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 2005, 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 Margo Smith, which she submitted to this site on Monday 25 April 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Margo Smith who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Margo Smith
This quote was submitted on Monday 25 April 2005.
‘As a singer of country music, and I am referring to traditional country music, in my opinion, Gene Watson is, without a doubt, one of the finest, if not the finest, male singer in the country music business today’
Thank you, Margo Smith, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Margo Smith…
Margo Smith, who was born Beth Lou Smith in Dayton, Ohio on Thursday 9 April 1942, started out as a kindergarten teacher who sang folk and country songs for her students; she frequently wrote the songs herself.
In 1975, Margo Smith cut a demo and signed to 20th Century Fox Records, where she had a major hit with her own song, ‘There I Said It’ (written by Margo Smith), which reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975, and was included on Margo Smith’s self-titled debut album, ‘Margo Smith’ (20th Century Fox Records, 1975); the track stayed on the Billboard country music singles chart for an astounding twenty weeks.
Margo Smith’s self-titled debut album, ‘Margo Smith’ (20th Century Fox Records, 1975) also included the following tracks:
‘Paper Lovin’ ‘ (written by Margo Smith)
‘Tennessee Yodelers’ (written by Margo Smith)
‘He Don’t Love Here’ (written by Margo Smith)
‘An Old Memory Got In My Eye’ (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
‘Baby’s Hurtin’ ‘ (written by Margo Smith)
‘I Don’t Think So’ (written by Margo Smith)
‘One Sided Affair’ (written by Margo Smith)
‘Among My Souvenirs’ (written by H. Nichols and E. Leslie)
‘Go To Your Room & Play’ (written by Jerry Foster and Bill Rice)
In July 1976, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘Songbird’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1976), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Save Your Kisses for Me’ (written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden and Martin Lee) (No.10, 1976)
Margo Smith’s ‘Songbird’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) also included the following tracks:
‘Heartaches By The Number’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘Six Weeks Every Summer, Christmas Every Other Year’
‘I’m About To Do It Again’
‘Let’s Have A Hand For The Little Lady’
‘Safe In These Loving Arms’
‘Get Me My Crying Towel’
‘My Happiness’
‘When, Where & Why’
‘Foot Stompin’ ‘
In April 1977, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘Happiness’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1977), which was produced by Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Take My Breath Away’, which was written by Margo Smith and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (No.7, 1976)
‘Love’s Explosion’, which was written by James D. Shaw, Margo Smith and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (No.12, 1977)
‘My Weakness’, which was written by Margo Smith and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (No.23, 1977)
‘So Close Again’, which was written by James D. Shaw, Margo Smith and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (No.43, 1977)
Margo Smith’s ‘Happiness’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) also included the following tracks:
‘What Would I Do Then’, which was written by Carmol Taylor (Saturday 5 September 1931 – Friday 5 December 1986) and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017)
‘I Forgave (But I Forgot To Forget)’, which was written by Linda Hargrove (Thursday 3 February 1949 – Sunday 24 October 2010)
‘Saturday Night At The General Store’, which was written by Daniel D. Darst and Stephen Allen Davis (Tuesday 4 October 1949 – Monday 26 December 2022)
‘I’d Rather Have A Heart Abused’ (written by Margo Smith)
‘My Happiness’ (written by Betty Peterson and Borney Bergantine)
‘Lovesick Blues’, which was written by Cliff Friend (1 October 1893 – Thursday 27 June 1974) and Irving Mills (16 January 1894 – Sunday 21 April 1985)
Personnel involved in the recording of Margo Smith’s ‘Happiness’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) included the following:
Janie Fricke, Rudi Gatlin, Sheri Kramer, Steve Gatlin, and The Sound Seventy Singers (backing vocals)
Bob Moore (Wednesday 30 November 1932 – Wednesday 22 September 2021) (bass)
Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017) (tic tac bass)
Jerry Kirby Carrigan (Monday 13 September 1943 – Saturday 22 June 2019) and Kenny Buttrey (drums)
Tommy Jackson (Wednesday 31 March 1926 – Sunday 9 December 1979) (fiddle)
Billy Sanford and Reggie Young (Saturday 12 December 1936 – Thursday 17 January 2019) (lead guitar)
Bobby Wood and Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Curt Allen, Pete Wade and Steve Gibson (rhythm guitar)
Pete Drake (Saturday 8 October 1932 – Friday 29 July 1988) (steel guitar, Dobro)
Ronnie Milsap (sleeve notes)
Bergen White (string arrangements)
In 1978, Margo Smith signed with Warner Brothers Records, and saw the release of ‘Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1978), , which was produced by Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You’ (written by Benny Davis and Ted Murray) (No.1 for two weeks in February / March 1978)
‘Little Things Mean A Lot’ (written by Carl Stutz and Edith Lindeman) (No.3, 1978)
‘It Only Hurts For A Little While’, which was written by Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993) and Fred Spielman (20 November 1906 – Friday 21 March 1997) (No.1 for one week in July 1978)
Margo Smith’s ‘Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1978) also included the following tracks:
‘Just Out of Reach (of My Two Open Arms)’, which was written by Virgil Freemont Stewart (5 August 1907 – Sunday 10 July 1988)
‘Make Love The Way We Used To’, which was written by Margo Smith and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017)
‘Ode To A Cheater’ (written by Margo Smith)
‘Your Sweet Lies’ (written by Jim Vest and David Chamberlain)
‘Don’t Squeeze My Charlie’ (written by Curtis Allen)
‘Memories Are Made of This’, which was written by Terry Gilkyson (17 June 1916 – Friday 15 October 1999), Richard Dehr (22 April 1913 – Sunday 8 October 1989) and Frank Miller (29 July 1918 – Tuesday 15 December 2015)
‘Breakin’ In A Brand New Broken Heart’, which was written by Howard Greenfield (Sunday 15 March 1936 – Tuesday 4 March 1986) and Jack Keller (Wednesday 11 November 1936 – Friday 1 April 2005)
In February 1979, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘A Woman’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1979), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Still A Woman’, which was written by Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993), Margo Smith and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (No.7, 1979)
‘If I Give My Heart To You’ (written by Jimmy Brewster, Jimmie Crane and Al Jacobs) (No.10, 1979)
Margo Smith’s ‘A Woman’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) also included the following tracks:
‘The Belle of Buttercup Lane’, which was written by Margo Smith and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993)
‘Don’t You Love Me Anymore’, which was written by Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993), Al Hoffman and Jerry Livingston
‘My Greatest Sin’, which was written by Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993)
‘Traces’ (written by James Cobb, Buddy Buie and Emory Gordy)
‘Ain’t We Just A Couple of Fools’, which was written by Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) and Stephen Allen Davis (Tuesday 4 October 1949 – Monday 26 December 2022)
‘Tennessee Sandman’, which was written by Margo Smith and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993)
‘We’d Better Love It Over’ (written by Mark Sherrill and Josh Whitmore)
‘You’re The Song’, which was written by Margo Smith and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993)
In October 1979, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘Just Margo’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1979), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Baby My Baby’, which was written by Margo Smith, Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993) (No.27, 1979)
‘The Shuffle Song’ (No.13, 1979)
Margo Smith’s ‘Just Margo’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1979) also included the following tracks:
‘Let’s Build A Fire’ (written by Peggy Forman)
‘He’s Lyin’ ‘, which was written by Margo Smith and Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993)
‘I’m Tying The Leaves Back On The Trees’, which was written by Mack David (Friday 5 July 1912 – Thursday 30 December 1993) and Margo Smith
‘Jesse’ (written by Janis Ian)
‘Love Is Why’ (written by Jay B. Loyd and Christina Carroll)
‘How Much of A Fool Can A Woman Be’
‘I Threw It All Away’
‘Move Over, Juanita’
‘I’d Rather Be Sorry’
‘Night Flight’
In September 1980, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘Diamonds & Chills’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘My Guy’ (written by Smokey Robinson) (No.43, 1980)
‘He Gives Me Diamonds, You Give Me Chills’ (written by Mary Ann Kennedy and Don Goodman) (No.52, 1980)
Margo Smith’s ‘Diamonds & Chills’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980) also included the following tracks:
‘Every Little Bit Hurts’ (written by Edward C. Cobb)
‘As Far As My Heart Can See’ (written by Johnny Slate and Larry Keith)
‘Let Me Be Her Tonight’ (written by Mary Ann Kennedy, Pam Rose and Don Goodman)
‘Any Way That You Want Me’ (written by Chip Taylor)
‘If You Remember Me’ (written by Carol Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch)
‘Ain’t No Need To Rush The Feeling’ (written by Eric Saxon)
‘I Just Can’t Say No To You’ (written by Parker McGee and Steven Gibson)
‘Love Me Goodbye’ (written by Mary Ann Kennedy, Pam Rose and Don Goodman)
In 1980, the track, ‘Cup of Tea’ (written by Harlan S. White), which was a duet with Rex Allen Jr., won nominations for ‘Top Duet of The Year’ from both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Music City News; the track, which reached No.12 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980, was included on Rex Allen Jr.‘s ‘The Cat’s In The Cradle’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980).
In 1981, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘My Heart Cries For You’, which was written by Carl Sigman (Friday 24 September 1909 – Tuesday 26 September 2000) and Percy Faith (Tuesday 7 April 1908 – Monday 9 February 1976); the track, which was a non-album single, reached No.72 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
In 1982, Margo Smith moved to Nashville and continued to release singles on several independent record labels with little success.
In 1983, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘Ridin’ High’ (Cameron Records, 1983), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Either You’re Married Or You’re Single’, which was written by Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008) and Tommy Rocco (No.64, 1982)
‘Could It Be I Don’t Belong Here Anymore’ (No.70, 1983)
‘Wedding Bells’ (written by Claude Boone) (No.78, 1983)
Margo Smith’s ‘Ridin’ High’ (Cameron Records, 1983) also included the following tracks:
‘Drive Me Crazy’
‘Without Angie’
‘Payback Is Hell’
‘Ridin’ High’ (written by Margo Smith and Richard Cammeron)
‘Where The Heart Leads, The Feet Must Follow’
‘Not Never, Not Just Now’
‘I’d Rather Be Your Used To Be Than Your Never Was’
In 1984 and 1985, Margo Smith saw the release of a number of non-album singles, including the following:
‘Please Tell Him That I Said Hello’ (written by Shep Stone and Dibbens) (No.63, 1984) (recorded for Moon Shine Records)
‘The Thin Ragged Edge’ (written by Larry Burton) / this track was released, on Bermuda Dunes Records, as a single in 1984, but it did not chart
‘Sittin’ on Santa’s Knee’ / this track was released as a single in 1984, but it did not chart
In 1985, Margo Smith saw the release, on Bermuda Dunes Records, of a non-album single; ‘Take Your Memory When You Go’, which was written by Rick Peoples and Byron Hill, did not chart.
‘All I Do Is Dream of You’ (written by A. Freed and N.H. Brown) (No.82, 1985)
‘Everyday People’ (No.63, 1985)
Margo Smith used the money from her advances at Warner Bros. Records to put her children through college, began a designer sweatshirt business in 1987 and made a commitment to spend more time with her family.
In 1987, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘The Best Yet’ (Playback Records, 1987), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Echo Me’ (No.77, 1988)
Awarded the title of ‘World Class Yodeller’, Margo Smith is also known for her amazing talent as a ‘yodeller’; her most popular yodel song, ‘I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart’, received national teleplay as a concept video.
Margo Smith has also recorded with Peter Hennin, the famous Swiss yodeller and Margo is considered to be in the class often referred to as ‘Master Yodeller’.
Margo Smith occasionally appears on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and TNN’s program, ‘Music City Tonight’, where her vivid personality and vocal style are welcomed and loved by the millions who view. Margo Smith also makes regular appearances at Dolly Parton’s Dollywood.
In 1991, Margo Smith and her daughter, Holly, brought their voices together and saw the release of ‘Just The Beginning’ (Homeland Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘I Know The Way To Him By Heart’
‘Tabernacle’
‘We Are Family’
‘God’s Kept Me All These Years’
‘Rise Up’
‘Rain Falls’
‘Cross Your Heart’
‘You Could See Heaven From Our Living Room’
‘Don’t Give Up’
‘Just The Beginning For Me’
In 1992, Margo Smith & Holly Smith saw the release of ‘Wishes’ (Homeland Records, 1992), which included the following tracks:
‘When The World Turns On Me’
‘Don’t Let The Devil Dance’
‘They See My Daddy In Me’
‘Daddy Never Lied’
‘Wishes’
‘Better Saved Than Sorry’
‘Don’t Kill The Wounded’
‘At The Feet of Jesus’
‘Love Is A Tool’
‘Church Bells’
Since then, Margo Smith & Holly Smith have had several No.1 Christian country records and were elected ‘Top Duet of The Year’ by The International Country Gospel Music Association in 1993 and 1994.
When the second annual Christian Country Music Association Awards were held in 1994, these lovely ladies were the first recipients of the ‘Vocal Duo of The Year’ Award.
In 2005, Margo Smith saw the release of ‘Nothing To Lose’ (Lamon Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:
‘Nothing To Lose’
‘Love The Sinner’
‘God Gave Me You’
‘Perfect’
‘We’re Getting Older’
‘When You’re Down To Nothing’
‘At The Feet of Jesus’ (written by Jerry Salley and Joel Lindsey)
‘Enjoy Your Day’
‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’
‘Everything Is Beautiful’
On Tuesday 23 January 2024, Margo Smith passed away following a stroke.
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