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 Jon Philibert, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 29 November 2018.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jon Philibert who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jon Philibert
This quote was submitted on Thursday 29 November 2018.
‘Gene Watson has unwaveringly flown the flag for real country music in a career that has spanned many decades and produced true classics of the genre.
Lesser singers and short-lived trends have come and gone, but Gene remains a stalwart of our music to this day and is as good now as when he first started his chart career back in 1975.
Off-hand, I can’t think of any country artist I’d rather see live in performance than Gene.
Truly, the last of the greats’
Thank you, Jon Philibert, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jon Philibert…
Jon Philibert, who was born Jonathan Maurice Philibert in south London, England on Tuesday 26 October 1948, is one of the United Kingdom’s most successful British country music songwriters.
Jon Philibert developed a passion for music at an early age after his father, who was a drummer in a leading British dance band orchestra of the 1930s and 1940s, had bought him a guitar after much pestering by Jon.
In 1965, Jon Philibert’s first job in the music business was with Chappell & Company Limited. From there, Jon Philibert worked as an administrator and A&R director for such major United Kingdom record labels as Pye Records and RCA Records, and finally Carlin Music.
In 1981, with a desire to develop his songwriting skills, Jon Philibert formed ‘I Love Music Limited’ with Craig Baguley, the then Editor of Country Music People magazine and music industry veteran, in order to exploit his own material.
Success was soon forthcoming for Jon Philibert with cuts on such Billboard charting artists as Bobby Bare, Carmol Taylor (Saturday 5 September 1931 – Friday 5 December 1986), Judy Lindsey and Jimmy Payne.
Bobby Bare recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘I’ve Been Rained On Too’ and included the track on ‘Ain’t Got Nothin’ To Lose’ (Columbia Records, 1982).
Tom Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘I’ve Been Rained On Too’ and included the track on ‘Don’t Let Our Dreams Die Young’ (Mercury Records, 1983); the track, which reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, was subsequently included on Tom Jones’ ‘Things That Matter Most To Me’ (Universal Special Products, 1987) and Tom Jones’ ‘Tom Jones In Nashville’ (Spectrum Music / Karussell Records, 1995).
Tom Jones’ Mercury Records recording of Jon Philibert’s ‘I’ve Been Rained On Too’, which remained on the Billboard country music singles chart for an impressive twenty-two weeks in 1983, became Tom Jones’ longest-ever country music charting record.
Jimmy Payne recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘When Someone That You Love Touches You’ and included the track on ‘The Album Version’ (Password Records, 1986).
The County Line Band, featuring Carmol Taylor (Saturday 5 September 1931 – Friday 5 December 1986), recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Honky Tonk, Two Steppin’, Beer Drinkin’, Saturday Night’ (co-written with Gary Lumpkin) and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk, Two Steppin’, Beer Drinkin’, Saturday Nite’ (Password Records, 1987).
In 1991, Larry Jackson recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Honky Tonk, Two Steppin’, Beer Drinkin’, Saturday Night’ (co-written with Gary Lumpkin) and included the track on ‘Stronger Stuff’ (Loree Records, 1991); Loree Records was a record label based in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1996, Jon Philibert was part of a country music writing showcase in London’s fashionable West End, garnering good reviews, but his heart continued to be in songwriting, achieving a measure of success in the United Kingdom line dancing field with his much recorded ‘Honky Tonk, Two Steppin’, Beer Drinkin’, Saturday Night’ (written by Gary Lumpkin and Jon Philibert).
Charlie Landsborough recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘I’ve Been Rained On Too’ and included the track on ‘Still Can’t Say Goodbye’ (Ritz Records, 1999).
On Monday 26 September 2005, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Because You Believed in Me & Beautiful Country‘ (Hux Records, 2005), as a special ‘2-on-1’ CD set, complete with sleeve notes by Jon Philibert.
In 2007, Jon Philibert reviewed Gene Watson‘s ‘In A Perfect World‘ (Shanachie Records, 2007); the review was published in the October 2007 issue of Country Music People, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.
Ed Bentley recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘The Next Me’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘Who Needs Jamaica’ (East Madison Music, 2008).
Ed Bentley recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Who Needs Jamaica’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘Who Needs Jamaica’ (East Madison Music, 2008).
On Tuesday 29 January 2009, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Reflections & Should I Come Home‘ (Hux Records, 2009), as a special ‘2-on-1’ CD set, complete with sleeve notes by Jon Philibert.
In 2011, Jon Philibert reviewed Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent‘s ‘Your Money & My Good Looks‘ (Upper Management Music, 2011); the review was published in the July 2011 issue of Country Music People, and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the publishers.
It was also in 2011 when Jon Philibert decided, after many years, to retire from country journalism, so that he could concentrate full time on his songwriting and publishing activities.
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘I’m Me Again’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘I Knew’ (co-written with Sue Bennett and Bob Davidson) and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘She Don’t Look That Lonely To Me’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Lets Dance The Whole World Away’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Who Needs Jamaica’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Love Doin’ It’s Thing’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Something About A River’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Other Than That, I’m Doin’ Fine’ (co-written with Sue Bennett) and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Who Was That Old Man?’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Got A Lot Goin’ For Me’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘What Happened To Forever’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘I Hadn’t Counted On You’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Hope’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
Adam Price recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Put It Down To Love’ and included the track on ‘I’m Me Again’ (Capitol Records, 2014).
In 2015, Jon Philibert approached Belfast-based country music singer, James Lynas, and offered him a song to record called ‘She Don’t Look That Lonely’; the song was hugely successful, reaching No.1 on the European ECMA Chart.
Jesse Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Some Bridges Just Won’t Burn’ and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk Highway’ (Taj Entertainment, 2015).
Jesse Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Honky Tonk, Two Steppin’, Beer Drinkin’, Saturday Night’ and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk Highway’ (Taj Entertainment, 2015).
Jesse Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘And I Thought Canada Was Cold’ and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk Highway’ (Taj Entertainment, 2015).
In early 2016, James Lynas recorded a second song, which was written by Jon Philibert; ‘I’ll Never Need Any More Than This’ related very much to James Lynas’ own situation, the lyrics told of a hard-working man holding down two jobs as well as keeping busy with his country music activities.
Mike Lusk recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘(When I Grow Up I Wanna Be Like) Willie Nelson’ (co-written with Ed Bentley) and included the track on ‘When I Grow Up I Wanna Be Like Willie Nelson’ (Mike Lusk Independent Release, 2016).
In October 2018, Trevor Loughrey saw the release of ‘Little Irish Town’, his then new single, which was written by Jon Philibert and Douglas McPherson; the song celebrated Trevor Loughrey’s hometown of Ramelton in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.
Trevor Loughrey recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Let’s Dance The Whole World Away’, ‘Karen (It’s Not Easy Loving You)’ and ‘So Do I’, and included the tracks on ‘Here For A Long Time’ (Trevor Loughrey Independent Release).
Larry Jackson released a new album, ‘Out of The Blue’, which included three compositions by Jon Philibert.
Jon Philibert has also written a number of tracks with Sue Bennett, including ‘What’ll I Do With All This Love’ and ‘Sure Let’s Be Friends’.
Jon Philibert also makes rare appearances as a performer.
Over the years, Jon Philibert has also written sleeve notes for a number of re-issue albums for England’s Hux Records.
For some years, Jon Philibert also acted as a country music consultant for MCPS, a United Kingdom licensing organisation.
Jon Philibert has also achieved a reputation as a witty and insightful record reviewer for country music periodicals, both in the United Kingdom and the United States, but principally with Country Music People, the most successful and long running country music periodical outside the United States and Canada.
Relaxing away from the music scene, Jon Philibert has a wide range of interests from movies to politics, from history to food and drink.
Jesse Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk’ and included the track on ‘Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk’ (Jesse Jones Independent Release, 2019).
Jesse Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘Whiskey Get Busy’ and included the track on ‘Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk’ (Jesse Jones Independent Release, 2019).
Jesse Jones recorded Jon Philibert’s ‘On My Way To Here’ and included the track on ‘Meanwhile In This Honky Tonk’ (Jesse Jones Independent Release, 2019).
Today, Jon Philibert works with both United Kingdom and Nashville writers and continues to achieve cuts on a regular basis.
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