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 an Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Steve C. Chandler, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 17 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Steve C. Chandler who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Steve C. Chandler
This quote was submitted on Sunday 17 January 2010.
‘I feel that Gene Watson is still one of the greatest country singers in our business’
Thank you, Steve C. Chandler, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Steve C. Chandler…
Steve C. Chandler, who hails from Kentucky, moved to Nashville in the late 1970s and has been a fixture in local recording studios ever since.
Steve C. Chandler has worked with a wide variety of bluegrass, old-time, gospel and country music acts.
One of his longest associations has been among his most fruitful: banjo master James Dee (J.D.) Crowe (Friday 27 August 1937 – Friday 24 December 2021) had been a member of Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys in the 1950s, The Kentucky Mountain Boys in the 1960s, and in the 1970s formed one of the first great progressive bluegrass groups, The New South, with Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020), Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas and Bobby Sloane.
Steve C. Chandler has worked on all of the albums of James Dee (J.D.) Crowe (Friday 27 August 1937 – Friday 24 December 2021), except one, since ‘You Can Share My Blanket’ (Rounder Records, 1977), including the 2007 Bluegrass Grammy Award nominee ‘Lefty’s Old Guitar’ (Rounder Records, 2007), all of which were recorded at Hilltop Studios in Nashville.
Among the many other artists which Steve C. Chandler has recorded, produced or mixed through the years are Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989), Hazel Dickens (Saturday 1 June 1935 – Friday 22 April 2011), Whitstein Brothers, Happy Goodman Family, Osborne Brothers, Rhonda Vincent and NewFound Road.
Steve C. Chandler carried out all the recording and engineering work on Gene Watson‘s ‘A Taste of the Truth‘ (Shanachie Records, 2009); the recording and engineering work took place at Hilltop Studios in Nashville in May and June 2009.
Musician credits for ‘We’ve Got A Pulse’ (written by Jerry Salley and Billy Yates) included the following:
Dirk Johnson (band leader, piano, Wurlitzer, clavinet, keyboards)
David Smith (bass guitar)
Rob Tripp (Saturday 19 December 1964 – Wednesday 8 December 2021) (drums, percussion)
Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Kelly Back (electric guitar)
Joel Key (acoustic guitar)
Kelly Back (additional acoustic guitar)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Trace Adkins (lead vocal)
John Wesley Ryles and Liana Manis (harmony vocals)
Steve C. Chandler carried out the recording work, along with Anthony Johnson, Joe Carrell and Dirk Johnson, on Gene Watson’s ‘Best of The Best – 25 Greatest Hits‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012), which was produced by Dirk Johnson for DirkWorks Productions; the executive producer was Gene Watson.
Tracks on Gene Watson’s ‘Best of The Best – 25 Greatest Hits’ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012) were recorded at SoundShop, Ronnie’s Place, Hilltop Studios and DirkWorks Recording.
Vocals and Overdubs were recorded at DirkWorks and Hilltop Studios; the album was mixed at DirkWorks Recording and Mastermine by Dirk Johnson and Anthony Johnson.
Steve C. Chandler, along with Taylor Pollert, Rodney Ingle and John Nicholson, were assistant engineers on Gene Watson’s ‘Real.Country.Music‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016), which was produced by Dirk Johnson for DirkWorks Productions; the executive producer was Gene Watson.
Publishing administration was undertaken by Dave Lindsey, while string arrangements were performed by Dirk Johnson.
Gene Watson’s ‘Real.Country.Music‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016) was recorded at Sony/Tree Recording Studio, Hilltop Recording, DirkWorks Recording, Funhouse Recording and SoundShop in Nashville by Adam Englehardt, Anthony Johnson and Dirk Johnson.
Additional recording took place at DirkWorks Recording in Hiltons, Virginia by Dirk Johnson and Alan Maggard; the album was mixed at Maggard Sound Studio in Big Stone Gap, VA by Dirk Johnson.
Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson’s ‘Real.Country.Music‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016) included the following:
Dirk Johnson (piano, keyboards)
David Smith (bass guitar, acoustic upright bass)
Lonnie Wilson and Eddy Anderson (drums)
Kelly Back, Gregg Galbraith, Ben Hall and Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitars)
Aubrey Haynie and Gail Rudisill-Johnson (fiddles)
Gail Rudisill-Johnson (violins, violas, cellos)
Mike Johnson and Sonny Garrish (steel guitars)
James Mitchell and Gregg Galbraith (electric guitars)
John Wesley Ryles, Cindy Richardson Walker, Judy Rodman and Dirk Johnson (background vocalists)
• Steve C. Chandler on LinkedIn