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 2024, 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 Thom Schuyler, which he submitted to this site on Monday 2 September 2024.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Thom Schuyler who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Thom Schuyler
This quote was submitted on Monday 2 September 2024.
‘During my 42 years on Music Row, few male singers captured the essence of authentic country music like Gene.
I was always a huge supporter, and tried hard to land a song on one of his records.
Still a fan and true admirer‘
Thank you, Thom Schuyler, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Thom Schuyler…
Thom Schuyler was born Thomas James Schuyler in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on Tuesday 10 June 1952, and is an acclaimed country music songwriter.
Thom Schuyler was, by trade, a carpenter, whose songwriting abilities were discovered by Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998), when he was making alterations to the latter’s recording studio.
Thom Schuyler has been active, as a singer and songwriter, in the country music industry since 1980, and has recorded for Capitol Records (as a solo artist), and MTM Records (as a member of Schuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet).
Levon Helm (Sunday 26 May 1940 – Thursday 19 April 2012) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Hurricane’, which was co-written with Keith Stegall and Stewart Harris (Sunday 13 February 1949 – Thursday 4 May 2023), and included the track on ‘American Son’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Don King recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Saddle The Stallion’ and included the track on ‘Lonely Hotel’ (Epic Records, 1980).
Leon Everette recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Hurricane’, which was co-written with Keith Stegall and Stewart Harris (Sunday 13 February 1949 – Thursday 4 May 2023), and included the track on ‘Hurricane’ (RCA Records, 1981); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981, and No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1981.
Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘I Don’t Know Where To Start’ and included the track on ‘Step By Step’ (Elektra Records, 1981); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart (where it stayed for three weeks) in 1981, and No.9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1981.
Lacy J. Dalton recorded Thom Schuyler’s ’16th Avenue’ and included the track on ’16th Avenue’ (Columbia Records, 1982); the track, which reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982, has been hailed as one of the all-time great country music records, and is the song most associated with Lacy J. Dalton.
Lacy J. Dalton‘s recording of Thom Schuyler’s ’16th Avenue’ was also included on ‘Somethin’ Special’ (Sony Music, 1990).
On Monday 28 April 2014, England’s Morello Records released Lacy J. Dalton‘s ’16th Avenue’ (Columbia Records, 1982), along with Lacy J. Dalton‘s ‘Takin’ It Easy’ (Columbia Records, 1981), as a special ‘2-for-1’ CD set (MRLL33).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Love Will Turn You Around’ (co-written with Kenny Rogers, David Malloy and Even Stevens) and included the track on ‘Love Will Turn You Around’ (Liberty Records, 1982); the track, which was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1982, No.1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1982, and No.13 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1982, was the theme song to Kenny Rogers’ 1982 film, ‘Six Pack’, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best Male Country Vocal Performance’.
Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Years After You’ and included the track on ‘Radio Romance’ (Elektra Records, 1982).
Tommy Overstreet (Friday 10 September 1937 – Monday 2 November 2015) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Love Will Turn You Around’, which was co-written with Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020), David Malloy and Even Stevens, and included the track on ‘Tommy Overstreet’s General Store Nuggets’ (51-West Records, 1982).
Tanya Tucker recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Until You’re Mine’ (co-written with David Malloy and Billy Walker) and included thee track on saw the release of ‘Changes’ (Arista Records, 1982).
Lacy J. Dalton recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘My Old Yellow Car’ and included the track on ‘Dream Baby’ (Columbia Records, 1983).
Moe Bandy recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Country Side’ and included the track on ‘Devoted To Your Memory’ (Columbia Records, 1982); this track was a duet with Becky Hobbs.
In 1983, Thom Schuyler signed a recording contract with Capitol Records, and saw the release of ‘Brave Heart’ (Capitol Records, 1983), which was produced by David Malloy, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘A Little At A Time’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Larry Byrom) (No.49, 1983)
‘Brave Heart’ (written by Thom Schuyler) (No.43, 1983)
Thom Schuyler’s ‘Brave Heart’ (Capitol Records, 1983) also included the following tracks:
‘Slow Dancing Girl’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Anthony Crawford)
‘Must I Cry’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
‘City Without A Heart’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Anthony Crawford)
’16th Avenue’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
‘No Good Reason’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Spady Brannan)
‘Easy Street’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
‘Two-Way Street’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
‘Acres of Pain’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
In December 1983, David Frizzell & Shelly West saw the release of ‘In Session’ (Viva Records, 1983); one of the tracks which was intended to be included was ‘I Fell In Love Again Last Night’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler).
Eddie Rabbitt (Thursday 27 November 1941 – Thursday 7 May 1998) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Nothing Like Falling In Love’ (co-written with Jim Schnaars) and included the track on ‘Greatest Hits, Volume II’ (Elektra Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1984, No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in February 1984, and No.38 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1984.
John Conlee recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Years After You’ and included the track on ‘Blue Highway’ (MCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984, and No.2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1984.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘My Old Yellow Car’ and included the track on ‘San Antone’ (EMI America Records,1984); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in early 1985, and was subsequently included on Dan Seals’ ‘The Best’ (Capitol Records, 1987.
Dan Seals re-recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘My Old Yellow Car’, as an acoustic version, and included it on ‘In A Quiet Room II’ (RDC Records, 1998).
Wendel Adkins recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Saddle The Stallion’ and included the track on ‘Cowboy Singer’ (Mill Records / Gilley’s Records, 1984).
The Forester Sisters (Kathy, June, Kim and Christy Forester) recorded Thom Schuyler’s “I Fell In Love Again Last Night’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘The Forester Sisters’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1985.
Crystal Gayle recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘A Little Bit Closer’ (co-written with Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy) and included the track on ‘Straight To The Heart’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986).
Dobie Gray (Friday 26 July 1940 – Tuesday 6 December 2011) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘From Where I Stand’ (co-written with Jennifer Kimball) and included the track on ‘From Where I Stand’ (Capitol Records / EMI Records, 1986).
In early 1986, Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Paul Overstreet formed the group S-K-O.
Signed to MTM Records, a record label, which was owned by Mary Tyler Moore (Tuesday 29 December 1936 – Wednesday 25 January 2017), S-K-O saw the release of ‘S-K-O’ (MTM Records, 1986), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You Can’t Stop Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler) (No.9, 1986)
‘Baby’s Got A New Baby’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Dan Tyler) (No.1 for one week in March 1987)
‘American Me’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Thom Schuyler) (No.16, 1987) / this track also reached No.35 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1987
Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Paul Overstreet‘s ‘S-K-O’ (MTM Records, 1986) also included the following tracks:
‘I Go Back’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
‘Trains Make Me Lonesome’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler)
‘Country Heart’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Larry Byrom)
‘A Little More Love’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Thom Schuyler)
‘Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right’ (written by J Fred Knobloch, Dan Tyler and Paul Overstreet)
‘Bitter Pill To Swallow’ (written by J Fred Knobloch)
‘Love Is The Hero’ (written by J Fred Knobloch, Thom Schuyler and Paul Overstreet)
Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Paul Overstreet‘s ‘S-K-O’ (MTM Records, 1986) reached No.36 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986.
When Paul Overstreet left S-K-O in 1987, in order to pursue a solo career, he was replaced by Craig Bickhardt; the group name was then changed to Schuyler, Knobloch & Bickhardt (S-K-B).
Michael Martin Murphey recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘A Long Line of Love’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Americana’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1987.
Michael Martin Murphey re-recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘A Long Line of Love’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Playing Favorites’ (Real West Production, 2001).
Judy Rodman recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘I Want A Love Like That’ (co-written with Janis Ian) and included the track on ‘A Place Called Love’ (MTM Records, 1987); the track, which reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987, featured background vocals from Janis Ian, Mary Ann Kennedy, Pam Rose, Thom Schuyler, Lisa Silver and Wendy Suits.
In 1987, Lacy J. Dalton saw the release of ‘Blue Eyed Blues’ (Columbia Records, 1987), which was a mix of new recordings and career highlights; two of the included tracks were ’16th Avenue’ (written by Thom Schuyler) and ‘My Old Yellow Car’ (written by Thom Schuyler).
On Monday 28 July 2014, England’s Morello Records released Lacy J. Dalton‘s ‘Blue Eyed Blues’ (Columbia Records, 1987), along with Lacy J. Dalton‘s ‘Highway Diner’ (Columbia Records, 1986), as a special ‘2-for-1’ CD set (MRLL38).
Barbara Mandrell recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Child Support’ and included it on ‘Sure Feels Good’ (EMI America Records, 1987); the track reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Tom Wopat recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘A Little Bit Closer’ (co-written with Pam Ross and Mary Ann Kennedy) and included the track on ‘A Little Bit Closer’ (EMI America Records, 1987); the track reached No.18 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
In 1988, Marty Haggard saw the release, on MTM Records, of ‘Trains Make Me Lonesome’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Paul Overstreet), a non-album single, which reached No.57 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
In 1988, S-K-B (Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Craig Bickhardt) saw the release of ‘No Easy Horses’ (MTM Records, 1988), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘No Easy Horses’ (written by Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Don Schlitz) (No.19, 1987) / this track also reached No.37 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1987
‘This Old House’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Craig Bickhardt) (No.24, 1987) / this track also reached No.27 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1987
‘Givers & Takers’ (written by Craig Bickhardt) (No.8, 1988) / this track also reached No.8 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1988
S-K-B (Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Craig Bickhardt)’s ‘No Easy Horses’ (MTM Records, 1988) also included the following tracks:
‘Too Good To Be Blue’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Craig Bickhardt)
‘People Still Fall In Love’ (written by Thom Schuyler)
‘Those Were The Days’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Don Schlitz)
‘Down In The Trenches of Love’ (written by Thom Schuyler and J Fred Knobloch)
‘The Way To Love’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Scott Miller)
‘You Take Me Home’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Craig Bickhardt)
‘Living Without You’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Kevin Welch)
‘American Steel’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and F.C. Collins)
In 1989, S-K-B (Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Craig Bickhardt) disbanded when their record label, MTM Records, which was owned by Mary Tyler Moore (Tuesday 29 December 1936 – Wednesday 25 January 2017), closed its doors.
Following the disbandment of S-K-B (Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Craig Bickhardt), Thom Schuyler continued to write songs, and was eventually made chairman of the Country Music Association (CMA).
Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Love Out Loud’ and included the track on ‘The Heart of It All’ (RCA Records, 1988); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in June 1989, and reached No.2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1989.
• On Monday 19 November 2012, England’s Morello Records released Earl Thomas Conley‘s ‘Greatest Hits & The Heart of It All’ (Morello Records, 2012) as a special 2-disc set (MRLL10), which featured fifteen chart hit singles, fourteen of which reached No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
• Earl Thomas Conley‘s recording of Thom Schuyler’s ‘Love Out Loud’ was also included on ‘Earl Thomas Conley’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2’ (RCA Records, 1990) and ‘The Essential Earl Thomas Conley’ (RCA Records, 1996).
Michael Martin Murphey recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Family Tree’ and included the track on ‘Land of Enchantment’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989).
The Marcy Brothers recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘People Still Fall In Love’ and included the track on ‘Missing You’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989).
The Rice Brothers – Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Ron Rice, Larry Rice (Sunday 24 April 1949 – Saturday 13 May 2006) and Wyatt Rice – recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘This Old House’ (co-written with Craig Bickhardt) and included the track on ‘The Rice Brothers’ (Rounder Records, 1989).
Randy Travis recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Point of Light’ (co-written with Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘High Lonesome’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991, and No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1991.
Linda Davis recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Years After You’ and included the track on her self-titled album, ‘Linda Davis’ (Liberty Records, 1992).
The Rarely Herd recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘A Long Line of Love’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Midnight Loneliness’ (Pinecastle Records, 1992).
Mike Auldridge (Friday 30 December 1938 – Saturday 29 December 2012) recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Trains Make Me Lonesome’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Treasures Untold’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1992).
George Strait recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Trains Make Me Lonesome’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Holding My Own’ (MCA Records, 1992).
Between 1992 and 1995, Thom Schuyler headed up RCA Records’ Nashville division; in that role, he signed singer Kenny Chesney, the band Lonestar, and also played a significant role in launching the careers of Martina McBride and Sara Evans. During this time, Thom Schuyler continued to write songs for Almo-Irving Music, administered several music catalogues and recorded a few independent albums.
In 1993, Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler teamed up again to write and produce ‘Precious Child: The Story of Christmas’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993), which was ‘The Story of Christmas Retold In Words By Thom Schuyler & Music by Craig Bickhardt‘, and which included the following tracks:
‘Unto Us A Child Is Born’ (written by Craig Bickhard and Thom Schuyler)
‘Mary & Joseph, Rejoice!’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘One More Generation’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Concerning Elizabeth’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Child In A Barren Land’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Concerning The Birth’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Adoration’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Part of Heaven’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘In The Dark of Night’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘When Heaven’s Calling You’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘So You Say That You Saw A Star’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Concerning The Flight’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘The Flight’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Light of Salvation’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Precious Child’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
Clint Black recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Life Gets Away’ (co-written with Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas) and included the track on ‘One Emotion’ (RCA Records, 1994); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995, and No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1995.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) re-recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘My Old Yellow Car’, as an acoustic version, and included it on ‘In A Quiet Room II’ (RDC Records, 1998); the original version of this track, which was included on Dan Seals’ ‘San Antone’ (EMI America Records,1984) and Dan Seals’ ‘The Best’ (Capitol Records, 1987), reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in early 1985.
Paul Overstreet recorded Thom Schuyler’s I Fell In Love Again Last Night’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘A Songwriter’s Project’ (Scarlett Moon Records, 1999).
Kathy Chiavola recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘From Where I Stand’ (co-written with Jennifer Kimball) and included the track on ‘From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute’ (My Label, 2001).
LeAnn Rimes recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘And It Feels Like’ (co-written with Sherena Dugani and Steve Robson) and included the track on ‘Whatever You Wanna’ (Asylum-Curb Records / London Recordings, 2006); the track reached No.22 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart in 2006, and No.24 on the Irish Singles Chart in 2006.
LeAnn Rimes recorded Thom Schuyler’s ‘Satisfied’ (co-written with LeAnn Rimes and Sheppard Soloman) and included the track on ‘Whatever You Wanna’ (Asylum-Curb Records / London Recordings, 2006).
Sunny Sweeney recorded Thom Schuyler’s ’16th Avenue’ and included the track on her debut album, ‘Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame’ (Big Machine Records, 2007), which was released (independently) on Friday 3 March 2006, and (nationally in the United States) on Tuesday 6 March 2007; the original version of this track was recorded by Lacy J. Dalton, who included it on ’16th Avenue’ (Columbia Records, 1982), and whose version reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
On Monday 28 April 2014, England’s Morello Records released Lacy J. Dalton‘s ’16th Avenue’ (Columbia Records, 1982), along with Lacy J. Dalton‘s ‘Takin’ It Easy’ (Columbia Records, 1981), as a special ‘2-for-1’ CD set (MRLL33).
In 2008, Thom Schuyler saw the release of ‘Prayer of A Desperate Man’ (Thom Schuyler Independent Release, 2008), which included the following tracks:
‘3/4 Me’
‘(Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With A) Kit Kat’
‘Prayer of A Desperate Man’
‘This Guitar’
‘Who Needs A Hummer?’
‘When She Danced With Me’
‘The Ancient Flood’
‘This Is America’
‘The Big Picture’
‘Too Drunk’
‘Talk To My Old Man’
‘Feed The Devil’
‘Starting To Go’
In 2011, Thom Schuyler was inducted into The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Eric Church recorded Thom Schuyler’s ’16th Avenue’ and included the track on ’61 Days In Church’ (EMI Records Nashville, 2018); the original version of this track was recorded by Lacy J. Dalton, who included it on ’16th Avenue’ (Columbia Records, 1982), and whose version reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
On Monday 28 April 2014, England’s Morello Records released Lacy J. Dalton‘s ’16th Avenue’ (Columbia Records, 1982), along with Lacy J. Dalton‘s ‘Takin’ It Easy’ (Columbia Records, 1981), as a special ‘2-for-1’ CD set (MRLL33).
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