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 2006, 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 Kathy Chiavola, which she submitted to this site on Wednesday 31 May 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Kathy Chiavola who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Kathy Chiavola
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 31 May 2006.
‘Gene Watson is the definition of a great country singer; there is none better.
He’s the real deal, a one of a kind treasure who possesses gorgeous tone, great phrasing and technique, the life experience to communicate emotion and connect in a masterful way’
Thank you, Kathy Chiavola, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Kathy Chiavola…
Kathy Chiavola, who was born in Chicago and raised in Kansas City, Missouri has had a very eclectic musical background. Kathy Chiavola grew up listening to classical music, then folk music and then joined a rock & roll band. Kathy Chiavola has also dabbled with opera music; she then discovered bluegrass music.
Kathy Chiavola was awarded a scholarship to Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where she earned her Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in voice. Kathy Chiavola later studied in a doctoral program at Indiana University with Metropolitan Opera star Eileen Farrell and then moved to Nashville in 1980.
Kathy Chiavola worked with The Doug Dillard Band, Vassar Clements (Wednesday 25 April 1928 – Tuesday 16 August 2005), Country Gazette, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor before forming her own group.
Kathy Chiavola’s sound is acoustic; a delightful combination of traditional country music and bluegrass music, with a little blues thrown into the mix.
Kathy Chiavola’s debut album, ‘Labor of Love’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1993 / United Kingdom: Ragged But Right Records, 1993), garnered unanimous critical acclaim in 1993 when it was released on My Label in the United States; in England, ‘Labor of Love’ was released by London’s Ragged But Right Records, which was a division of Music Farm Limited.
Kathy Chiavola’s ‘Labor of Love’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1993 / England: Ragged But Right Records, 1993) gathered unanimous critical acclaim upon its release, and included the following tracks:
‘Well All Right’
‘A Woman In Love’ (written by Peter Rowan)
‘A Man After My Own Heart’
‘Cry Cry Darlin’, which was written by Jimmy C. Newman (Monday 29 August 1927 – Saturday 21 June 2014) and Joseph Denton ‘Jay’ Miller (Friday 5 May 1922 – Saturday 23 March 1996)
‘Traveling At Night’ (written by Martha Trachtenberg)
‘The Passing of The Train’
‘A Fool Such As I’
‘Lost Dog Blues’
‘Labor of Love’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’
‘Distant Melody’
‘Faithless Love’ (written by John David Souther)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Chiavola’s ‘Labor of Love’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1993 / England: Ragged But Right Records, 1993) included the following:
Larry Paxton and Edgar Meyer (bass)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Steve Turner (drums)
Vince Gill (electric guitar)
Stuart Duncan and Mark O’Connor (fiddle, mandolin)
Carl Jackson (guitar)
Kathy Chiavola (guitar, vocals, harmony vocals)
Wayland Patton (harmony vocals)
Gary Smith (piano, keyboards)
Kathy Chiavola’s ‘Labor of Love’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1993 / England: Ragged But Right Records, 1993) was added to the playlist on England’s BBC Radio 2, and was London’s Tower Record’s No.1 country music CD for two weeks in September 1993; the album reached No.2 on England’s country specialist dealer chart.
In 1993, Kathy Chiavola was listener voted ‘Best New Female Recorded Act of The Year’ by country music radio in South Australia.
Kathy Chiavola contributed ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ to the compilation album, ‘A Picture of Hank: The New Bluegrass Way’ (Mercury Records, 1995), a bluegrass music album, which was a tribute project to Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953).
In 1995, Kathy Chiavola was voted ‘Outstanding Background Vocalist’ in The Nashville Music Awards.
Kathy Chiavola has sung on hundreds of recordings with Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998), Kathy Mattea, Garth Brooks, Emmylou Harris and Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996).
In 1995 / 1996, Kathy Chiavola saw the release of ‘The Harvest’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1995 / England: Demon Records, 1996), which included the following tracks:
‘Won’t Be Long’ (written by J. Leslie McFarland)
‘Baby Blue Eyes’, which was written by Jim Eanes (Thursday 6 December 1923 – Tuesday 21 November 1995) / this track featured harmony vocals from Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011)
‘Shenandoah Valley Waltz’, which was written by Clyde Moody (Sunday 19 September 1915 – Friday 7 April 1989) and Robert Russell ‘Chubby’ Wise (Saturday 2 October 1915 – Saturday 6 January 1996)
‘Will You Love Me Still’ (written by Kathy Chiavola and Elizabeth Hill) / this track featured harmony vocals from Emmylou Harris
‘Stay Away From Me’, which was written by Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996) / this track, which featured Bill Monroe on duet vocals and mandolin, is believed to be Bill Monroe’s last vocal recording
‘The Big Picture’ (written by Kathy Chiavola and Stephanie Brown)
‘Thirty Years of Tears’ (written by John Hiatt) / this track featured harmony vocals from Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999)
‘No End of Love’, which was written by John Hartford (Thursday 30 December 1937 – Monday 4 June 2001)
‘Dance’ (written by Bob Lucas)
‘One Hundred Miles’ (written by Chris While) / this track featured harmony vocals from Vince Gill
‘I Am A Pilgrim’ (traditional / arranged by Kathy Chiavola) / this track featured Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) on lead guitar
‘Pilgrims On The Way’ (written by Marcus Hummon)
‘The Harvest’ (written by Peter Rowan) / this track featured harmony vocals from Vince Gill
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Chiavola’s ‘The Harvest’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1995 / England: Demon Records, 1996) included the following:
Butch Robins, Béla Fleck and Mark Schatz (banjo)
Kurt Storey, Mark Schatz and Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) (bass)
Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999) (fiddle)
Kathy Chiavola, Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999) and Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020) (guitar)
Emmylou Harris, Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011), John Cowan, Kathy Chiavola, Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999), Vince Gill and Wayne Southards (harmony vocals)
Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) (lead guitar)
Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996), Brent Truitt and Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999) (mandolin)
Kathy Chiavola (percussion, rhythm guitar)
Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996) (vocals)
Kathy Chiavola’s ‘The Harvest’ (United States: My Label Nashville, 1995 / England: Demon Records, 1996) was hailed as one of the top five Bluegrass albums of 1996.
It was also in 1996 when Kathy Chiavola was a special guest vocalist on the title track of The Rarely Herd’s ‘Pure Homemade Love’ (Pinecastle Records, 1996); the track also featured the lead vocals of Jim Stack.
In 2001, Kathy Chiavola saw the release of her third album, ‘From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute’ (My Label, 2001), which was Kathy Chiavola’s heartfelt tribute to her friend, and wonderful fiddle player, Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999), who passed away, at the age of 38, on Tuesday 29 June 1999.
In 2001, Kathy Chiavola saw the release of ‘From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute’ (My Label, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘Goin’ Away Party’, which was written by Cindy Walker (Saturday 20 July 1918 – Thursday 23 March 2006)
‘Cajun Blues’ (written by Kathy Chiavola and Elizabeth Hill)
‘Too Far Gone’, which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015)
‘Across The Great Divide’, which was written by Kate Wolf (Tuesday 27 January 1942 – Wednesday 10 December 1986)
‘Last Words’ (written by Mark Graham)
‘Thirsty in the Rain’ (written by Peter Rowan)
‘My Brother Jim’ (written by Bob Lucas)
‘Starting All Over Again’ (written by Chris While)
‘Senza Parole’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Kingdom Come’ (written by Pat Donohue)
‘Stop Me’, which was written by Bill Caswell (passed away on Friday 17 February 2023)
‘Hills of Alabam’ (written by Claire Lynch and Mark Fair)
‘From Where I Stand’ (written by Thom Schuyler and Jennifer Kimball)
‘I Will Carry On’ (written by Kathy Chiavola and Janey Clewer)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Chiavola’s ‘From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute’ (My Label, 2001) included the following:
Randy Howard (1961 – Tuesday 29 June 1999)
Brent Truitt
David Grier
Mike Bub
Rickie Simpkins
John Cowan
Adie Gray
J.D. Blair
Janey Clewer
Larry Perkins
Carlo Aonzo
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997)
In 2006, Kathy Chiavola saw the release of ‘Somehow’ (My Label Nashville, 2006), which was Kathy Chiavola’s first recording of all original songs, incorporating diverse influences, from Bluegrass, blues, jazz, Latin to country, with an extraordinary cast of musicians, including Victor Wooten, Edgar Meyer, Darrell Scott and Stuart Duncan.
Kathy Chiavola’s ‘Somehow’ (My Label Nashville, 2006) included the following tracks:
‘Makin’ New Memories’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Azalea Waltz’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Missin’ You’ (written by Kathy Chiavola and Elizabeth Hill)
‘I Wouldn’t Be Here’ (written by Kathy Chiavola and Lorna Hill)
‘Possom & Pearl’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Near You’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Edgar’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘What’ll I Do With This Love’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘You Blew It Baby’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Girl with a Mission’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘I’ll Rest My Case’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Italy Calling’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
‘Somehow’ (written by Kathy Chiavola)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Chiavola’s ‘Somehow’ (My Label Nashville, 2006) included the following:
Richard Bailey
Butch Baldassari
Bucky Baxter
Sam Bocco
José Luis ‘Chuscales’ Valle Fajardo
Janey Clewer
Jeff Coffin
John Cowan
Dennis Crouch
Stuart Duncan
Terry Eldredge
Byron House
Rob Ickes
Barbara Lamb
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021)
Edgar Meyer
Joey Misculen
Darrell Scott
Brent Truitt
Sharon & Cheryl White
Resse Winans
Victor Wooten
Francisco ‘Yiyi’ Orozco Fernandez
Kathy Chiavola has toured the United States, England, Europe and extensively in Japan, and was the first Bluegrass artist to perform in the Faroe Islands.
• Visit Kathy Chiavola’s official site at kathychiavola.com