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{{short description|American country music singer (born 1943)}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2015}}
{{BLP sources|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Gene Watson |
| name = Gene Watson
| image = Gene Watson 2007.jpg
| image = Gene Watson 2007.jpg
| caption = Watson performing at the [[Grand Ole Opry]] in 2007 |
| caption = Watson performing at the [[Grand Ole Opry]] in 2007
| background = solo_singer
| image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> |
| birth_name = Gary Gene Watson
|
| background = solo_singer |
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|10|11}}
| birth_name = Gary Gene Watson |
| birth_place = [[Palestine, Texas]]
| alias = |
| genre = [[Country music|Country]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|10|11}} |
| occupation = Singer
| birth_place = [[Palestine, Texas]], United States |
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| instrument = Vocals |
| years_active = 1962–present
| label = [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], [[Step One Records|Step One]], [[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]]
| genre = [[Country music]] |
| occupation = [[Singing|Singer]] |
| website = {{URL|genewatsonmusic.com}}
| years_active = 1962&ndash;present |
| label = Resco, [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[Epic Records|Epic]], [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], Broadland, [[Step One Records|Step One]] [[Shanachie Records]] [[Fourteen Carat Records]]
| associated_acts = |
| website = [http://www.genewatsonmusic.com/ www.genewatsonmusic.com] |
}}
}}


[[File:Gene watson IMG 0679 Gene Watson.jpg|thumb|Gene Watson, September 2016, [[Ruidoso, New Mexico]], OnstageMagazineGroup]]
'''Gary Gene Watson''' (born October 11, 1943) is an [[United States|American]] [[country music|country]] [[singing|singer]]. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "[[Love in the Hot Afternoon]]," his 1981 #1 hit "[[Fourteen Carat Mind]]," and his signature

1979 song "[[Farewell Party]]." Watson's long career has notched five number ones,<ref>Billboard, Cashbox, Radio & Records, Gavin and Music Row Music Charts</ref> 23 top tens and over 76 charted singles.
'''Gary Gene Watson''' (born October 11, 1943)<ref name="LarkinCountry">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1993|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-726-6|page=436}}</ref> is an American [[country music]] singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "[[Love in the Hot Afternoon]]," his 1981 No. 1 hit "[[Fourteen Carat Mind]]," and his signature 1979 song "[[Farewell Party]]." Watson's long career has included five number one hits,<ref>Billboard, Cashbox, Radio & Records, Gavin and Music Row Music Charts</ref> 21 top tens, and 48 charted singles.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Watson was born in [[Palestine, Texas]], in 1943.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://musiccityroots.com/artist/gene-watson/ |title=Gene Watson |work=Music City Roots }}</ref> He began his music career in the 1960s, performing in local clubs at night while working in a [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] [[Automobile repair shop|auto body shop]] during the day. He recorded for only a few small, regional record labels having a regional hit "Bad Water", until 1974, when [[Capitol Records]] picked up his album ''Love in the Hot Afternoon'' and released it nationally. The title track, a mid-tempo [[ballad]] in three-quarter time, was released in June 1975, and it quickly reached Number three on the ''[[Billboard magazine]]'' [[Hot Country Singles & Tracks|Hot Country Singles]] chart.
Watson was born in [[Palestine, Texas]], United States.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://musiccityroots.com/artist/gene-watson/ |title=Gene Watson |work=Music City Roots |access-date=2016-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001609/http://musiccityroots.com/artist/gene-watson/ |archive-date=2017-02-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was raised in [[Paris, Texas]], but in 1963 he relocated to [[Houston]].<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> He began his music career in the 1960s, performing in local clubs at night while working in a Houston [[Automobile repair shop|auto body shop]] during the day.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> He recorded for only a few small, regional record labels having a regional hit "Bad Water", until 1975, when [[Capitol Records]] picked up his album ''Love in the Hot Afternoon'' and released it nationally.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> The title track, a mid-tempo [[ballad]] in three-quarter time, was released in June 1975, and it reached No. 3 on the ''[[Billboard magazine]]'' [[Hot Country Singles & Tracks|Hot Country Singles]] chart.<ref name="LarkinCountry"/>


Watson's national success continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, as he recorded several [[Billboard charts|Billboard]] top-40 hits, including "Where Love Begins," "Paper Rosie," "Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy)," "Nothing Sure Looked Good on You," and "Farewell Party," which was released in 1979 and quickly became Watson's signature song and the namesake of his Farewell Party Band.
Watson's national success continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, as he recorded several [[Billboard charts|Billboard]] top-40 hits, including "Where Love Begins," "Paper Rosie," "Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy)," "Nothing Sure Looked Good on You," and "[[Farewell Party]]," which was released in 1979,<ref name="LarkinCountry"/> and quickly became Watson's signature song, and the namesake of his Farewell Party Band.


In February 2012, Watson, celebrated his 50th year in the music business with the release of ''Best of the Best, 25 Greatest Hits'' (his very first single on radio "If It Was That Easy" released in 1962). The collection of songs was re-recorded to recreate the originals as closely as possible. The project was produced by Dirk Johnson and released on Watson's own Fourteen Carat Music label. In June 2014, Watson released an eleven track CD "My Heroes Have Always Been Country," all pure, classic country music, covering hits by some of his musical heroes such as Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Lefty Frizzell. On February 26, 2016 Gene Watson released his 33rd studio album titled "Real.Country.Music." This 13-track CD contains traditional country music and the first single release is "Enough For You", a song written by Kris Kristofferson. In 2018, Watson released a Gospel music CD titled "My Gospel Roots". The first single from the 13-track release, "Old Roman Soldier" hit #1 on the Cashbox and Christian Servant Country Gospel charts in June 2018.
In February 2012, Watson, celebrated his 50th year in the music business with the release of ''Best of the Best, 25 Greatest Hits''. (His first single on radio was "If It Was That Easy", released in 1962). The collection of songs was re-recorded to recreate the originals as closely as possible. The project was produced by Dirk Johnson and released on Watson's own Fourteen Carat Music label. In June 2014, Watson released an eleven track CD, ''My Heroes Have Always Been Country,''<ref name="AMG">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/gene-watson-mn0000803757/biography|title=Gene Watson &#124; Biography & History|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref> covering hits by some of his musical heroes such as [[Merle Haggard]], [[Ray Price (musician)|Ray Price]] and [[Lefty Frizzell]]. On February 26, 2016, Watson released his 33rd studio album titled, ''Real.Country.Music.''<ref name="AMG"/> The 13-track CD contained traditional country music and the first single release is "Enough For You", a song written by [[Kris Kristofferson]]. In 2018, Watson released a gospel music CD titled ''My Gospel Roots''.<ref name="AMG"/> The first single from the 13-track release, "Old Roman Soldier" hit No. 1 on the Cashbox and Christian Servant Country Gospel charts in June 2018.


Gene Watson was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002 and inducted into the inaugural class of the Houston Music Hall of Fame in August 2013. In 2018 Watson received the "Entertainer of the Year" Award from the R.O.P.E. Awards, an honor he shared with singer, Jeannie Seely. It was the first time in the history of the Awards that there was a tie in any category.
Watson was inducted into the [[Texas Country Music Hall of Fame]] in 2002,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcmhof.com/latest-inductees/13-inductees-2002|title=2002 - Texas Country Music Hall of Fame|website=Tcmhof.com|access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref> and inducted into the inaugural class of the Houston Music Hall of Fame in August 2013. In 2018, Watson received the "Entertainer of the Year" Award from the R.O.P.E. Awards, an honor he shared with singer, [[Jeannie Seely]]. It was the first time in the history of the Awards that there was a tie in any category.


Watson was invited to join the [[Grand Ole Opry]], by [[Vince Gill]], on January 17, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tasteofcountry.com/gene-watson-grand-ole-opry-invitation-vince-gill/|title=WATCH: Vince Gill Invites Gene Watson to Join the Grand Ole Opry|website=Tasteofcountry.com|date=18 January 2020 |access-date=August 11, 2021}}</ref>
==Discography==


==The Farewell Party Band==
===Albums===
{{BLP unsourced section|date=August 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
The Farewell Party Band is his long-time backing band. They were named after his 1978 hit single "[[Farewell Party]]." Between 1982 and 1984, two studio albums were released credited to Gene Watson and the Farewell Party Band. The Farewell Party Band backed Watson on one of his solo albums, and they released one studio album on their own. Several notable musicians were members of the Farewell Party Band, such as [[Tony Booth (musician)|Tony Booth]]. While many other members have played with them since the 1980s, below is a timeline of just the members during their recorded output.
! rowspan="2"| Year
{{#tag:timeline|
! rowspan="2"| Album
ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:25
! colspan="2"| Chart Positions
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:0 right:0
! rowspan="2"| Label
Alignbars = justify
|-
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
! width=50|<small>[[Hot Country Songs|US Country]]</small><br /><ref name="allmusic chart">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gene-watson-mn0000803757/awards |title=Gene Watson {{!}} Awards |publisher=AllMusic }}</ref>
Period = from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984
! width=50|<small>CAN Country</small>
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
|-
|1969
|''Gene Watson''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|Wide World
|-
|1975
|''Love in the Hot Afternoon''
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=9|Capitol
|-
|1976
|''Because You Believed in Me''
|align="center"|24
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1977
|''Paper Rosie''
|align="center"|22
|align="center"|—
|-
|''Beautiful Country''
|align="center"|32
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1978
|''The Best''
|align="center"|29
|align="center"|12
|-
|''Reflections''
|align="center"|23
|align="center"|14
|-
|1979
|''Should I Come Home''
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|—
|-
|1980
|''No One Will Ever Know''
|align="center"|45
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=3|1981
|''The Best 2''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|''Between This Time and the Next Time''
|align="center"|38
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=7|MCA
|-
|''Old Loves Never Die''
|align="center"|57
|align="center"|—
|-
|1982
|''This Dream's on Me''
|align="center"|27
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1983
|''Sometimes I Get Lucky''
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|—
|-
|''Little By Little''
|align="center"|34
|align="center"|—
|-
|1984
|''Heartaches and Love and Stuff''
|align="center"|21
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1985
|''Greatest Hits''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|''Memories to Burn''
|align="center"|35
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=3|Epic
|-
|1986
|''Starting New Memories''
|align="center"|49
|align="center"|—
|-
|1987
|''Honky Tonk Crazy''
|align="center"|54
|align="center"|—
|-
|1989
|''Back in the Fire''
|align="center"|42
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=2|Warner Bros.
|-
|1990
|''At Last''
|align="center"|74
|align="center"|—
|-
|1992
|''In Other Words''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|Broadland
|-
|1993
|''Uncharted Mind''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=4|Step One
|-
|1996
|''The Good Ole Days''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1997
|''Jesus Is All I Need''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|''A Way to Survive''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|2001
|''From the Heart''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|Row Music Group
|-
|2003
|''Sings''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=2|Compendia
|-
|2004
|''Gospel Side''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|2005
|''Then and Now''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|Koch
|-
|2007
|''In a Perfect World''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=2|Shanachie
|-
|2009
|''A Taste of the Truth''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|2011
|''Your Money and My Good Looks''<br /><small>(with [[Rhonda Vincent]])</small>
|align="center"|56
|align="center"|—
|Upper Management
|-
|2012
|''Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits''
|align="center"|64
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=4|Fourteen Carat Music
|-
|2014
|''My Heroes Have Always Been Country''
|align="center"|48
|align="center"|—
|-
|2016
|''Real. Country. Music.''
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|2017
|"My Gospel Roots"
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|}


Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
===Singles===

{| class="wikitable"
Colors =
! rowspan="2"|Year
id:lead value:green legend:Lead_Guitar
! rowspan="2"|Single
id:steel value:teal legend:Steel_Guitar
! colspan="2"|Chart Positions
id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
! rowspan="2"|Album
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
|-
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
! width=50|<small>[[Hot Country Songs|US Country]]</small><br /><ref name="allmusic chart"/>
id:gtr value:brightgreen legend:Guitar
! width=50|<small>CAN Country</small>
id:tic value:darkblue legend:Tic_Tac_Bass
|-

|rowspan=3|1975
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:2 start:1982
|"Bad Water"
ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1984
|align="center"|87

|align="center"|—
BarData =
|rowspan=4|''Love in the Hot Afternoon''
bar:Larry text:"Larry Booth"
|-
bar:Tiny text:"Chris ‘Tiny’ Olsen"
|"[[Love in the Hot Afternoon]]"
bar:Doug text:"Doug Boggs"
|align="center"|3
bar:Joe text:"Joe Eddie Gough"
|align="center"|3
bar:Daniel text:"Daniel Rainwater"
|-
bar:Norm text:"Norm Castner"
|"Where Love Begins"
bar:Tony text:"Tony Booth"
|align="center"|5

|align="center"|4
PlotData =
|-
width:10
|rowspan=3|1976
bar:Larry from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984 color:bass
|"You Could Know as Much About a Stranger"
bar:Tiny from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984 color:steel
|align="center"|10
bar:Doug from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984 color:drums
|align="center"|42
bar:Joe from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984 color:keys
|-
bar:Daniel from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984 color:lead
|"Because You Believed in Me"
bar:Norm from:01/01/1982 till:12/31/1984 color:gtr
|align="center"|20
bar:Tony from:01/01/1984 till:12/31/1984 color:tic
|align="center"|—
width:3
|rowspan=2|''Because You Believed in Me''
bar:Tony from:01/01/1984 till:12/31/1984 color:bass
|-
|"Her Body Couldn't Keep You (Off My Mind)"
}}
|align="center"|52

|align="center"|—
==Discography==
|-
{{main|Gene Watson discography}}
|rowspan=2|1977
|"[[Paper Rosie]]"
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|1
|''Paper Rosie''
|-
|"The Old Man and His Horn"
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|9
|rowspan=3|''Beautiful Country''
|-
|rowspan=3|1978
|"I Don't Need a Thing at All"
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|4
|-
|"Cowboys Don't Get Lucky All the Time"
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|14
|-
|"One Sided Conversation"
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|6
|rowspan=3|''Reflections''
|-
|rowspan=3|1979
|"[[Farewell Party]]"
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|9
|-
|"[[Pick the Wildwood Flower]]"
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|2
|-
|"[[Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)]]"
|align="center"|3
|align="center"|6
|rowspan=3|''Should I Come Home''
|-
|rowspan=4|1980
|"[[Nothing Sure Looked Good on You]]"
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|3
|-
|"Bedroom Ballad"
|align="center"|18
|align="center"|43
|-
|"Raisin' Cane in Texas"
|align="center"|15
|align="center"|53
|rowspan=2|''No One Will Ever Know''
|-
|"No One Will Ever Know"
|align="center"|13
|align="center"|22
|-
|rowspan=4|1981
|"Any Way You Want Me"
|align="center"|33
|align="center"|—
|''[[Any Which Way You Can]]'' {{small|(soundtrack)}}
|-
|"Between This Time and the Next Time"
|align="center"|17
|align="center"|8
|rowspan=2|''Between This Time and the Next Time''
|-
|"Maybe I Should Have Been Listening"
|align="center"|23
|align="center"|12
|-
|"[[Fourteen Carat Mind]]"
|align="center"|1
|align="center"|5
|rowspan=2|''Old Loves Never Die''
|-
|rowspan=3|1982
|"[[Speak Softly (You're Talking to My Heart)]]"
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|4
|-
|"[[This Dream's on Me]]"
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|11
|rowspan=2|''This Dream's on Me''
|-
|"[[What She Don't Know Won't Hurt Her]]"
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|3
|-
|rowspan=3|1983
|"[[You're Out Doing What I'm Here Doing Without]]"
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|5
|rowspan=2|''Sometimes I Get Lucky''
|-
|"Sometimes I Get Lucky and Forget"
|align="center"|9
|align="center"|6
|-
|"Drinkin' My Way Back Home"
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|8
|rowspan=3|''Little By Little''
|-
|rowspan=3|1984
|"Forever Again"
|align="center"|10
|align="center"|18
|-
|"Little by Little"
|align="center"|33
|align="center"|21
|-
|"[[Got No Reason Now for Goin' Home]]"
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|15
|rowspan=2|''Heartaches and Love and Stuff''
|-
|rowspan=3|1985
|"One Hell of a Heartache"
|align="center"|43
|align="center"|38
|-
|"Cold Summer Day in Georgia"
|align="center"|24
|align="center"|22
|rowspan=3|''Memories to Burn''
|-
|"[[Memories to Burn]]"
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|2
|-
|rowspan=3|1986
|"Carmen"
|align="center"|32
|align="center"|27
|-
|"Bottle of Tears"
|align="center"|50
|align="center"|40
|rowspan=2|''Starting New Memories''
|-
|"Everything I Used to Do"
|align="center"|29
|align="center"|27
|-
|rowspan=2|1987
|"Honky Tonk Crazy"
|align="center"|43
|align="center"|30
|rowspan=2|''Honky Tonk Crazy''
|-
|"[[Everybody Needs a Hero]]"
|align="center"|28
|align="center"|46
|-
|1988
|"[[Don't Waste It on the Blues]]"
|align="center"|5
|align="center"|*
|rowspan=4|''Back in the Fire''
|-
|rowspan=3|1989
|"[[Back in the Fire]]"
|align="center"|20
|align="center"|24
|-
|"[[The Jukebox Played Along]]"
|align="center"|24
|align="center"|40
|-
|"The Great Divide"
|align="center"|41
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1991
|"[[At Last]]"
|align="center"|61
|align="center"|59
|rowspan=2|''At Last''
|-
|"You Can't Take It with You When You Go"
|align="center"|67
|align="center"|56
|-
|1992
|"One and One and One"
|align="center"|66
|align="center"|92
|''In Other Words''
|-
|1993
|"Snake in the House"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-11-13.pdf|title=Single Reviews|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=November 13, 1993}}</ref>
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=2|''Uncharted Mind''
|-
|1995
|"He's Back in Texas Again"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-08-05.pdf|title=Single Reviews|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=August 5, 1995}}</ref>
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|1997
|"Change Her Mind"
|align="center"|44
|align="center"|90
|rowspan=2|''The Good Ole Days''
|-
|"No Goodbyes"
|align="center"|73
|align="center"|—
|-
|rowspan=2|2009
|"We've Got a Pulse" <small>(with [[Trace Adkins]])</small>
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|rowspan=2|''A Taste of the Truth''
|-
|"Staying Together" <small>(with [[Rhonda Vincent]])</small>
|align="center"|—
|align="center"|—
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 510: Line 88:
==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.genewatsonmusic.com Official Gene Watson website]
* [http://www.genewatsonmusic.com Official Gene Watson website]
* [http://www.gene-watson.com Gene Watson Fan Site] - this site, which has been active since September 2004, is recognised by Gene Watson & his management team at Lytle Management in Nashville.
* [https://gene-watson.com Original Gene Watson Fan Site] - The Original Gene Watson Fan Site, which has been active since September 2004, is recognized by Gene Watson & his management team at Lytle Management in Brentwood, TN.


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Gene Watson}}
{{Gene Watson}}
{{Grand Ole Opry members}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Gene}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Gene}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American country singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American country singers]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Palestine, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Palestine, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Houston]]
[[Category:Singers from Houston]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:MCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Records artists]]
[[Category:Warner Records artists]]
[[Category:Capitol Records artists]]
[[Category:Capitol Records artists]]
[[Category:Step One Records artists]]
[[Category:Step One Records artists]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]
[[Category:Country musicians from Texas]]

Latest revision as of 00:45, 19 February 2024

Gene Watson
Watson performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 2007
Watson performing at the Grand Ole Opry in 2007
Background information
Birth nameGary Gene Watson
Born (1943-10-11) October 11, 1943 (age 80)
Palestine, Texas
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1962–present
LabelsCapitol, MCA, Epic, Warner Bros., Step One, Shanachie
Websitegenewatsonmusic.com
Gene Watson, September 2016, Ruidoso, New Mexico, OnstageMagazineGroup

Gary Gene Watson (born October 11, 1943)[1] is an American country music singer. He is most famous for his 1975 hit "Love in the Hot Afternoon," his 1981 No. 1 hit "Fourteen Carat Mind," and his signature 1979 song "Farewell Party." Watson's long career has included five number one hits,[2] 21 top tens, and 48 charted singles.

Biography[edit]

Watson was born in Palestine, Texas, United States.[1][3] He was raised in Paris, Texas, but in 1963 he relocated to Houston.[1] He began his music career in the 1960s, performing in local clubs at night while working in a Houston auto body shop during the day.[1] He recorded for only a few small, regional record labels having a regional hit "Bad Water", until 1975, when Capitol Records picked up his album Love in the Hot Afternoon and released it nationally.[1] The title track, a mid-tempo ballad in three-quarter time, was released in June 1975, and it reached No. 3 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart.[1]

Watson's national success continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, as he recorded several Billboard top-40 hits, including "Where Love Begins," "Paper Rosie," "Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy)," "Nothing Sure Looked Good on You," and "Farewell Party," which was released in 1979,[1] and quickly became Watson's signature song, and the namesake of his Farewell Party Band.

In February 2012, Watson, celebrated his 50th year in the music business with the release of Best of the Best, 25 Greatest Hits. (His first single on radio was "If It Was That Easy", released in 1962). The collection of songs was re-recorded to recreate the originals as closely as possible. The project was produced by Dirk Johnson and released on Watson's own Fourteen Carat Music label. In June 2014, Watson released an eleven track CD, My Heroes Have Always Been Country,[4] covering hits by some of his musical heroes such as Merle Haggard, Ray Price and Lefty Frizzell. On February 26, 2016, Watson released his 33rd studio album titled, Real.Country.Music.[4] The 13-track CD contained traditional country music and the first single release is "Enough For You", a song written by Kris Kristofferson. In 2018, Watson released a gospel music CD titled My Gospel Roots.[4] The first single from the 13-track release, "Old Roman Soldier" hit No. 1 on the Cashbox and Christian Servant Country Gospel charts in June 2018.

Watson was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002,[5] and inducted into the inaugural class of the Houston Music Hall of Fame in August 2013. In 2018, Watson received the "Entertainer of the Year" Award from the R.O.P.E. Awards, an honor he shared with singer, Jeannie Seely. It was the first time in the history of the Awards that there was a tie in any category.

Watson was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, by Vince Gill, on January 17, 2020.[6]

The Farewell Party Band[edit]

The Farewell Party Band is his long-time backing band. They were named after his 1978 hit single "Farewell Party." Between 1982 and 1984, two studio albums were released credited to Gene Watson and the Farewell Party Band. The Farewell Party Band backed Watson on one of his solo albums, and they released one studio album on their own. Several notable musicians were members of the Farewell Party Band, such as Tony Booth. While many other members have played with them since the 1980s, below is a timeline of just the members during their recorded output.

Discography[edit]

Main article: Gene Watson discography

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Country Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 436. ISBN 0-85112-726-6.
  2. ^ Billboard, Cashbox, Radio & Records, Gavin and Music Row Music Charts
  3. ^ "Gene Watson". Music City Roots. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  4. ^ a b c "Gene Watson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "2002 - Texas Country Music Hall of Fame". Tcmhof.com. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "WATCH: Vince Gill Invites Gene Watson to Join the Grand Ole Opry". Tasteofcountry.com. 18 January 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2021.

External links[edit]

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