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 2008, 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 Claire Lynch, which she submitted to this site on Wednesday 30 January 2008.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Claire Lynch who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Claire Lynch
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 30 January 2008.
‘Gene Watson’s rich country voice has always conveyed taste and dignity.
He’s genuine and true!’
Thank you, Claire Lynch, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Claire Lynch…
Claire Lynch is a native of Poughkeepsie, New York; her family moved to the tiny North Alabama town of Hazel Green, which is about two hours south of Nashville, when Claire was twelve years old.
Inspired by the pop songs of Joni Mitchell and The Beatles, Claire Lynch sang as a youngster in an informal trio with her sisters.
In her late teens, Claire Lynch was deeply inspired by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s landmark album, ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ (United Artists Records, 1972).
Claire Lynch then heard her first bluegrass band, The McLain Family Band, and was immediately smitten by this genre of music.
Claire Lynch met her future husband, Larry Lynch, while attending high school.
Following graduation, Claire Lynch worked at an insurance agency, while Larry Lynch attended University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
In 1973, multi-instrumentalist Larry Lynch formed Hickory Wind and Claire Lynch was invited to become their lead singer.
Hickory Wind landed a ‘house-band’ job in Birmingham, Alabama and renamed themselves Front Porch String Band. Over the next seven years, Claire and Larry Lynch, who were married in 1976, and Front Porch String Band, became one of the hardest-working groups in Alabama.
In 1975, Larry Lynch borrowed $1,000 and made ‘Smilin’ At You’, the first Front Porch String Band album.
One year later, in 1976, six hours in a recording studio resulted in the ‘Country Rain’ album. Both releases, however, sank without a trace.
But, at a festival appearance, Claire & Larry Lynch met John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019), a former member of Seldom Scene, who had moved to Alabama in the hope of finding some musical soul-mates.
In 1981, Front Porch String Band saw the release of ‘Front Porch String Band’ (Rebel Records, 1981), a self-titled, nationally-distributed album on Rebel Records, which included the following tracks:
‘If You’re Ever In Oklahoma’, which was written by J.J. Cale (Monday 5 December 1938 – Friday 26 July 2013)
‘Hearts Against The Wind’ (written by John David Souther)
‘Living In Our Country World’ (written by Mark Fair)
‘Come Unto Me’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘The Girl I Love’ (written by Jake Landers)
‘The Singer’ (written by Neal Allen)
‘Go My Way’, which was written by Gordon Lightfoot (Thursday 17 November 1938 – Sunday 1 May 2023)
‘Hills of Alabam’ (written by Mark Fair and Claire Lynch)
‘Back To My Love’
‘Grant’s Mill’ (written by Larry Lynch)
‘Wabash Cannonball’, which was written by Alvin Pleasant (A.P.) Delaney Carter (15 December 1891 – Monday 7 November 1960)
‘Daddy Keeps On Plowin’ (written by Mark Fair)
In 1982, Claire Lynch saw the release of her solo debut album, ‘Breakin’ It’ (Ambush Records, 1982), which included the following tracks:
‘I Can’t Get You Off of My Mind’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘I’ll Never Grow Tired of You’, which was written by Carter Stanley (Thursday 27 August 1925 – Thursday 1 December 1966)
‘Somebody Loves You Honey’
‘He Rode All The Way To Texas’, which was written by John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019)
‘Livin’ In the Name of Love’ (written by Jim Rushing)
‘Breakin’ It’ (written by Mark Germino)
‘Heart Made of Stone’ (written by Mark Fair)
‘Old By & By’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Listen To A Country Song’ (written by Al Garth and Jim Messina)
‘Once In A Lifetime’ (written by Eric Kaz)
‘Feelings of Love’ (written by Kostas)
When Claire Lynch became pregnant with the first of two children in 1982, she and Larry disbanded Front Porch String Band and settled in northern Alabama. Larry Lynch returned to college to earn a degree in accounting and Claire Lynch took a job in university administration.
For Claire Lynch, retirement was short-lived. John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019) introduced her to Nashville songwriter, Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014), who took an interest in Claire Lynch’s song-writing abilities.
It was John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019) who encouraged Kathy Mattea to record ‘Hills of Alabam’ (written by Mark Fair and Claire Lynch), which Kathy Mattea included on ‘Willow In The Wind’ (Mercury Records, 1989).
John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019) also persuaded Patty Loveless to record Claire Lynch’s ‘Some Morning Soon’ (co-written with Larry Lynch); the track was included on Patty Loveless‘ ‘On Down The Line’ (MCA Records, 1990), and featured background vocals from Claire Lynch and Karen Staley.
Patty Loveless‘ ‘On Down The Line’ (MCA Records, 1990) also included ‘Overtime’ (written by Kostas), which featured background vocals from Vince Gill, Kostas and Claire Lynch, and ‘I’ve Got To Stop Loving You (& Start Living Again)’ (written by Paul Kennerley), which featured background vocals from Vince Gill and Claire Lynch.
As a result of the release of her solo debut album, ‘Breakin’ It’ (Ambush Records, 1981), Claire Lynch soon found herself commuting to Nashville to sing backup vocals on a number of high profile country music albums, including the following:
Patty Loveless‘ ‘If My Heart Had Windows’ (MCA Records, 1988)
Skip Ewing‘s ‘Coast of Colorado’ (MCA Records, 1988)
Patty Loveless‘ ‘Honky Tonk Heart’ (MCA Records, 1988)
Karen Staley‘s ‘Wildest Dreams’ (MCA Records, 1989)
Irene Kelley‘s ‘Simple Path’ (Relentless Nashville Records, 2001)
In 1991, Claire Lynch and Larry Lynch reformed a new version of Front Porch String Band (with Andy Meginniss and Herb Trotman) and saw the release of their comeback album, ‘Lines & Traces’ (Rebel Records, 1991) on Rebel Records, a mainstream bluegrass record label; the album included the following tracks:
‘Hard Times (Come Again No More)’, which was written by Stephen Foster (4 July 1826 – 13 January 1864)
‘I Found You’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Natchez Trace’ (written by Pierce Pettis)
‘Looks Like Rain’ (written by Karen Staley)
Medley: ‘New York To Dixie’ / ‘Welcome To New York’ / ‘Breakin’ It’ (written by Bill Emerson)
‘Kennesaw Line’
‘How Much Does It Cost To Ride This Train?’ (written by Don Singleton)
‘In Your Eyes’ (written by Crow Johnson)
‘Some Morning Soon’ (written by Claire Lynch and Larry Lynch)
‘Home Folks’ (written by Carl Jackson)
‘Kemp’s Jig’ (traditional)
‘Will You Be Lonesome, Too’, which was written by Alton Delmore (Friday 25 December 1908 – Monday 8 June 1964)
‘Where Dear Friends Will Never Part’ (written by Keith Little)
In 1991, Rebel Records, a mainstream bluegrass record label, also re-released the first Front Porch String Band album from 1981.
In 1992, Claire Lynch was offered her first Music Row staff song-writing contract.
Stephanie Davis recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Moonlighter’ and included the track on ‘Stephanie Davis’ (Elektra Records / WEA Records. 1993), her self titled debut album for the label; Stephanie Davis dazzled thousands with the song when she performed it as the opening act for Garth Brooks in 1993.
In late 1993, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Friends For A Lifetime’ (Brentwood Records, 1993), a Gospel album, which was produced by Bil VornDick (Thursday 9 March 1950 – Tuesday 5 July 2022), and received glowing reviews in the music press; the album, which was subsequently re-issued in 1995, included the following tracks:
‘Lead Me On’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Who Do You Know’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Your Presence Is My Favourite Gift’ (written by Hershey Reeves)
‘Go & Do The Same’ (written by Pamela Brown Hayes and Claire Lynch)
‘Paul & Peter Walked’ (written by Chris Stuart)
‘There Is A Fountain’ (written by Williams Cowper and Mason) (traditional)
‘God Spoke His Name’ (written by Chris Stuart)
‘Friends For A Lifetime’ (Song for Kegan) (written by Claire Lynch and Susan Stewart)
‘My Name Is Judas’
‘He Leadeth Me’ (written by William B. Bradbury (Public Domain) and Joseph H. Gilmore)
‘Somewhere Above’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Between The Two of Them’ (written by James Michael Cates and Mickey Cates)
‘After The Storm’ (written by Pam Daley)
Seldom Scene recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Some Morning Soon’ (co-written with Larry Lynch) and included the track on ‘Like We Used To Be’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1994).
In May 1995, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Moonlighter’ (Rounder Records, 1995), which was produced by Bil VornDick (Thursday 9 March 1950 – Tuesday 5 July 2022); the album was released by the highly respected Rounder Records label, and was nominated for a Grammy Award as ‘Best Bluegrass Album’.
Claire Lynch’s ‘Moonlighter’ (Rounder Records, 1995) included the following tracks:
‘Second Wind’ (written by Claire Lynch and Pamela Brown Hayes)
‘Life Without You’ (written Keith Little and H. Waller III)
‘We Should Only Have Time For Love’ (written by Jim Rushing and Wayland Patton)
‘Moonlighter’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Children of Abraham’ (written by Claire Lynch and Larry Lynch)
‘Pee Wee & Fern’, which was written by Mel Besher and Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011)
‘Bring Back The Good Times’ (written by Claire Lynch and Kevin Williamson)
‘Thibodaux’ (written by Chris Stuart)
‘My Heart Is A Diamond’ (written by Scott Phelps and Sonya Yancy)
‘Alabama State of Mind’ (written by Claire Lynch and Hershey Reeves)
‘Further In The Hole’ (written by Randy Handley and Mike Dowling)
On Tuesday 5 August 1997, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Silver & Gold’ (Rounder Records, 1997), which included the following tracks:
‘If Wishes Were Horses’ (written by Gretchen Peters)
‘Hey, Lonesome’ (written by Sam Humphrey and Jimmy Martin)
‘Silver & Gold’ (written by Claire Lynch and Irene Kelley)
‘Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring’ (written by Henry Hipkens)
‘Sweetheart, Darlin’ of Mine’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘I’m Goin’ Up’ (written by Kostas and Wally Wilson)
‘Death Angel’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Safe Haven’ (written by Skip Ewing and Paul Overstreet)
‘Hitchcock Railway’ (written by Don Dunn and Tony McCashen)
‘Out Among The Stars’ (written by Adam Mitchell)
‘Wednesday’s Child’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Fair Shake’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016), Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd
On Tuesday 11 April 2000, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Lovelight’ (Rounder Records, 2000), which included the following tracks:
‘I’m Movin’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014)
‘I Don’t Have To Dream’ (written by Randy Archer and Claire Lynch)
‘Lovelight’ (written by Pamela Brown Hayes and Claire Lynch)
‘Jealousy’ (written by Claire Lynch and Irene Kelley)
‘Missionary Ridge’ (written by Fred Koller and Pierce Pettis)
‘Blue Water Holler’ (written by Jess Leary and Claire Lynch)
‘Stranger Things Have Happened’ (written by Henry Hipkens)
‘Savannah’ (written by Tim Stafford and Bobby Starnes)
‘He Don’t Like To Talk About It’ (written by Jennifer Kimball and Claire Lynch)
‘Sweethearts Again’ (written by Leslie Tucker)
‘These Flowers (For Paw Paw)’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Keep My Love There (While I’m Gone)’ (written by Irene Kelley and Claire Lynch)
On Tuesday 30 January 2001, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Out In The Country’ (Copper Creek Records, 2001), which was a re-issue of ‘Breakin’ It’ (Ambush Records, 1982), and included the following tracks:
‘I Can’t Get You Off of My Mind’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘I’ll Never Grow Tired of You’, which was written by Carter Stanley (Thursday 27 August 1925 – Thursday 1 December 1966)
‘Somebody Loves You Honey’
‘He Rode All The Way To Texas’, which was written by John Starling (Tuesday 26 March 1940 – Thursday 2 May 2019)
‘Livin’ In The Name of Love’ (written by Jim Rushing)
‘Breakin’ It’ (written by Mark Germino)
‘Heart Made of Stone’ (written by Mark Fair)
‘Old By & By’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Listen To A Country Song’ (written by Al Garth and Jim Messina)
‘Once In A Lifetime’ (written by Eric Kaz)
‘Feelings of Love’ (written by Kostas)
Irene Kelley recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Scorns of Time’ (co-written with Irene Kelley) and included the track on ‘Simple Path’ (Madacy Entertainment / Relentless Nashville Records, 2001).
Irene Kelley recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Jealousy’ (co-written with Irene Kelley) and included the track on ‘Simple Path’ (Madacy Entertainment / Relentless Nashville Records, 2001).
Kathy Chiavola recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Hills of Alabam’ (co-written with Mark Fair) and included the track on ‘From Where I Stand: A Personal Tribute’ (My Label, 2001).
Beccy Cole recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Friends For A Lifetime’ (Song for Kegan) (co-written with Susan Stewart) and included the track on ‘Wild At Heart’ (ABC Country / Universal Music Australia, 2001).
Karen Lynne recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Second Wind’ (co-written with Pamela Brown Hayes) and included the track on ‘Second Wind’ (Shoestring Records, 2003).
Irene Kelley recorded Claire Lynch’s ‘Highway’ (co-written with Irene Kelley) and included the track on ‘Thunderbird’ (Me & My Records, 2004).
On Tuesday 28 March 2006, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘New Day’ (Rounder Records, 2006), which was produced by Claire Lynch, and included the following tracks:
‘Be Ready to Sail’ (written by Pat Alger and Austin Cunningham)
‘Train Long Gone’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
‘Love will Find You Again’ (written by Pierce Pettis and Lindy Robbins)
‘Up This Hill & Down’ (written by Richard D. Staedtler)
‘Down in The Valley’ (written by Morgane Hayes, Jess Leary and Liz Rose)
‘Fallin’ in Love’ (written by Henry Hipkens)
‘Long After I’m Gone’ (written by Pat Alger and Claire Lynch)
‘Leavin’ On That Evening Train’
‘Only Passing Through’ (written by Mac McAnally)
‘White Train’ (written by Peter Holsapple)
‘River of Dreams’ (written by Jess Leary and Claire Lynch)
‘I Believe In Forever’ (written by Claire Lynch)
Personnel involved in the recording of Claire Lynch’s ‘New Day’ (Rounder Records, 2006) included the following:
Claire Lynch (lead vocals, guitar)
Jim Hurst (background vocals, guitar)
David Harvey (background vocals, mandolin)
Missy Raines (upright bass)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Alison Brown
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
On Tuesday 9 October 2007, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Crowd Favourites’ (Rounder Records, 2007), which included the following tracks:
‘Train Long Gone’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
‘Day That Lester Died’ (written by Claire Lynch) / this was a newly recorded track, the original version of which was included on Mark Newton’s ‘Follow Me Back To The Fold: A Tribute To Women In Bluegrass’ (Rebel Records, 2000)
‘Fallin’ In Love’ (written by Henry Hipkens)
‘Hills of Alabam’ (written by Mark Fair and Claire Lynch) / this was a newly recorded track, the original version of which was included on Front Porch String Band’s ‘Lines & Traces’ (Rebel Records, 1990)
‘If Wishes Were Horses’ (written by Gretchen Peters)
‘Your Presence Is My Favourite Gift’ (written by Hershey Reeves)
‘Jealousy’ (written by Claire Lynch and Irene Kelley)
‘Silver & Gold’ (written by Claire Lynch and Irene Kelley)
‘Sweetheart, Darlin’ of Mine’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Kennesaw Line’ (written by Don Oja-Dunnaway) / this was a newly recorded track, the original version of which was included on Mark Newton’s ‘Follow Me Back To The Fold: A Tribute To Women In Bluegrass’ (Rebel Records, 2000)
‘Thibodaux’ (written by Chris Stuart)
‘Wabash Cannonball’ / this was a newly recorded track, the original version of which was included on Front Porch String Band’s ‘Lines & Traces’ (Rebel Records, 1990)
‘He Don’t Like To Talk About It’ (written by Jennifer Kimball and Claire Lynch)
‘Friends For A Lifetime’ (Song For Kegan) (written by Claire Lynch and Susan Stewart)
On Tuesday 20 January 2009, Donna Ulisse saw the release of ‘Walk This Mountain Down’ (Hadley Music Group, 2009); two of the included tracks, ‘Dust To Dust’ (written by Marc Rossi) and ‘Levi Stone’ (written by Marc Rossi and Donna Ulisse), featured Claire Lynch on harmony vocals.
On Tuesday 21 April 2009, Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014) saw the release of ‘Love Filling Station’ (Appleseed Recordings, 2009); one of the included tracks was ‘Loose Talk’, which was written by Freddie Hart (Tuesday 21 December 1926 – Saturday 27 October 2018) and Ann Lucas, which featured guest vocals from Claire Lynch.
Carl Smith (Tuesday 15 March 1927 – Saturday 16 January 2010) recorded the original version of ‘Loose Talk’, which was written by Freddie Hart (Tuesday 21 December 1926 – Saturday 27 October 2018) and Ann Lucas, and included the track on ‘Carl Smith’ (Columbia Records, 1955); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for seven weeks in January / February 1955.
On Tuesday 25 August 2009, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Whatcha Gonna Do’ (Rounder Records, 2009), which included the following tracks:
‘Great Day In The Mornin’ (written by Dana Cooper)
‘Highway’ (written by Irene Kelley and Claire Lynch)
‘Mockingbird’s Voice’ (written by Kent Agee)
‘Face To Face’ (written by Claire Lynch and Donna Ulisse)
‘That’s What Makes You Strong’, which was written by Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014) / this track was a duet with Jesse Winchester
‘Whatcha Gonna Do’ (written by Russ Pahl and Rich Wayland)
‘Crazy Train’ (written by Georgia Middleman and Anna Owens)
‘Canary’s Song’ (written by Garth Brooks and Buddy Mondlock)
‘My Florida Sunshine’
‘Widows Weeds’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘Barbed Wire Boys’ (written by Susan Werner)
‘Woods of Sipsey’ (written by Claire Lynch)
On Tuesday 28 May 2013, Claire Lynch saw the release of ‘Dear Sister’ (Compass Records, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘How Many Moons’ (written by Don Dunn and Claire Lynch)
‘Doin’ Time’ (written by Al Anderson and Sarah Siskind)
‘Once The Teardrops Start To Fall’ (written by Craig Fuller and Claire Lynch)
‘Need Someone’ (written by Irene Kelley and Claire Lynch)
‘Dear Sister’ (written by Louisa Branscomb and Claire Lynch) / this track won the 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association Award for ‘Song of The Year’
‘I’ll Be Alright Tomorrow’, which was written by Peter Göbel and Bobby Osborne (Monday 7 December 1931 – Tuesday 27 June 2023)
‘Patch of Blue’ (written by Claire Lynch)
‘That Kind of Love’ (written by Pierce Pettis)
‘Everybody Knows I’ve Been Crying’ (written by Sarah Siskind)
‘Buttermilk Road / The Arbours’ (written by Martha Scanlan and Mark Schatz)
Claire Lynch’s ‘Dear Sister’ (Compass Records, 2013) reached No.9 on the Billboard Bluegrass Albums Chart in 2013.
• Visit Claire Lynch’s official site at clairelynch.com