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 Ricky Davis, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 1 May 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Ricky Davis who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Ricky Davis
This quote was submitted on Sunday 1 May 2005.
‘Gene Watson is one of the greatest country singers to have ever lived. He sings every song with all of his passion and emotion that is country music.
Gene Watson has always been consistently country with the greatest of honky tonk flavour; and that can only come from someone who lives and breaths real country music.
If anyone ever wants to know how to sing a country song, just listen to the great Gene Watson, and then you will know’
Thank you, Ricky Davis, for your support of Gene Watson.
Ricky Davis is best known as the steel guitar player for Dale Watson.
Ricky Davis grew up listening to the music of Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975).
However, Ricky Davis had no real interest in becoming a musician until, one day in the early 1980s, he heard Ricky Skaggs’ ‘Cryin’ My Heart Out Over You’, a song which was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in April / May 1982; the track was included on Ricky Skaggs’ ‘Waitin’ For The Sun to Shine’ (Sugar Hill Records / Epic Records, 1981).
Ricky Davis’ steel guitar influences include Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015), Lloyd Green, Hal Rugg (Tuesday 21 July 1936 – Tuesday 9 August 2005), Jimmy Day (Tuesday 9 January 1934 – Friday 22 January 1999), Pete Drake (Saturday 8 October 1932 – Friday 29 July 1988), John Hughey (Wednesday 27 December 1933 – Sunday 18 November 2007), and all the various steel players who played with Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975).
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