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 2009, 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 Billy Lawson, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 23 July 2009.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Billy Lawson who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Billy Lawson
This quote was submitted on Thursday 23 July 2009.
‘When I heard Gene Watson had recorded ‘Use Me Again‘, that I wrote with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Dale Dodson, I was blown away!
I’ve been a big fan of his since ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon‘. If I had to name my top 5 country singers of all time, Gene Watson would be at the top!
I heard him back in June of this year (2009) and he still sounds like the 30-year old Gene Watson on my old 8-tracks I wore out in my 1969 AMC Javelin. He’s still got it!
He is smooth and has the emotion to make you believe he lived the song he just sang for you.
If life was fair, Gene Watson would be King and the country music Kingdom would be safe and sound!’
Thank you, Billy Lawson, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Billy Lawson…
Billy Lawson was born and raised in the Muscle Shoals area of northwest Alabama in a little town called Zip City.
Billy Lawson’s next door neighbour was studio musician Junior Lowe, who played on some of the early R&B classics by a number of artists, including Percy Sledge (Monday 25 November 1940 – Tuesday 14 April 2015), Wilson Pickett (Tuesday 18 March 1941 – Thursday 19 January 2006), Clarence Carter and Aretha Franklin (Wednesday 25 March 1942 – Thursday 16 August 2018).
When Billy Lawson was nine or ten years old, Junior Lowe would let him sit in and sing with his band at The Ponderosa Club on the Alabama-Tennessee state line. This club was owned by W.R. Morris, the author of a biography on the legendary Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser, which was later made into a motion picture titled ‘Walking Tall’.
Another friend of the family who influenced Billy Lawson was Carl Montgomery, the co-author of the truck driving hit ‘Six Days On The Road’. Carl Montgomery was the brother of Earl ‘Peanut’ Montgomery, writer of 38 singles by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), and Melba Montgomery, star of The Grand Ole Opry.
Billy Lawson knew three chords on his Silvertone and could sing along with Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020), Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006) and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) by the time he entered grade school.
Wherever there was live music, that’s where you could find Billy Lawson, soaking it all up like a hungry sponge.
After high school, Billy Lawson started working the Alabama-Tennessee state line club and dance hall circuit with his band.
One night, Larry Hamby, who was a CBS representative, came to a Muscle Shoals Club and signed Billy Lawson ‘on the spot’ to an album deal on Epic Records.
The legendary Sam Phillips (Friday 5 January 1923 – Wednesday 30 July 2003) was there that night to put in a good word.
But, as luck would have it, Billy Lawson’s key man at Epic Records was moved to the West Coast and put in charge of the pop and rock music division of the label.
Along with several other acts, Billy Lawson was lost in the shuffle.
Meanwhile, Muscle Shoals film maker Tonya Holley was casting for Orion Pictures. Tonya Holley had Billy Lawson come down and audition in Selma, Alabama for an up-coming movie staring Jessica Lange, Tommy Lee Jones and Powers Boothe. Billy Lawson and his band got the part and Jessica Lange received an Oscar for ‘Best Actress’ in ‘Blue Sky’.
During all of these experiences, Billy Lawson continued to write songs; songs which were good enough to get the attention of Sony / Tree publisher and producer Don Cook. It was Don Cook who signed Billy Lawson one week and, by the next week, Billy Lawson had cuts on three major artists.
In 1989, Billy Lawson recorded ‘The Yard Sale’ (written by Billy Lawson and Terry Skinner); the track was included on the various artists original soundtrack of the movie ‘Next of Kin’ (Columbia Records, 1989), which starred Patrick (Wayne) Swayze (Monday 18 August 1952 – Monday 14 September 2009).
Mel McDaniel (Sunday 6 September 1942 – Thursday 31 March 2011) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Country Pride’ (DPI Records, 1990).
Daron Norwood (Thursday 30 September 1965 – Wednesday 22 July 2015) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Phantom of The Opry’ (co-written with John Schweers) and included the track on ‘Daron Norwood’ (Giant Records, 1994); the track was a duet with Travis Tritt.
Shenandoah, featuring the lead vocals of Marty Raybon, recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘She Could Care Less’ and included the track on ‘In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1994).
Bryan White recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Eugene You Genius’ (co-written with Lonnie Wilson) and included the track on ‘Bryan White’ (Elektra Records, 1994); the track reached No.48 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994.
Lonestar recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘What Would It Take’, which was co-written with Sam Hogin (1950 – Monday 9 August 2004) and Wally Wilson, and included the track on ‘Lonestar’ (BNA Records, 1995).
Lonestar recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Ragtop Cadillac’ and included the track on ‘Lonestar’ (BNA Records, 1995).
Confederate Railroad recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘When He Was My Age’ (co-written with Kenny Chesney and David Lowe) and included the track on ‘When & Where’ (Atlantic Records, 1995).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘He Ain’t Even Cold Yet’ (co-written with Cyril Rawson) and included the track on ‘Where Forever Begins’ (Epic Records, 1995).
Joe Nichols recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘She Could Care Less’ and included the track on ‘Joe Nichols’ (Intersound Records, 1996).
Rick Trevino recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Learning As You Go’ (co-written with Larry Boone) and included the track on ‘Learning As You Go’ (Sony Records, 1996); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Trace Adkins recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘I Left Something Turned On At Home’ (co-written with John Schweers) and included the track on ‘Dreamin’ Out Loud’ (Capitol Records, 1996); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Ty England recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Irresistible You’ and included the track on ‘Two Ways To Fall’ (RCA Records, 1996); the track reached No.22 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Sammy Kershaw recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Labor of Love’ (co-written with Larry Boone) and included the track on ‘Labor of Love’ (Mercury Records, 1997).
Tim McGraw recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘You Turn Me On’ and included the track on ‘Everywhere’ (Curb Records, 1997).
Lee Ann Womack recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Man Who Made My Mama Cry’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and Lee Ann Womack) and included the track on ‘Some Things I Know’ (Decca Records, 1998).
Chalee Tennison recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘We Don’t Have To Pay’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and Chalee Tennison) and included the track on ‘This Woman’s Heart’ (Asylum Records, 2000).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Dumaflache’ and included the track on ‘Now & Then’ (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2000).
John Anderson recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘You Ain’t Hurt Nothin’ Yet’ (co-written with Al Anderson) and included the track on ‘Nobody’s Got It All’ (Columbia Records, 2001); the track reached No.56 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2001.
Lorrie Morgan & Sammy Kershaw recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Be My Reason’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and John Northrup) and included the track on ‘I Finally Found Someone’ (RCA Records, 2001).
On Tuesday 3 April 2001, Ken Mellons saw the release of ‘The Best of Ken Mellons’ (Curb Records, 2001) and, despite its title, it was not a compilation album, but rather a studio album, composed of nine new tracks, along with a dance mix of Ken Mellons‘ 1994 hit single, ‘Jukebox Junkie’.
Ken Mellons‘ ‘The Best of Ken Mellons’ (Curb Records, 2001) included the following tracks:
‘Jukebox Junkie’ (Dance Mix) (written by Ken Mellons, Jerry Cupit and Janice Honeycutt)
‘Shame On Me’ (written by Ken Mellons and Buddy Brock)
‘Home Team’ (written by Ken Mellons, Jerry Cupit and Lee Thomas Miller)
‘Farmer’s Daughter’ (written by Ken Mellons and Jerry Cupit)
‘Ladies Night’ (written by Ken Mellons, Jerry Cupit and Randy Roberts)
‘Can You Feel It’ (written by Ken Mellons, Jerry Cupit and Jobe Memarie)
‘Down To A Crawl’ (written by Ken Mellons, Jerry Cupit, David Brewer and Faye Brewer)
‘Bundle of Nerves’ (written by Ken Mellons, Jerry Cupit and Lea Thomas Miller)
‘Was It Good For You’ (written by Ken Mellons and Jerry Cupit)
‘Cool As You’ (written by Larry Boone and Billy Lawson)
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘The Very Best of Charley Pride: 1987 – 1989’ (Varese Sarabande Records, 2003).
George Strait recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Look Who’s Back From Town’ (co-written with Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Honkytonkville’ (MCA Nashville, 2003).
Joe Nichols recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘If I Ever Get Her Back’ (co-written with Billy Yates) and included the track on ‘Revelation’ (Universal South Records, 2004).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Climb My Tree’ (co-written with John Northrup and Dean Dillon) and included the track on ‘Sweet’ (Home Records, 2004).
Sammy Sadler recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Hard On A Heart’ (Tri Records, 2004).
Tracy Lawrence recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Climb My Tree’ (co-written with John Northrup and Dean Dillon) and included the track on ‘Strong’ (DreamWorks Records, 2004); the track was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2004, but it did not chart.
Lee Ann Womack recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘One’s A Couple’ (co-written with Dale Dodson and John Northrup) and included the track on the release of ‘There’s More Where That Came From’ (MCA Records Nashville, 2005).
Gretchen Wilson recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘He Ain’t Even Cold Yet’ and included the track on ‘All Jacked Up’ (Sony Records, 2005); the track was featured in an episode of ‘The Sopranos’, HBO’s highly acclaimed drama series.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Somewhere Dry’ (co-written with Wally Wilson) and included the track on ‘My Life’ (RCA Nashville, 2006).
Blake Shelton recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘She Can’t Get That’ (co-written with Wally Wilson) and included the track on ‘Pure BS’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2007).
Sarah Johns recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘That’s Just Me Getting Over You’ (co-written with Sarah Johns and Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Big Love in a Small Town’ (BNA Records, 2007).
Mark Chesnutt recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘When I Get This Close To You’ (co-written with Phil O’Donnell and Buddy Owens) and included the track on ‘Rollin’ With The Flow’ (Lofton Creek Records, 2008).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘If I Ever Get Her Back’ (co-written with Billy Yates) and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In The Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Real Estate Hands’ (co-written with Terry Skinner) and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In the Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘She’s A Woman’ (co-written with Daryle Singletary) and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In the Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘She Sure Looks Good In Black’ (co-written with Dale Dodson) and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In the Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘They Know How To Grow ‘Em’ (co-written with Ed Hill) and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In the Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Gene Watson recorded ‘Use Me Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Dale Dodson, and included the track on ‘A Taste of the Truth‘ (Shanachie Records, 2009).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘I’m Just A House’ (co-written with Ken Mellons) and included the track on ‘Rural Route’ (Jukebox Junkie Inc. Records, 2010).
Ken Mellons recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘A Cold One Can’t Cure’ (co-written with Ken Mellons and John Northrup) and included the track on ‘Rural Route’ (Jukebox Junkie Inc. Records, 2010).
Sammy Sadler recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘That Ole Gravel Road (Was Easy Street)’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Heart Shaped Like Texas’ (S Records, 2012).
Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020), Sammy Kershaw and Aaron Tippin recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘I Love To Work’ (co-written with Bradley Gaskin and Sammy Kershaw) and included the track on ‘All In The Same Boat’ (Red Distribution Records, 2013).
Sammy Kershaw saw recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Do You Know Me?’ (co-written with Johnny Holland) and included the track on ‘Do You Know Me?: My Tribute To George Jones’ (Big Hit Records, 2014).
‘Do You Know Me?’ was written specifically for George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013); the intention was for George Jones to record the track a few months before he passed away.
George Jones never recorded the song.
On Friday 26 April 2019, Darryl Worley saw the release of ‘Second Wind: Latest & Greatest’ (BFD Distribution, 2019), his first new album in ten years, which was produced by Darryl Worley and Billy Lawson; some of the tracks were new and included the following:
‘Lonely Alone’ (written by Billy Lawson and Darryl Worley)
‘Whiskey Makes Me Think About You’ (written by Ed Hill, Billy Lawson and Darryl Worley)
‘The Night (Sure Looks Good On You)’ (written by Ed Hill, Billy Lawson and Darryl Worley)
‘It’s Good To Be Me’ (written by Ed Hill, Billy Lawson and Darryl Worley)
‘Do Something Good’ (written by Jim ‘Moose’ Brown and Darryl Worley)
‘Running’ (written by Ed Hill, Billy Lawson and Darryl Worley)
‘Working On A Love Song’ (written by Jim ‘Moose’ Brown and Darryl Worley)
Erin Enderlin recorded Billy Lawson’s ‘Use Me Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Dale Dodson, and included the track on ‘Chapter Three: Whatever Gets You Through The Night’ (Erin Enderlin Productions / Blaster Records, 2019), a 3-track extended play (EP) disc.
Erin Enderlin‘s recording of Billy Lawson’s ‘Use Me Again’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Dale Dodson, was subsequently included on Erin Enderlin‘s ‘Faulkner County’ (Black Crow Productions, 2019), which was released on Friday 1 November 2019.
• Like Billy Lawson on Facebook