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 Jimmy Melton, which he submitted to this site on Monday 6 October 2008.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jimmy Melton who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jimmy Melton
This quote was submitted on Monday 6 October 2008.
‘I think Gene Watson has to be considered in the top three country singers of all time…right up there with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
He’s been my favourite since I was a kid listening to him on the tractor radio and going to many of his concerts.
His live performances are simply the best in the business and I’ve been in the business a while myself.
I love Gene’s singing so much that I tried my best to copy his phrasing on a song I wrote a few years back called ‘The Coast of Texas‘ (co-written with Dale Dodson).
I sang the demo and, when Gene heard it, he said ‘that’s just the way I’m gonna sing it’, and he did (except he beat me on it!).
Hearing Gene Watson’s voice on something I wrote is one of the biggest thrills of my life as a songwriter…I’m still his biggest fan’
Thank you, Jimmy Melton, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jimmy Melton…
Jimmy Melton was born Jimmy Edward Melton on Tuesday 22 August 1967 and began his career as a musician at the age of eight when his father taught him how to play the guitar.
Jimmy Melton later learned how to play the banjo and, at the age of twelve, he became one of the youngest performers ever to appear on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
It was soon thereafter that Jimmy Melton was invited to appear with guitar legend Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) on ‘Pop Goes The Country’, a popular country music series on television.
It was also at this time when Jimmy Melton had the opportunity to perform with artists he considered heroes, including bluegrass music legends Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996) and Earl Scruggs (Sunday 6 January 1924 – Wednesday 28 March 2012).
By the time he reached his late teens, Jimmy Melton had spent the greater part of ten years touring various summer bluegrass festivals and fairs.
Jimmy Melton moved on from the bluegrass music scene in his early twenties, formed a country band, bought a big PA system and played the county fair and dance-hall circuit in and around his native west Tennessee.
Jimmy Melton has dabbled in song-writing as far back as he can recall, so he moved to Nashville in order to pursue his career.
In 1996, Jimmy Melton landed his first publishing deal with Murrah Music, which was owned by Hall of Fame songwriter, Roger Murrah.
Jimmy Melton then moved on to write for another Hall of Famer, the legendary Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), an opportunity which gave Jimmy Melton a further opportunity to hone his craft with one of the greatest writers within the country music genre.
Jimmy Melton entered into a new publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing in Nashville and began working on building a catalogue there.
Jimmy Melton also worked as a session musician, playing on many albums, as well as his own recordings.
Jimmy Melton’s original compositions have been recorded by a stellar line-up of artists which reads like a who’s who of country music, including Hank Williams Jr., Mark Chesnutt, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020), Neal Coty, Steve Fox, Gene Watson, Ken Mellons, Chely Wright, Amber Dotson, Kevin Denney, Brian McComas, Craig Morgan, Trent Willmon, Tracy Lawrence, Dierks Bentley, Shannon Walker, Dean Brody, Ash Bowers, Joe Nichols and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
Chely Wright recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Sea of Cowboy Hats’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chely Wright) and included the track on ‘Woman In The Moon’ (Polydor Records, 1994); the track reached No.56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994.
Chely Wright recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘He Don’t Do Bars Anymore’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chely Wright) and included the track on ‘Woman In The Moon’ (Polydor Records, 1994).
Chely Wright recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘The Last Supper’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chely Wright) and included the track on ‘Woman In The Moon’ (Polydor Records, 1994).
Ken Mellons recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Lookin’ In The Same Direction’ (co-written with Ken Mellons and Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Ken Mellons’ (Epic Records, 1994).
Ken Mellons recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Seven Lonely Days Makes One Weak’ (co-written with Ken Mellons and Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Ken Mellons’ (Epic Records, 1994).
Ken Mellons recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Memory Remover’ (co-written with Ken Mellons and Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Where Forever Begins’ (Epic Records, 1995).
Mark Chesnutt recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘She Was’ (co-written with Neal Coty) and included the track on ‘Mark Chesnutt’ (Columbia Records, 2002).
Craig Morgan recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Every Friday Afternoon’ (co-written with Neal Coty) and included the track on ‘I Love It’ (Broken Bow Records, 2003); the track reached No.25 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2003.
Dierks Bentley recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘I Bought The Shoes’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and Ken Mellons) and included the track on ‘Dierks Bentley’ (Capitol Nashville Records, 2003).
Gene Watson recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘The Coast of Texas’ (co-written with Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Gene Watson…Sings‘ (Intersound Records, 2003).
Hank Williams Jr. recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘I’m One of You’ (co-written with Neal Coty) and included the track on ‘I’m One of You’ (Curb Records, 2003); the track reached No.39 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2003.
Mark Chesnutt recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Mama’s House’ (co-written with Neal Coty) and included the track on ‘Savin’ The Honky Tonks’ (Vivaton Records, 2004).
Blake Shelton recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘When Somebody Knows You That Well’, which was co-written with Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011), and included the track on ‘Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2004).
Beccy Cole recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Just Because She Always Has’ (co-written with Amber Dotson) and included the track on ‘Feel This Free’ (ABC Music / Universal Music Australia, 2005).
In 2006, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘God’s Country’ (co-written with Neal Coty); the track was included on ‘God’s Country: George Jones & Friends’ (Category 5 Records, 2006), a tribute album to George Jones.
Released on Tuesday 17 October 2006, on Category 5 Records, the album featured several of George Jones‘ most well-known songs, performed by various artists, including Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, Sammy Kershaw, Mark Chesnutt, Pam Tillis, Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020), Garth Brooks, Shonna Faegan and Tracy Lawrence.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) appeared on ‘God’s Country: George Jones & Friends’ (Category 5 Records, 2006), and performed the title track, ‘God’s Country’ (written by Jimmy Melton and Neal Coty), which was George Jones‘ first brand new song in five years.
George Jones‘ appearance on ‘God’s Country: George Jones & Friends’ (Category 5 Records, 2006) was courtesy of George Jones‘ own record label, Bandit Records.
Trace Adkins recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Marry For Money’ (co-written with Dave Turnbull) and included the track on ‘X’ (Capitol Nashville Records, 2008); the track reached No.14 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in April 2009.
Craig Morgan recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘It Took A Woman’ (co-written with Dave Turnbull) and included the track on ‘That’s Why’ (BNA Records, 2008).
Georgia Middleman recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ (co-written with Georgia Middleman) and included the track on ‘Things I Didn’t Know I Knew’ (Middle Sister Records, 2008).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Only Time Will Tell’ (co-written with David Vincent Williams) and included the track on ’50 Years’ (Cracker Barrel Music, 2008); this track was written in late 2001.
Joe Nichols recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘We All Go Home’ (co-written with Neal Coty and Michael Mobley) and included the track on ‘Old Things New’ (Universal South Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘That’s Why God Made Me’, which was co-written with Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011), and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In The Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Reba McEntire recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’ (co-written with Georgia Middleman) and included the track on ‘Keep on Loving You’ (United States: Starstruck / Valory Music Group Records, 2009 / England: Hump Head Country Records, 2009).
Dean Brody recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘This Ain’t The Same Town (That I Painted Red)’ (co-written with Neal Coty and Jim Collins) and included the track on ‘Dean Brody’ (Broken Bow Records, 2009).
Tracy Lawrence recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Say A Prayer’ (co-written with Craig Morgan and Phil O’Donnell) and included the track on ‘The Rock’ (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009).
In May 2010, James Wesley saw the release of ‘Real’ (written by Jimmy Melton and Neal Coty) on Broken Bow Records; the track, which was a non-album single, reached No.22 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2011.
Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Gone For Good’ and included the track on ‘Your Money & My Good Looks‘ (Upper Management Music, 2011).
Joe Nichols recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Billy Graham’s Bible’ (co-written with Neal Coty and Chris DuBois) and included the track on ‘Crickets’ (Red Bow Records, 2013).
Jon Pardi recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Love You From Here’ (co-written with Bart Butler and Jon Pardi) and included the track on ‘Write You A Song’ (Capitol Nashville Records, 2014).
Travis List recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘I’ve Got One of Those Too’ (co-written with Erin Enderlin) and included the track on ‘This Corner’ (WJO Records, 2014); the track was a duet with Kristy Cox, Travis List’s wife.
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Django & Jimmie’ (co-written with Jeff Prince) and included the track on ‘Django & Jimmie’ (Legacy Recordings, 2015).
Mo Pitney recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘It’s Just A Dog’ (co-written with Mo Pitney and Dave Turnball) and included the track on ‘Behind This Guitar’ (Curb Records, 2016).
Teea Goans recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘Just Because She Always Has’ (co-written with Amber Dotson) and included the track on ‘Swing, Shuffle & Sway’ (Crosswind Corporation, 2017).
Joe Nichols recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘She Was’ (co-written with Neal Coty) and included the track on ‘Good Day For Living’ (Quartz Hill Records, 2022).
Gene Watson recorded Jimmy Melton’s ‘I’ve Got One of Those Too’ (co-written with Erin Enderlin) and included the track on ‘Outside The Box‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2022); the track was a duet with Rhonda Vincent.
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