk songs, with the title track and 'You Can't Take
It With You When You Go' attaining Top 70 chart placings. In 1992, he recorded for the
Canadian Broadland label, before joining Step One the following year, where he quickly
registered a Top 75, with 'One And One And One'. Watson is at his best with sad ballads
and with his band, the Farewell Party, he has become a favourite of George Jones and
George Strait. Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 1998
Reviews
MKOC
Reviews Gene Watson
Entertainment Weekly (1/28/94, p.67) -
"...Revered for his smooth, Haggardesque baritone and a string of hits in the '70s
and '80s, Watson can still sing rings around most chart-toppers...."
More of Gene Watson
Buy
Gene Watson's CDs Here!
Gene Watson Bulletin Board
Gene Watson: The Unofficial Website
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