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 Jonell Mosser, which she submitted to this site on Saturday 30 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jonell Mosser who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jonell Mosser
This quote was submitted on Saturday 30 January 2010.
‘Gene Watson is not only a great singer and songwriter, but he has been a leader in the musical community, championed the needy and is a credit to the profession’
Thank you, Jonell Mosser, for your support of Gene Watson.
Jonell Mosser was born in Louisville, Kentucky on Thursday 22 January 1959, and was in the first graduating class of Walden School and had developed a keen interest in musical theatre, which carried over to her years at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the mid-to-late 1970s.
Jonell Mosser’s early musical interests were quite strong, and diverse, and included James Taylor, The Beatles, Al Green, Lowell George (of Little Feat, whom she calls one of her musical heroes), Janis Joplin (Tuesday 19 January 1943 – Sunday 4 October 1970) and Billie Holiday (7 April 1915 – Friday 17 July 1959).
In 1978, at the age of nineteen, the club scene called. Jonell Mosser began singing professionally, developing her style and material in Bowling Green and Louisville, then Nashville.
It was in Nashville where she connected with New Grass Revival’s Sam Bush and John Cowan (who eventually became her first husband).
Jonell Mosser quickly became a favourite demo singer and filled up the house whenever she went on live gigs.
Having moved to Nashville in the mid-1980s, Music City has been both a bane and a blessing to Jonell Mosser, who says much of the music she heard back then was soul music. Jonell Mosser has explained this by stating that, while she likes country music, she does not consider herself as a country artist. In Los Angeles, Jonell Mosser was considered a rock singer, while those in Nashville saw her as a country singer.
Whatever type of kind of singer she is, Jonell Mosser’s shows remain popular and she is still highly sought after.
Jonell Mosser has sung with a wide range of highly acclaimed artists, including Delbert McClinton, John Gorka, Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), Trisha Yearwood and Maura O’Connell.
In 1979, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on George Jones‘ ‘My Very Special Guests’ (Legacy Records, 1979).
In 1989, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Maura O’Connell’s ‘Helpless Heart’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1989).
In 1991, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Hank Williams Jr.’s ‘Pure Hank’ (Curb Records, 1991).
In 1992, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Joe Ely’s ‘Love & Danger’ (MCA Records, 1992), Wynonna Judds’ ‘Wynonna’ (Curb Records, 1992) and Rodney Crowell‘s ‘Life Is Messy’ (Columbia Records, 1992 / Lucky Dog Records, 2000).
In 1994, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Vince Gill‘s ‘When Love Finds You’ (MCA Records, 1994).
In 1995, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Kris Kristofferson’s ‘Moment of Forever’ (Justice Records, 1995).
Jonell Mosser also contributed to the soundtracks of several movies, including ‘Boys On The Side’, a 1995 comedy-drama film directed by Herbert Ross (Friday 13 May 1927 – Tuesday 9 October 2001) (his last film before his death in 2001) and which starred Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Barrymore and Mary-Louise Parker as three friends on a cross-country road trip. On the soundtrack, Jonell Mosser performed a passionate and rocking rendition of ‘Crossroads’.
Jonell Mosser also performed ‘Stop In The Name of Love’ on the soundtrack of ‘Hope Floats’, a 1998 American romantic drama film directed by Forest Whitaker, which starred Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr. and Gena Rowlands.
In 1999, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Darrell Scott‘s ‘Family Tree’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1999).
In 2000, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Valerie Smith‘s ‘Turtle Wings’ (Rebel Records, 2000).
In 2001, Maura O’Connell recorded Jonell Mosser’s ‘Blessing’ (co-written with John Hall and Johanna Hall) and included the track on ‘Wall & Windows’ (Sugar Hill Records, 2001).
In 2003, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on ‘King of Love’ (Curb Records, 2003) from Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020).
In 2007, Jonell Mosser provided background vocals on Kenny Chesney’s ‘Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates’ (RCA Records, 2007).
Nowadays, things are kept simple on the road, with no more than a guitarist, bassist and drummer travelling with Jonell Mosser.
In gigs without guarantees, it’s just Jonell Mosser and John Hall, guitarist, mentor, song-writing collaborator and Jonell Mosser’s record label creator (Siren Songs Records).
New York-based John Hall (of the 1970’s pop-rock band Orleans fame) has co-written numerous songs with his wife, Johanna; they have also enjoyed a wonderful song-writing relationship with Jonell Mosser.
As a recording artist in her own right, Jonell Mosser has seen the release of three highly acclaimed albums; ‘Around Townes’ (Siren Songs Records, 1996), ‘So Like Joy’ (Siren Songs Records, 2000) and ‘Enough Rope’ (Siren Songs Records, 2001).
• Visit Jonell Mosser’s official site at jonellmosser.com