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 Roger Brown, which he submitted to this site on Monday 18 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Roger Brown who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Roger Brown
This quote was submitted on Monday 18 January 2010.
‘Gene recorded the third song I ever had cut, ‘I Didn’t Think of You At All‘, over twenty years ago, and it’s still one of my favourites’
Thank you, Roger Brown, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Roger Brown…
Roger Brown, who was born in Fort Worth, Texas and was raised in central Texas, is the son of Texas ranchers.
Roger Brown grew up listening to the music of artists his mother loved, including Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953), Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975), Johnny Horton (Thursday 30 April 1925 – Saturday 5 November 1960) and Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003), as well as Frank Sinatra (Sunday 12 December 1915 – Thursday 14 May 1998), Artie Shaw (23 May 1910 – Thursday 30 December 2004) and Alton ‘Glenn’ Miller (Tuesday 1 March 1904 – missing in action: Friday 15 December 1944).
In sixth grade, Roger Brown began writing short stories and poetry; it was that talent which transitioned into song-writing when he learned to play the guitar at the age of thirteen.
It was shortly thereafter that Roger Brown began performing at local talent shows and dance halls. After graduating from high school, Roger Brown immersed himself in the thriving music scene in the area. This led to eventually being discovered by Monument Records’ Tex Davis and Wayland Stubblefield.
In late 1982, Roger Brown moved to Nashville and, by 1985, he had his first major recording; ‘Fool, Fool Heart’ (co-written with Rick Peoples) was recorded by Tanya Tucker, who included the track on ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
Tanya Tucker recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Fool, Fool Heart’ (co-written with Rick Peoples) and included the track on ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
In 2010, Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986), along with Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Love Me Like You Used To’ (Capitol Records, 1987), was re-issued by England’s Hump Head Records, as a ‘2-on-1’ CD set, ‘Girls Like Me / Love Me Like You Used To’ (Hump Head Records, 2010).
Since 1986, Roger Brown has been a professional songwriter, with a long list of recordings by a number of acclaimed country music artists, including the following:
Gene Watson recorded Roger Brown’s ‘I Didn’t Think of You At All’ and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk Crazy‘ (Epic Records, 1987); Gene Watson re-recorded this track and included it on ‘Gene Watson: Then & Now‘ (Koch Records Nashville, 2005).
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘I Knew Love’ and included the track on ‘Little Love Affairs’ (MCA Records, 1988); the track reached No.37 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘You Left Memories Layin’ (All Over The Place)’ (co-written with Rick Peoples) and included the track on ‘Next To You’ (Epic Records, 1989).
Maura O’Connell recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Just Like The Blues’ and included the track on ‘Helpless Heart’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989).
Crystal Gayle recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Just Like The Blues’ and included the track on ‘Ain’t Gonna Worry’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
Anne Murray recorded Roger Brown’s ‘A New Moon, An Old Flame & You’ (co-written with Howard Emerson and Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘You Will’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Roger Brown’s ‘I Buy Her Roses’, which was co-written with Glenn Ray McGuirt (1938 – Thursday 11 June 2020), and included the track on ‘Don’t Go Near The Water’ (Mercury Records, 1991).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Sometimes A Rose’ and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records / Legacy Records, 1991).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘I Apologise’ and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records / Legacy Records, 1991).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Look What Followed Me Home’ (co-written with Rick Peoples) and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records / Legacy Records, 1991).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘When The Blues Hit Town’ (co-written with Rick Peoples) and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records / Legacy Records, 1991).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Somebody Almost Loved Me’ and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records / Legacy Records, 1991).
Don Edwards recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Line Shack Blues’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Goin’ Back To Texas’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Randy Travis recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Down At The Old Corral’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Wind In The Wire’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Randy Travis recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Blue Mesa’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Wind In The Wire’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Randy Travis recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Roamin’ Wyomin’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Wind In The Wire’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993).
Ricky Van Shelton recorded Roger Brown’s ‘If It Weren’t For Me’ and included the track on ‘A Bridge I Didn’t Burn’ (Columbia Records, 1993).
George Strait recorded Roger Brown’s ‘We Must Be Loving Right’ (co-written with Clay Blaker) and included the track on ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ (MCA Records, 1993).
Randy Travis recorded Roger Brown’s ‘That’s Where I Draw The Line’ and included the track on ‘This Is Me’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1994).
Pam Tillis recorded Roger Brown’s ‘They Don’t Break ‘Em Like They Used To’ (co-written with Jason Sellers) and included the track on ‘Sweetheart’s Dance’ (Arista Records, 1994).
David Ball recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Waiting For Somebody New’ and included the track on ‘David Ball’ (RCA Records, 1994).
Clay Walker recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Boogie ‘Til The Cows Come Home’ (co-written with Clay Blaker) and included the track on ‘If I Could Make A Living’ (Giant Records, 1994).
John Michael Montgomery recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Just Like A Rodeo’ (co-written with Tommy Connors) and included the track on ‘John Michael Montgomery’ (Atlantic Records, 1995).
Michael Martin Murphey recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Adobe Walls’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Sagebrush Symphony’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1995), an album which was recorded ‘live’ at Majestic Theater in San Antonio, Texas.
On Monday 15 July 1996, Roger Brown saw the release of ‘Roger Brown & Swing City’ (MCA Records, 1996), a 5-track EP, which included the following tracks:
‘Swing City’ (written by Roger Brown, Buck Ramsey and Luke Reed)
‘Just Like A Rodeo’ (written by Roger Brown and Tommy Conners)
‘Adobe Walls’ (written by Roger Brown and Luke Reed)
‘Western Women’, which was written by Clay Blaker, Roger Brown and Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 – Friday 23 November 2012)
‘Boogie ‘Til The Cows Come Home’ (written by Clay Baker and Roger Brown)
George Strait recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Need I Say More’ (co-written with Clay Blaker) and included the track on ‘Blue Clear Sky’ (MCA Records, 1996).
Rich McCready recorded Roger Bown’s ‘Just Like Me’ (co-written with Rich McCready) and included the track on ‘Rich McCready’ (Magnatone Records, 1996).
Kenny Chesney recorded Roger Brown’s ‘She Gets Like That’ (co-written with Adam Hughes) and included the track on ‘I Will Stand’ (BNA Records, 1997).
Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Any Fool Could See’ and included the track on ‘Talk To My Heart’ (Watermelon Records, 1998).
Trace Adkins recorded Roger Brown’s ‘All Hat, No Cattle’ (co-written with Tommy Connors) and included the track on ‘More’ (Capitol Records, 1999).
In 2000, Roger Brown saw the release of an extended play (EP) disc, ‘Rodeo Boogie’ (Prairie Crooner Records, 2000); one of the included tracks was ‘If You Mess With The Bull’, which was written by Luke Reed and Roger Brown.
Craig Chambers recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Adobe Walls’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘West By South West’ (WR Records, 2000).
Jennifer Weatherly recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Boogie ‘Til The Cows Come Home’ (co-written with Clay Blaker) and included the track on ‘In The Name of Love’ (JK Records, 2000).
Jennifer Weatherly recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Loving Like Strangers’ (co-written with David Stephenson) and included the track on ‘Lucky Day’ (JK Records, 2000).
Jennifer Weatherly recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Roll On Santa Fe (Carry Me Home)’ (co-written with Matt Rollings) and included the track on ‘Lucky Day’ (JK Records, 2000).
Jennifer Weatherly recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Swimming Upstream’, which was co-written with Clay Blaker and Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 – Friday 23 November 2012), and included the track on ‘Lucky Day’ (JK Records, 2000).
Gary Allan recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Adobe Walls’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Alright Guy’ (MCA Nashville Records, 2001).
In 2001, Luke Reed recorded ‘Corridos’ (Blue Hat Records, 2001), which featured Luke Reed‘s original Western songs, complete with guest appearances by Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), Bonnie Bramlett, Bill Miller and Riders In The Sky; the album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the ‘Best Contemporary Folk’ category.
Luke Reed‘s ‘Corridos’ (Blue Hat Records, 2001) included the following tracks:
‘Blue Mesa’ (written by Roger Brown and Luke Reed) / this track featured guest vocals from Ranger Doug Green
‘If There Wasn’t Any Cows’ (written by Luke Reed)
‘Adobe Walls’ (written by Roger Brown and Luke Reed)
‘The Spanish Rose’ (written by Luke Reed)
‘Every Horse I Ever Rode’ (written by Luke Reed)
‘The Land of Manana’, which was written by Luke Reed and Michael Smotherman (Wednesday 17 December 1947 – Friday 29 November 2019)
‘Remember The Eagle’ (written by Baxter Black and Luke Reed) / this track featured guest vocals from Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002)
‘Panhandle Wind’ (written by Bill Joe Foster, Luke Reed and Red Steagall)
‘And Cowboy Is His Name’ (written by Luke Reed)
‘The Banks of Red River’ (written by Luke Reed)
‘Cowboy Church’ (written by Luke Reed)
R.W. Hampton recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Adobe Walls’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Always In My Heart’ (Paras Recordings Records, 2001).
Michael Martin Murphey recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Adobe Walls’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Playing Favourites: Greatest Hits, Volume 1’ (Paras Group International / Real West Productions Records, 2001).
Josh Williams recorded Roger Brown’s ‘If It Were Anyone But You’ (co-written with Carl Jackson) and included the track on ‘Now That You’re Gone’ (Pinecastle Records, 2001).
In 2002, Roger Brown was nominated for a Tony Award for two songs of his songs, which were featured in the Broadway show ‘Urban Cowboy – The Musical’.
Roger Brown has had compositions featured on numerous ‘Gold’ and ‘Platinum’ albums, as well as major motion pictures such as ‘A Fire In The Sky’ and ‘Red Rock West’.
Deryl Dodd recorded Roger Brown’s ‘What Some Call A Weakness’ and included the track on ‘Pearl Snaps’ (Lucky Dog Records / Epic Records, 2002).
Patty Loveless recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Born Again Fool’ and included the track on ‘On Your Way Home’ (Epic Records, 2003).
Kevin Fowler recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Political Incorrectness’ (co-written with Kevin Fowler) and included the track on ‘Loose, Loud & Crazy’ (Equity Music Group, 2004); the track featured guest vocals from Mark Chesnutt.
Gene Watson re-recorded ‘I Didn’t Think of You At All’ (written by Roger Brown) and included the track on ‘Gene Watson: Then & Now‘ (Koch Records Nashville, 2005); the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Honky Tonk Crazy‘ (Epic Records, 1987).
Alecia Nugent recorded Roger Brown’s ‘It Won’t Be Me’ and included the track on ‘A Little Girl…A Big Four Lane’ (Rounder Records, 2006).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Roger Brown’s ‘In The Garden By The Mountain’ and included the track on ‘Taken’ (Upper Management Music, 2010); the track featured guest vocals from Dolly Parton.
Rhonda Vincent recorded Roger Brown’s ‘When The Bloom Is Off The Rose’ and included the track on ‘Taken’ (Upper Management Music, 2010); the track featured guest vocals from Sally Berry and Tensel Sandker (Next Best Thing Band).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Roger Brown’s ‘Only Me’ (co-written with Billy Yates) and included the track on (Disc 1 of a 2-CD set) ‘Only Me’ (Upper Management Music, 2014); this track featured guest vocals from Willie Nelson.
• Visit Roger Brown’s official site at rogerbrownsongs.com
• Find Roger Brown on Facebook