Gene Watson Biography: October 2007

Monday 1 October 2007
Gene Watson’s new album, ‘In a Perfect World‘ (Shanachie Records, 2007) was afforded the honour of being nominated as ‘CD of The Month’ in the October 2007 issue of Country Music People.

The Country Music People ‘CD of The Month’ review, which was written by Jon Philibert, is reproduced on Gene Watson’s Fan Site, with the permission of the publishers; you can read the review here.

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Tuesday 2 October 2007
Following a day of rest & relaxation, on Monday 1 October 2007, a seven-hour bus journey from Belfast International Airport to his first performance location, which was Killarney in County Kerry, and a good night’s sleep, Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – were in good spirits and were looking forward to the commencement of their 2007 tour of Ireland.


On the evening of Tuesday 2 October 2007, Gene Watson was interviewed by Dermot Moriarty on Radio Kerry between 7:00pm and 9:00pm.

This interview was conducted prior to Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band’s performance at INEC in Killarney, County Kerry.


Wednesday 3 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of TF Royal Theatre in Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

The support act was Mike Denver.


Thursday 4 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of The Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

The support act was Jimmy Buckley.


Friday 5 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of The University Concert Hall in the Limerick University Theatre in Limerick.

The support act was intended to be Robert Mizzell; instead Farewell Party Band member, Clinton Gregory, graced the stage and entertained the audience for twenty minutes before joining Gene and the rest of the band for the evening’s performance proper.


Sunday 7 October 2007
Following a day of rest and relaxation, on Saturday 6 October 2007, Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

The support act was Warren Smyth.


Tuesday 9 October 2007
Gene Watson participated in a ‘live’ interview with Hugo Duncan on BBC Radio Ulster, between 2:00pm and 3:00pm (United Kingdom and Ireland).

Hugo Duncan at BBC Radio Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland; BBC Radio Ulster is Northern Ireland's national radio service
Hugo Duncan
BBC Radio Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland
BBC Radio Ulster is Northern Ireland’s national radio service

Tuesday 9 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of The Burnavon Theatre in Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.

The support act was Philomena Begley.


Wednesday 10 October 2007
Gene Watson participated in a BBC Radio Ulster outside broadcast with Hugo Duncan; the ‘Country Afternoon’ show was broadcast ‘live’ from Meadow Lane Shopping Centre, Moneymore Road, Magherafelt between 1:30pm and 3:00pm (United Kingdom and Ireland).

Hugo Duncan at BBC Radio Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland; BBC Radio Ulster is Northern Ireland's national radio service
Hugo Duncan
BBC Radio Ulster, Belfast, Northern Ireland
BBC Radio Ulster is Northern Ireland’s national radio service

Gene Watson was in magnificent form and, backed by The Country Harmony Band, performed three of his greatest hits, ‘Fourteen Carat Mind’, ‘Got No Reason Now For Going Home’ and ‘Farewell Party’.


Wednesday 10 October 2007 & Thursday 11 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.

The support acts were Derek Mehaffey and Tony Kerr.


Friday 12 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of The Market Place Theatre in Armagh City.

The support act was Philomena Begley.


Saturday 13 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of St. Joseph’s Hall in Omagh, Co. Tyrone.

The support acts were Philomena Begley & Country Harmony.


Sunday 14 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of The Iontas Theatre in Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan.

The support act was Philomena Begley & Country Harmony, with special guest Margo.


Monday 15 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of the Riverside Theatre at The University of Ulster in Coleraine.

The support acts were Philomena Begley and Liam McLaughlin.


Wednesday 17 October 2007
Following a day of rest and relaxation, on Tuesday 16 October 2007, Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of Tullyglass House Hotel in Ballymena, Co. Antrim.

The support acts were Philomena Begley, Liam McLaughlin and Tony Kerr.


Thursday 18 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – graced the stage of The Red Cow Hotel in Dublin.

The support act was Philomena Begley.


Friday 19 October 2007
Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band – Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009), Clinton Gregory, Todd Hines, Kenneth ‘Corky’ Owens, Staley Rogers and Bryan ‘Woody’ Woodruff – rounded off their highly successful Irish tour by gracing the stage of The Sligo Southern Hotel in Sligo.

The support act was Robert Mizzell.


Tuesday 23 October 2007
CMT staff writer Edward Morris’ interview with Gene Watson, which took place on Thursday 27 September 2007, was published online under the title, ‘Gene Watson gets extra star power for ‘In a Perfect World’.


Sunday 28 October 2007
Porter Wagoner, a Grand Ole Opry institution and a member of The Country Music Hall of Fame, passed away at 8:25pm at The Alive Hospice in Nashville.

Porter Wagoner
Friday 12 August 1927 – Sunday 28 October 2007

Known as the Thin Man form West Plains, Porter Wagoner was 80 years old and had been hospitalized since Monday 15 October 2007.  An Opry spokesperson announced on Sunday 21 October 2007 that Porter Wagoner had been diagnosed with lung cancer; he was released to hospice care on Friday 26 October 2007.

An Opry star since 1957, the well-loved Porter Wagoner had been the show’s goodwill ambassador for many years and was photographed by fans millions of times as he clowned onstage in the flashy rhinestone suits that became one of his trademarks.

Funeral services for Porter Wagoner were held on Thursday 1 November 2007 at 11:00am at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House, with interment following at Woodlawn Cemetery.  Visitation took place on Wednesday 31 October 2007 between 2:00pm and 8:00pm at Woodlawn Funeral Home; visitation and funeral were open to the public.