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 2012, 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 Rory Bourke, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 5 July 2012.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Rory Bourke who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Rory Bourke
This quote was submitted on Thursday 5 July 2012.
'I've always thought that Gene Watson is one of our best, heartfelt singers we have in country music today.
I was thrilled when I heard his recording of 'Back in The Fire' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid).
I thought it just doesn't get any better than this; he makes a song live'.
Thank you, Rory Bourke, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Rory Bourke...

Rory Bourke, during a career of more than thirty years, has had his songs recorded by Anne Murray, Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977), Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Phil Vassar, Dolly Parton, Tom Jones, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ronnie Milsap, Julio Iglesias, Tim McGraw and many others.
In 1989, Rory Bourke was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and has been named ASCAP 'Writer of the Year' three times: in 1976, 1979 and 1983.
Rory Bourke is a four-time Grammy nominee and the recipient of two CMA triple play awards. Rory Bourke served on the Board of Directors of The Nashville Songwriters Foundation for many years.
Rory Bourke was born Rory Michael Bourke on Tuesday 14 July 1942 in Cleveland, Ohio. As a boy, Rory Bourke loved watching movie musicals.
When he was seven years old, Rory Bourke started going to the movies with the little girl who lived next door. Her father was manager of Lowe’s MGM Theater and Rory Bourke saw every MGM musical they made.
Seeing all those musicals was a big part of the reason Rory Bourke became a songwriter.
In 1964, Rory Bourke graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s College and married his college sweetheart, Rita Welty, shortly after. His first job was tracing lost railroad cars for New York Central Railroad. His true calling, however, was songwriting.
When there were no lost cars filled with cabbages from Mexico or pig iron from Alabama, Rory Bourke wrote songs. He spent his lunch hours writing lyrics on yellow slips of paper and when work was done, he brought those slips of paper home with him and set the lyrics to music.
In 1969, Rory Bourke came to Nashville as head of Sales & Promotion for Mercury Records Country & Western Division.
Shortly afterwards, Henry Hurt signed Rory Bourke to Chappell Music as a songwriter. It was there that Rory Bourke met Don Gant who became a mentor.
Rory Bourke later signed with Polygram Music.
In 1973, Rory Bourke’s 'The Most Beautiful Girl in The World', which was co-written with Norro Wilson and Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015), became a worldwide hit for Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 - Tuesday 25 July 1995); the track, which was included on Charlie Rich's 'Behind Closed Doors' (Epic Records, 1973), was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in November / December 1973, and No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart for two weeks in December 1973.
In 1979, Rory Bourke began a long and successful co-writing career with Charlie Black.
In 1994, Rory Bourke left his position as staff writer with PolyGram in order to form his own publishing company, Rory Bourke Music Company.
Since then, Rory Bourke has had hits as a BMI writer / publisher with Phil Vassar ('Carlene'), Collin Raye ('Little Red Rodeo') and Jo Dee Messina ('Bye Bye').
'Bye Bye' was named ASCAP’s 'Most Performed Song of the Year' in 1999. Rory Bourke is also writer and publisher of 'Eyes of a Woman', a cut on Tim McGraw’s 'A Place in the Sun' (Curb Records, 1999).
Rory Bourke tells aspiring songwriters, 'I learn from every person I write with, and I hope they learn from me. Songwriting is an art whose lessons are never completely learned'.


• Visit Rory Bourke's Official Site at rorybourke.com