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 2010, 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 Debbie Hupp, which she submitted to this site on Sunday 3 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Debbie Hupp who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Debbie Hupp
This quote was submitted on Sunday 3 January 2010.
‘I’m trying to recall a George Jones before George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
Or, a Vern Gosdin before Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009).
Country music has two kinds of artists. The originals, and everyone else.
Two Merles? (Merle Haggard: Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) I think not.
And Gene Watson is very definitely an original.
This year, I was thrilled to discover he had cut ‘Wrong Way To Find Mr. Right‘, a song I wrote with Tim Menzies. I hope it does well because he deserves it.
It may be hard to believe, but regardless of how the record does, I can still listen to him sing my words and the feeling is equal to…and the Grammy goes to…’
Thank you, Debbie Hupp, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Debbie Hupp…
Debbie Hupp was born in southern Indiana, raised children in Kentucky and calls Tennessee her ‘forever home’; it took Debbie a long time to emerge from the housing projects and low rent lifestyle to become a successful songwriter.
Debbie Hupp’s life has given her the opportunity to learn about joy and pain, and then to use that emotion to create a body of work that is still incomplete.
Debbie Hupp has come full circle from working jobs to support her song-writing habit, to giving up the high-life to support her desire to work in service to the community.
The inherent need to create works of art, whether music or visual, lives within Debbie Hupp and will not leave; she intends to continue working in all the areas that make her who she is.
These days, Debbie Hupp is still writing and still has a huge catalogue with EMI and Huptown Music. She works on special projects like ‘The Butterfly Factor’, websites, graphic art and working in restorative photography.
2009 marked Debbie Hupp’s eleventh year working with youth at Oasis Center, Inc. on Music Row in Nashville.
Debbie Hupp spends her spare time with family in Kentucky, friends in Nashville and watching every minute of the Titans football games.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘You Decorated My Life’ (co-written with Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘Kenny Rogers’ (United Artist Records, 1979); the track, which was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in November 1979, and reached No.7 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1979, was also included on ‘Vote For Love’ (QVC, 1996).
Debby Boone recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Are You On The Road To Lovin’ Me Again’ (co-written with Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘Love is The Reason’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1980); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May 1980.
John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Gravel On The Ground’ (co-written with Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘Some Days Are Diamonds’ (RCA Records, 1981).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘She Can’t Take My Love Off The Bed’ (co-written with Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘Soft Touch’ (Epic Records, 1982).
Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘She Can’t Take My Love Off The Bed’ (co-written with Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘Full Circle’ (Liberty Records, 1982); the track reached No.29 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Don’t Call Him A Cowboy’, which was co-written with Johnny MacRae (1929 – Wednesday 3 July 2013) and Bob Morrison, and included the track on ‘Don’t Call Him A Cowboy’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in June 1985.
Tim Mensy / Tim Menzies recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Wrong Way To Find Mr. Right’ (co-written with Tim Menzies) and included the track on ‘Stone By Stone’ (Columbia Records, 1990).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘If You Were The Friend’ (co-written with Tim Menzies) and included the track on ‘Heart Over Mind’ (Epic Records, 1990).
Lee Greenwood recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Just Like Me’ and included the track on ‘Holdin’ a Good Hand’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
John Anderson recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Straight Tequila Night’, which was co-written with Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 – Saturday 27 December 1997), and included the track on ‘Seminole Wind’ (BNA Records, 1992); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in March 1992.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Reason To Go’ (co-written with Tim Menzies) and included the track on ‘If Only My Heart Had A Voice’ (Giant Records, 1993).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘If You Were The Friend’ (co-written with Tim Menzies) & included the track on ‘If Only My Heart Had A Voice’ (Giant Records, 1993).
Barbara Mandrell recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Just Like Me’ (co-written with Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘It Works For Me’ (DRD Records, 1997).
Gene Watson recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Wrong Way To Find Mr. Right’ (co-written with Tim Menzies) and included the track on ‘A Taste of the Truth‘ (Shanachie Records, 2009).
Kevin Moon recorded Debbie Hupp’s ‘Straight Tequila Night’, which was co-written with Kent M. Robbins (Wednesday 23 April 1947 – Saturday 27 December 1997), and included the track on ‘Backtrack’ (Dirt Road Records, 2014); the track featured guest vocals from John Anderson.
• Visit Debbie Hupp’s official site at estrogenius.com