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 2021, 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 Jann Browne, which she submitted to this site on Friday 2 April 2021.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jann Browne, who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jann Browne
This quote was submitted on Friday 2 April 2021.
‘It’s still on my bucket list to meet the great Gene Watson.
He’s on my top 10 list of country singers I’d love to record with.
Thanks for all of your musical talent, Gene!’
Thank you, Jann Browne, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jann Browne…
Jann Browne was born in Anderson, Indiana on Sunday 14 March 1954.
In 1978, Jann Browne moved to Southern California, where she performed in a number of Orange County country bars.
From 1981 through 1983, before her solo career, Jann Browne was a vocalist with the Western swing group Asleep At The Wheel.
During the course of her country music career, Jann Browne recorded four studio albums, and charted three singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart.
Jann Browne’s highest charting single was ‘Tell Me Why’ (written by Gail Davies and Harry Stinson), which reached No.18 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1989.
Jann Browne was named ‘Female Entertainer of The Year’, and her song, ‘Louisville’, which she co-written with Pat Gallagher, was named ‘Song of The Year’ by the California Country Music Association.
On Monday 12 February 1990, Jann Browne saw the release of her debut album, ‘Tell Me Why’ (Curb Records, 1990), which was produced by Steve Fishell, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You Ain’t Down Home’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021) (No.19, 1989)
‘Tell Me Why’ (written by Gail Davies and Harry Stinson) (No.18, 1989)
‘Louisville’ (written by Jann Browne and Pat Gallagher) (No.75, 1990) / this track was also recorded by Dwight Yoakam, who included it on ‘Reprise Please Baby’ (Rhino Records, 2002)
Jann Browne’s debut album, ‘Tell Me Why’ (Curb Records, 1990), also included the following tracks:
‘Ain’t No Train’ (written by Jann Browne and Pat Gallagher)
‘Til A Tear Becomes A Rose’, which was written by Bill Rice (Wednesday 19 April 1939 – Saturday 28 October 2023) and Sharon Vaughn
‘Mexican Wind’ (written by Jann Browne, Pat Gallagher and Roger Stebner) / this track featured guest vocals from Emmylou Harris
‘Losing You’ (written by Paul Kennerley)
‘The One You Slip Around With’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) and Charles ‘Fuzzy’ Owen (Tuesday 30 April 1929 – Tuesday 12 May 2020)
‘I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know’, which was written by Cecil Allen Null (Tuesday 26 April 1927 – Sunday 26 August 2001) / this track was a duet with Wanda Jackson
‘Lovebird’ (written by Steve Spurgin)
Personnel involved in the recording of Jann Browne’s debut album, ‘Tell Me Why’ (Curb Records, 1990), included the following:
Byron Berline (fiddle, mandolin)
Michael Bowden, Bill Bryson (Sunday 10 November 1946 – Sunday 30 April 2017) and John Cowan (bass)
Jann Browne (vocals, background vocals)
James Burton (guitar)
Sam Bush (mandolin)
Iris DeMent (harp, harmony vocals)
Steve Fishell (resonator guitar, steel guitar, lap steel guitar, pedal steel, Weissenborn)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Rosie Flores and Harry Stinson (background vocals)
Pat Flynn (acoustic guitar)
Glen D. Hardin (piano)
Emmylou Harris (harmony vocals)
Wanda Jackson (duet vocals)
John Jorgenson (mandolin, Spanish guitar)
Albert Lee (electric guitar, acoustic guitar)
Richard MacDonald (bass, acoustic guitar)
John Molo (drums)
Weldon Myrick (Monday 10 April 1939 – Monday 2 June 2014) (steel guitar, pedal steel)
Billy Thomas (drums, percussion, background vocals)
Wanda Vick (fiddle, acoustic guitar)
Don Whaley (bass, background vocals)
Jann Browne’s debut album, ‘Tell Me Why’ (Curb Records, 1990), reached No.46 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990.
On Tuesday 23 April 1991, Jann Browne saw the release of ‘It Only Hurts When I Laugh’ (Curb Records, 1991), which was produced by Steve Fishell, and included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Better Love Next Time’ (written by Gail Davies and Paul Kennerley) / this track was released as a single in 1991, but it did not chart
‘It Only Hurts When I Laugh’ (written by Kostas and Marty Stuart) / this track was released as a single in 1991, but it did not chart
Jann Browne’s ‘It Only Hurts When I Laugh’ (Curb Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘I Wish It Would Rain’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘I Knew Enough To Fall In Love With You’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Hank DeVito)
‘Blue Heart In Memphis’ (written by Jann Browne and Pat Gallagher)
‘My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You’, which was written by Lee Ross and Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975)
‘Who’s Gonna Be Your Next Love’ (written by Jann Browne and Pat Gallagher)
‘I Don’t Do Floors’, which was written by Don Cook and Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 – Friday 21 January 2022)
‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’ (written by Jim Lauderdale and John Leventhal) / this track was also recorded by George Strait for the soundtrack to his acting debut in the motion picture, ‘Pure Country’ (MCA Records, 1992)
‘Where Nobody Knows My Name’ (written by John Hiatt and Jimmy Tittle)
Plan B Records is a recording facility and Indie record label, which is based in Yucca Valley, California. Founded in 1993 by Matthew Barnes and Jann Browne, Plan B Records record and promote an alternative to what is considered mainstream country music.
On Tuesday 12 September 1995, Jann Browne saw the release of ‘Count Me In’ (Cross Three Records, 1995), which included the following tracks:
‘Hearts On The Blue Train’
‘Ain’t No Promise (In The Promised Land)’
‘I Have No Witness’
‘Trouble’s Here’
‘Red Moon Over Lugano’
‘One Tired Man’
‘Dear Loretta’
‘Count Me In’ (written by Jann Browne)
‘Baby Goodbye’
‘Long Time Gone’
‘When The Darkest Hours Pass’
‘White Roses’
On Tuesday 30 October 2001, Jann Browne saw the release of ‘Missed Me By A Mile’ (Plan B Records, 2001), which was produced by Matt Barnes, Jann Browne and Ian Miller, and included the following tracks:
‘Can’t Build A Better Love’
‘Cold Here In London’
‘Change Your Mind’
‘Missed Me By A Mile’
‘Don’t Be Mad’
‘Heart You Can’t Ignore’
‘The Lucky Few’
‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout Tomorrow’
‘Thought I Had It All’
‘The Lonesome Mile’
On Tuesday 6 March 2007, Jann Browne saw the release of ‘Buckin’ Around: A Tribute To The Legendary Buck Owens’ (Plan B Records, 2007), which included the following tracks:
‘Love’s Gonna Live Here’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘The Best of Buck Owens’ (Capitol Records, 1963); Buck Owens’ version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for sixteen weeks in 1963
‘Before You Go’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) and Don Rich (Friday 15 August 1941 – Wednesday 17 July 1974) / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘Before You Go’ (Capitol Records, 1965); Buck Owens’ version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for six weeks in 1965
‘Excuse Me (I Think I’ve Got A Heartache)’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) and Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘Buck Owens’ (Capitol Records, 1961); Buck Owens’ version of the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1960
‘Play Together Again Again’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), Charles Stewart and Jerry Abbott / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens & Emmylou Harris, and was released as a non-album single on Warner Bros. Records in April 1979; the track reached No.11 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979
‘I Don’t Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘I Don’t Care’ (Capitol Records, 1964); Buck Owens’ version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for six weeks in 1964
‘Think of Me’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)and Estella Olson / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘Open Up Your Heart’ (Capitol Records, 1966); Buck Owens’ version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for six weeks in 1966
‘Loose Talk’, which was written by Freddie Hart (Tuesday 21 December 1926 – Saturday 27 October 2018) and Ann Lucas / the original version of this track was recorded by Freddie Hart, who included it on ‘The Spirited’ (Columbia Records, 1962); Freddie Hart‘s version of the track was released as a single in 1954, but it did not chart / this track was also recorded by Carl Smith (Tuesday 15 March 1927 – Saturday 16 January 2010), who included it on ‘Carl Smith’ (Columbia Records, 1956); Carl Smith’s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for seven weeks in 1954 / this track was also recorded by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) & Rose Maddox (Saturday 15 August 1925 – Wednesday 15 April 1998), and was included on Buck Owens’ ‘I Don’t Care’ (Capitol Records, 1964); Buck Owens & Rose Maddox’s version of the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1961, as a B-side to ‘Mental Cruelty’
‘Hot Dog’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)and Denny Dedson / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, initially released under the pseudonym ‘Corky Jones’ in September 1956 by independent Californian country music record label, Pep Records / In 1961, the single was re-released by Tennessee record label, New Star Records, as Buck Owens, with overdubbed additional instrumentation / The original Pep Records record was also re-issued in 1975 / In 1988, Buck Owens re-recorded the track for his album of the same name, ‘Hot Dog’ (Capitol Records, 1988); the track was released as a single by Capitol Records on Wednesday 28 September 1988, and reached No.46 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988
‘Sweethearts In Heaven’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)/ the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens & Rose Maddox (Saturday 15 August 1925 – Wednesday 15 April 1998), and was included on Buck Owens’ ‘Fabulous Country Music Sound of Buck Owens’ (Starday Records, 1962); Buck Owens & Rose Maddox’s version of the track reached No.15 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1963, as a B-side to ‘We’re The Talk of The Town’
‘Waitin’ In Your Welfare Line’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), Don Rich (Friday 15 August 1941 – Wednesday 17 July 1974) and Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988) / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘Open Up Your Heart’ (Capitol Records, 1966); Buck Owens’ version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for seven weeks in 1966 / this track was also recorded by Nat Stuckey, who included it on ‘All My Tomorrows’ (Paula Records, 1967); Ann M. Stuckey graciously submitted a ‘Peer’s Quote about Gene Watson on Saturday 25 January 2014
‘Playgirl’ (‘Playboy’), which was written by Edward Monroe ‘Eddie’ Miller (Wednesday 10 December 1919 – Monday 11 April 1977) and Robert Dean Morris (Monday 3 February 1930 – Thursday 3 December 1981) / the original version of this track was recorded by Buck Owens, who included it on ‘I Don’t Care’ (Capitol Records, 1964) / this track was also recorded by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992), who included it on ‘Wild Child’ (Starday Records, 1965), and ‘The Amazing’ (Nashville Records, 1967) / this track was also recorded by Wynn Stewart (Thursday 7 June 1934 – Wednesday 17 July 1985)/c, who included it on ‘After The Storm’ (Playboy Records, 1976)
• Visit Jann Browne’s official site at jannbrowne.com
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