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 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 quotes from Joey + Rory, which they submitted to this site on Friday 28 May 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Joey + Rory who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Joey + Rory
These quotes were submitted on Friday 28 May 2010.
Rory Feek
‘Here’s a quote…something that is a neat story from my childhood.
I remember riding in the car with my father as a kid when ‘Farewell Party‘, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007) came on the radio. He pulled over to the side of the road and turned the volume button up, and we just sat there and listened.
Then he pulled back onto the road, and we kept driving.
It wasn’t enough for us to just hear it…he had to pull the car over, so we could listen to every word’
(Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016)
‘We love Gene Watson.
His music is a big part of our country music heritage and why we do what we do.
We get excited when we’re listening to the radio and a Gene Watson song comes on.
We think to ourselves, ‘now that’s great country music!’
He always seemed to choose great songs, songs that last and will be around for a long time.
And, boy, have they!’
Rory Feek
‘We wish you all the best with your website’
Thank you, Joey + Rory, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Joey + Rory…
Joey + Rory were an American country music duo composed of Rory Lee Feek and Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), who were husband and wife.
Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) was the duo’s lead vocalist, while Rory Feek sang background vocals and played guitar.
Before the duo’s foundation, Rory Lee Feek worked as a songwriter in Nashville and he had continued to work as a songwriter even while a member of Joey + Rory.
Collin Raye recorded Rory Lee Feek’s ‘Someone You Used To Know’, which was co-written with Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012), and included the track on ‘The Walls Came Down’ (Epic Records, 1998).
John Michael Montgomery recorded Rory Feek’s ‘Your Love Lingers On’, which was co-written with Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), and included the track on ‘Home To You’ (Atlantic Records, 1999).
The Derailers recorded Rory Feek’s ‘Play Me The Waltz of The Angels’, which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (1949 – Saturday 1 September 2018), and included the track on ‘Full Western Dress’ (Sire Records, 1999).
Lorrie Morgan recorded Rory Feek’s ‘Strong Enough To Cry’, which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 – Sunday 11 January 2004), and included the track on ‘My Heart’ (BNA Records, 1999).
Clay Walker recorded Rory Feek’s ‘The Chain of Love’ (co-written with Jonnie Barnett) and included the track on ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ (Giant Records, 1999); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2000.
Mark Wills recorded Rory Lee Feek’s ‘Rich Man’ (co-written with D. Vincent Williams) and included the track on ‘Permanently’ (Mercury Records, 2000).
Randy Travis recorded Rory Feek’s ‘When Mama Prayed’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Rise & Shine’ (Word Records / Warner Bros. Records / Curb Records, 2002).
Terri Clark recorded Rory Feek’s ‘Better Than You’ (co-written with Terri Clark) and included the track on ‘Pain To Kill’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 2003); the album was produced by Byron Gallimore and Keith Stegall.
Tracy Byrd recorded Rory Lee Feek’s ‘The Truth About Men’, which was co-written with Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Paul Overstreet, and included the track on ‘Truth About Men’ (RCA Records, 2003).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Rory Lee Feek’s ‘Chain of Love’ and included the track on ‘Comfort of Her Wings’ (Music City Records, 2003).
Kenny Chesney recorded Rory Feek’s ‘When I Think About Leaving’, which was co-written with Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Paul Overstreet, and included the track on ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (BNA Records, 2004).
In 2004, Rory Feek founded the independent record label, Giantslayer Records.
On Tuesday 1 June 2004, Blaine Larsen saw the release of ‘In My High School’ (Giantslayer Records, 2004), which was produced by Rory Lee Feek and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012), and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘In My High School’, which was written by Blaine Larsen and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) (No.60, 2004)
Blaine Larsen’s ‘In My High School’ (Giantslayer Records, 2004) also included the following tracks:
‘The Best Man’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Blaine Larsen
‘In My High School’, which was written by Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Blaine Larsen
‘Teaching Me How To Love You’ (written by Marty Dodson and Rory Lee Feek) / this track featured background vocals from Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016)
‘I’ve Been In Mexico’, which was written by Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012), Blaine Larsen and Will Robinson
‘If Merle Would Sing My Song’ (written by Skip Ewing and James Dean Hicks)
‘Yesireebob’ (written by Rory Lee Feek, Blaine Larsen and Kelley Lovelace)
‘The Man He’ll Never Be’ (written by Blaine Larsen)
‘That’s Just Me’ (written by Rory Lee Feek, Blaine Larsen and David Bleam)
‘Off To Join The World (The Circus Song)’ (written by Shawn Camp and Mark D. Sanders)
‘How Do You Get That Lonely’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Jamie Teachenor)
In the latter half of 2004, Blaine Larsen was signed to BNA Records, who re-issued ‘In My High School’ (Giantslayer Records, 2004), on Tuesday 25 January 2005, as ‘Off To Join The World’ (BNA Records, 2005).
One new song, ‘That’s All I’ve Got To Say About That’ (written by Jim Collins, Rob Crosby and Paul Overstreet), was added to the album.
‘If Merle Would Sing My Song’ (written by Shawn Camp and Mark D. Sanders), which was a solo rendition on the original album, was partially re-recorded with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who appeared as a featured artist on the track, which appeared on the new album.
‘How Do You Get That Lonely’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Jamie Teachenor) was issued as the second single from ‘Off To Join The World’ (BNA Records, 2005), and became the highest-charting song of Blaine Larsen’s career, reaching No.18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2005, and No.91 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2005.
Finally, in mid-2005, ‘The Best Man’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Blaine Larsen, was released as the third single, peaking at No.36 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.
Blake Shelton recorded Rory Feek’s ‘Some Beach’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2004); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart for four weeks in December 2004 / January 2005.
In 2005, Joey Martin recorded a solo album, ‘Strong Enough To Cry’ (Giantslayer Records, 2005) for Giantslayer Records in 2005; the album was released on CD in 2008, and was also available as a digital download.
Joey Martin’s solo album, ‘Strong Enough To Cry’ (Giantslayer Records, 2005), which was produced by Rory Feek, included the following tracks:
‘Have I Told You Lately That I Love You’, which was written by Scott Greene Wiseman (8 November 1908 – Saturday 31 January 1981)
‘Strong Enough To Cry’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek and Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 – Sunday 11 January 2004)
‘That’s Important To Me’, which was written by Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), Rory Lee Feek and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
‘When The Needle Hits The Vinyl’ (written by Michael Dulaney, Bob Regan and Neil Thrasher)
‘Nothing To Remember’, which was written by Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Rory Lee Feek
‘The Cowboy’s Mine’, which was written by Jim McCormick and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
‘If Not For You’ (written by Sandy Emory Lawrence)
‘Southern Girl’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
‘Red’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Keith Hunley)
‘Like A Rodeo’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Paul Overstreet) / this track featured guest vocals from Paul Overstreet
‘See You There’, which was written by Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Rory Lee Feek
‘Old Paint’ (traditional)
Personnel involved in the recording of Joey Martin’s solo album, ‘Strong Enough to Cry’ (Giantslayer Records, 2005), included the following:
Gerald Boyd, Jack Martin, Michael Spriggs and Bill McDermott (acoustic guitar, guitar)
Donnie Allen (banjo)
Don Kearce and Spadey Brannen (bass)
Tommy Harden (drums, percussion)
Chris Leuzinger and Danny Parks (electric guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin)
Blaine Larsen, Christi Baker, Heidi Feek, June Martin, Marsha Ramirez, Paul Overstreet, Sandy Lawrence, Sean P. McGraw and Shari Baker (harmony vocals)
Jimmy Nichols (piano, keyboards, accordion, strings)
Al Perkins and Mike Johnson (steel guitar, Resonator guitar)
Rory Feek also recorded a solo album on Giantslayer Records, ‘My Ol’ Man’, which he also made available only as a download.
In 2008, as a duo, Joey + Rory were the third-place finalists on CMT’s competition ‘Can You Duet’.
It was also in 2008 when Joey + Rory signed to Vanguard Records and saw the release, on Tuesday 28 October 2008, of their debut album; ‘The Life of A Song’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2008), which was produced by Carl Jackson, debuted at No.10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2008, and reached No.61 on the all-genre Billboard 200 Chart in 2008.
The lead-off single from Joey + Rory’s ‘The Life of A Song’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2008) was ‘Cheater, Cheater’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), Kristy Osmunson and Wynn Varble, and was originally recorded by the duo Bomshel; Kristy Osmonson, one-half of that duo, co-wrote the song with the Feeks and Wynn Varble. Bomshel’s version was released as a single in early 2008, but it did not chart.
Joey + Rory’s version of ‘Cheater, Cheater’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), Kristy Osmunson and Wynn Varble, was released in September 2008, featuring a music video, which included a cameo appearance from Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022), who had been a judge on CMT’s ‘Can You Duet’; Joey + Rory’s version peaked at No.30 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in early 2009.
Joey + Rory’s ‘The Life of A Song’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2008) also included the following tracks:
‘Play The Song’ (written by Rory Lee Feek) / this track was released as a single in 2009, but it did not chart
‘Sweet Emmylou’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Catherine Britt) / this track was also recorded by Erin Enderlin, who included it on ‘Chapter Three: Whatever Gets You Through The Night’ (Erin Enderlin Productions / Blaster Records, 2019), a 3-track extended play (EP) disc; the track was subsequently included on Erin Enderlin‘s ‘Faulkner County’ (Black Crow Productions, 2019)
‘Tonight Cowboy, You’re Mine’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Heidi Feek
‘Rodeo’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Cory Batten
‘Heart of The Wood’ (written by Dan Demay and Tony Villanueva)
‘Tune of A Twenty Dollar Bill’ (written by Shawn Camp and Mark D. Sanders)
‘Loved The Hell’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Wynn Varble
‘Free Bird’, which was written by Larkin Allen Collins Jr. (Saturday 19 July 1952 – Tuesday 23 January 1990) and Ronald Wayne Van Zant (Thursday 15 January 1948 – Thursday 20 October 1977) / this track, which was a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Free Bird’, was originally to have been released as the second single, but it was withdrawn after two weeks, and was replaced, in March 2009, with ‘Play The Song’, which failed to chart
‘Boots’ (written by Mike Ward, Touchstone McDonald and Mark Harris)
‘To Say Goodbye’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Jamie Teachenor / this track, which was the third single released from the album, was released to American country music radio on Monday 27 July 2009, but it failed to chart
‘The Life of A Song’ (written by Rebecca Lynn Howard and Patrick Jason Matthews)
Personnel involved in the recording of Joey + Rory’s ‘The Life of A Song’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2008) included the following:
Joey + Rory
Rory Feek (acoustic guitar, vocals)
Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) (vocals)
Additional Musicians
Tony Creasman (drums)
Kevin ‘Swine’ Grantt (bass guitar)
Aubrey Haynie (baritone violin, fiddle, mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro, lap steel guitar, Weissenborn)
Carl Jackson (banjo, acoustic guitar, background vocals)
Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Catherine Marx (piano, synthesizer strings)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar)
Ilya Toshinsky (acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, electric guitar)
Guthrie Trapp (electric guitar)
Bradley Walker (background vocals)
Joey + Rory’s ‘The Life of A Song’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2008), which also included the following tracks:The Life of a Song debuted at No.10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2008, and at No.61 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2008, sold approximately 8,000 copies in its first week of release. As of April 2010, the album had sold 215,000 copies.
Jimmy Wayne recorded Rory Feek’s ‘I Will’ (co-written with Dave Pahanish) and included the track on ‘Do You Believe Me Now’ (Valory Music Group Records, 2008); the track reached No.18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2008.
In February 2009, Joey + Rory were nominated for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards ‘Top Vocal Duo’.
On Monday 16 November 2009, Joey + Rory saw the release of their first holiday single, the Carl Jackson-produced ‘It’s Christmas Time’, to American country music radio, and to digital retailors on Sunday 24 November 2009; it was done in partnership with CMT One Country, who donated a portion of the proceeds from the single to various charities, including the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
Additionally, Rory Feek, along with Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012), created The Song Trust; under this an album of holiday songs performed by children, titled ‘Merry Kidsmas’, was released.
On Thursday 15 October 2009, Joey + Rory announced that they were in the recording studio, and were working on the follow-up album to ‘The Life of A Song’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2008).
The album, titled ‘Album No.2’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2010), was announced in January 2010 and given an expected release date of June 2010. The first single, ‘That’s Important To Me’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), was released to American country music radio in May 2010.
On Tuesday 16 March 2010, it was announced that Joey + Rory were the winners of the 2010 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Award for ‘Top New Vocal Duo’ and that they would compete alongside Luke Bryan and Gloriana for the ‘Top New Artist’ Award.
On Thursday 1 April 2010, Joey + Rory performed new songs from their upcoming album, participated in interviews and received their award on the Great American Country (GAC) special ‘ACM Top New Artists’.
On Tuesday 14 September 2010, Joey + Rory saw the release of ‘Album No.2’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2010), which included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘This Song’s For You’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Zac Brown) / this track, which featured guest vocals from Zac Brown Band, was released to American country music radio on Tuesday 20 July 2010, but it failed to enter the chart / this track was produced by Keith Stegall
‘That’s Important To Me’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) (No.51, 2011) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
Joey + Rory’s ‘Album No.2’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2010) also included the following tracks:
‘Album Number Two’ (written by Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘All You Need Is Me’ (written by Rory Lee Feek) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘Born To Be Your Woman’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Heidi Feek / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘Baby, I’ll Come Back To You’ (written by Rory Lee Feek, Matt Rossi and David Banning) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘God Help My Man’ (written by Rory Lee Feek, Jamie Teachenor and Paul Overstreet) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘The Horse Nobody Could Ride’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and David Banning) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘Farm To Fame’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Jim Collins) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘Where Jesus Is’ (written by Don Poythress, LeeAnn Hart and Donnie Skaggs) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘You Ain’t Right’ (written by Phil O’Donnell, Kelley Lovelace and Tim Owens) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
‘My Ol’ Man’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Luke Bryan) / this track was produced by Carl Jackson
Personnel involved in the recording of Joey + Rory’s ‘Album No.2’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2010) included the following:
Zac Brown (lead vocals on ‘This Song’s For You’)
Clay Cook (steel guitar, background vocals, and Hammond B-3 organ on ‘This Song’s For You’)
Tony Creasman, Shannon Forrest and Paul Leim (drums)
Heidi Feek (background vocals)
Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) (vocals)
Rory Feek (acoustic guitar, vocals)
Kevin ‘Swine’ Grantt (bass guitar)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
John Driskell Hopkins (backing vocals on ‘This Song’s For You’)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin, producer, background vocals)
Mike Johnson (acoustic guitar, steel guitar)
Jimmy de Martini (fiddle on ‘This Song’s For You’)
Catherine Marx (synthesizer, piano)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass guitar)
Adam Steffey and Barry Waldrep (mandolin)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Ilya Toshinsky (acoustic guitar)
Joey + Rory’s ‘Album No.2’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2010) reached No.9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2010, No.11 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart in 2011, and No.60 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2011, with sales of 6,986 in the first week. As of Saturday 16 October 2010, the album had sold 14,244 copies in the United States.
In 2011, Joey + Rory saw the release, on Sugar Hill Records, of ‘Headache’, a non-album single, which did not chart on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart.
On Tuesday 11 October 2011, Joey + Rory saw the release of ‘A Farmhouse Christmas’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2011), which included the following tracks:
‘It’s Christmas Time’ (written by Rory Lee Feek)
‘The Gift’ (written by Stephanie Davis)
‘If We Make It Through December’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) / the original version of this track was recorded by Merle Haggard, who included it on ‘Merle Haggard’s Christmas Present’ (Capitol Records, 1973); Merle Haggard‘s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for four weeks in December 1973 / January 1974, No.28 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1973, No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1973, No.30 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles Chart in 1973, and No.37 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks Chart in 1973
‘Remember Me’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
‘I Know What Santa’s Getting For Christmas’ (written by Garth Brooks and Kent Blazy)
‘What The Hell (It’s The Holidays)’ (written by Frank Rogers and Wynn Varble)
‘Blue Christmas’ (written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson)
‘Come Sit On Santa Claus’ Lap’ (written by Shawn Camp and Brice Long)
‘The Diamond O’ (written by Stephanie Davis)
‘Away In A Manger’ (traditional)
‘Let It Snow (Somewhere Else)’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), James T. Slater and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
‘Another Wonderful Christmas’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), James T. Slater and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
Joey + Rory’s ‘A Farmhouse Christmas’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2011) reached No.59 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 2011, and No.24 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums Chart in 2011.
On Tuesday 31 July 2012, Joey + Rory saw the release of ‘His & Hers’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2012), which included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘When I’m Gone’ (written by Sandy Emory Lawrence) (No.21, 2012)
‘Josephine’ (written by Rory Lee Feek) / this track was released as a single in 2012, but it did not chart
Joey + Rory’s ‘His & Hers’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2012) also included the following tracks:
‘Waiting For Someone’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Erin Enderlin)
‘Someday When I Grow Up’ (written by Rory Lee Feek, Tonya Lynette Stout and Dan Demay)
‘Let’s Pretend We Never Met’ (written by Kent Blazy and Leslie Satcher)
‘A Bible & A Belt’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Phillip Coleman)
‘Your Man Loves You Honey’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021) / the original version of this track was recorded by Tom T. Hall, who included it on ‘About Love’ (RCA Records, 1977); Tom T. Hall‘s version of the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977, and No.11 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1977
‘Love Your Man’, which was written by Heidi Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Rory Lee Feek
‘Cryin’ Smile’ (written by Phil O’Donnell, Gary Hannan and Ken Johnson)
‘He’s A Cowboy’ (written by David C. Banning, Cleve Clark and AJ Clark)
‘Teaching Me How To Love You’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Marty Dodson)
‘His & Hers’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Erin Enderlin)
Personnel involved in the recording of Joey + Rory’s ‘His & Hers’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2012) included the following:
Joey + Rory
Rory Feek (lead vocals, background vocals)
Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) (lead vocals, background vocals)
Additional Musicians
Alvarado Road Show, Heidi Feek and Sandy Emory Lawrence (background vocals)
Steve Brewster (drums)
Dennis Crouch and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle, viola)
Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Gordon Mote (piano)
Jon Randall Stewart (acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, electric guitar, background vocals)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin)
Joey + Rory’s ‘His & Hers’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2012) reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2012, No.19 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart in 2012, and No.112 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2012.
(photo taken on Wednesday 27 March 2013)
On Tuesday 16 July 2013, Joey + Rory saw the release of ‘Inspired: Songs of Faith & Family’ (Gaither Music Group, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘In The Garden’, which was written by Charles Austin Miles (7 January 1868 – Sunday 10 March 1946)
‘Long Line of Love’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Thom Schuyler)
‘Are You Washed In The Blood?’
‘My Life Is Based On A True Story’ (written by Richard Leigh)
‘Turning To The Light’ (written by Stephanie Davis)
‘The Preacher & The Stranger’ (written by Carl Cartee and Jerry Salley)
‘Amazing Grace’
‘It’ll Get You Where You’re Goin’ (written by Kelley Lovelace and Jerry Salley)
‘Gotta Go Back’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Josh Turner)
‘Hammerin’ Nails’ (written by Rory Lee Feek)
‘I See Him’, which was written by Heidi Feek, Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Rory Lee Feek
‘Leave It There’
On Tuesday 8 October 2013, Joey + Rory saw the release of ‘Made To Last’ (Farm House Recordings / Sound Cloud, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘If I Needed You’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Good Truck’ (written by Coy Bowles, Zac Brown, Nic Cowan and Rory Lee Feek)
‘Just A Cup of Coffee’ (written by Stephanie Davis)
‘50,000 Names’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021)
‘Dreamer’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Danny Potter
‘I Love You Song’ (written by Rory Lee Feek)
‘I’ll Sing For You’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Tony Martin)
‘Now That She’s Gone’ (written by Rory Lee Feek and Morgane Hayes)
‘Made To Last’ (written by Austin Cunningham and Allen Shamblin)
‘In A Cowboy’s Dreams’, which was written by Rory Lee Feek, Joey Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) and Jenny Yates
‘Enough’ (written by Rory Lee Feek)
‘To Do What I Do’ (written by Tiro Johnson)
Joey + Rory’s ‘Made To Last’ (Farm House Recordings, 2013) debuted at No.44 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2013.
At the beginning of 2014, Joey Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) encouraged Rory Lee Feek, while he wasn’t writing songs, to write about their lives instead. Rory Lee Feek started ‘This Life I Live‘, a blog, which didn’t have a plan or a purpose, other than to capture as much as possible, the days and moments of Joey + Rory’s life, and share them with others.
In May 2014, Joey + Rory saw the release, exclusively through Cracker Barrel, of ‘Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage’ (Gaither Music Group / Spring House, 2014); the album, which gained a general release on Tuesday 14 October 2014, included the following tracks:
‘How’s The World Treating You’, which was written by Chet Atkins (Friday 20 June 1924 – Saturday 30 June 2001) and Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987)
‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’ (written by Richard Leigh)
‘I’m Not Lisa’ (written by Jessi Colter)
‘Rocky Top’, which was written by Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987) and Felice Bryant (Friday 7 August 1925 – Tuesday 22 April 2003)
‘Let It Be Me’ (written by Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë and Manny Kurtz)
‘King of The Road’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992)
‘If I Needed You’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘I Believe In You’, which was written by Roger Cook and Sam Hogin (1950 – Monday 9 August 2004)
‘Hello Love’ (written by Aileen Mnich and Betty Jean Robinson)
‘Coat of Many Colors’ (written by Dolly Parton)
‘Paper Roses’ (written by Fred Spielman and Janice Torre)
‘Back Home Again’, which was written by John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 – Sunday 12 October 1997)
In October 2015, following Joey Martin Feek’s terminal cancer diagnosis, Joey + Rory cancelled all future concert appearances.
On Friday 12 February 2016, Joey + Rory’s ‘Hymns That Are Important To Us’ (Gaither Music Group, 2016), the duo’s seventh and final studio album, was released via Gaither Music Group. The album, which was a ‘dream project’ for Joey Marie Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016), included twelve covers of Christian hymns, plus a reprise of ‘When I’m Gone’ (written by Sandy Emory Lawrence), which was first featured on Joey + Rory’s ‘His & Hers’ (Vanguard Records / Sugar Hill Records, 2012) in 2012.
Some proceeds from the sale of the deluxe edition of Joey + Rory’s ‘Hymns That Are Important To Us’ (Gaither Music Group, 2016) went towards Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation, a charity which was selected by Joey Martin Feek in honour of her daughter’s friend, who had Loeys-Dietz Syndrome.
Joey + Rory’s ‘Hymns That Are Important To Us’ (Gaither Music Group, 2016) debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2016, and at No.1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart in 2016, with first week sales of 68,000 copies, making it their highest-charting release and the duo’s best sales week ever.
Joey + Rory’s ‘Hymns That Are Important To Us’ (Gaither Music Group, 2016) included the following tracks:
‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ (written by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey)
‘I Surrender All’ (written by Judson W. Van DeVenter and Winfield Weeden)
‘He Touched Me’ (written by William Gaither)
‘Softly & Tenderly’ (written by Will L. Thompson)
‘Jesus Loves Me’ (written by William B. Bradbury and Anna B. Warner)
‘It Is Well With My Soul’ (written by Philip Bliss and Horatio Gates Spafford)
‘The Old Rugged Cross’ (written by George Bennard)
‘I Need Thee Every Hour’ (written by Annie S. Hawks and Robert Lowry)
‘How Great Thou Art’, which was written by Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (25 July 1899 – Tuesday 14 March 1989)
‘I’ll Fly Away’, which was written by Albert Edward Brumley (Sunday 29 October 1905 – Tuesday 15 November 1977)
‘Jesus Paid it All’ (written by John T. Grape and Elvina Hall)
‘Suppertime’ (written by Ira Forest Stanphill)
‘When I’m Gone’ (written by Sandy Emory Lawrence)
Rory Feek wrote and produced a film, ‘Josephine’, which was set during the American Civil War, and included Joey + Rory’s song of the same name, which was written by Rory Lee Feek.
On Friday 4 March 2016, during the filming of ‘Josephine’, Joey Martin Feek (Wednesday 10 September 1975 – Friday 4 March 2016) passed away; she was forty years old. Rory Lee Feek’s film, ‘Josephine’, later debuted at Nashville Film Festival.
Erin Enderlin recorded Rory Lee Feek’s ‘Sweet Emmylou’ (co-written with Catherine Britt) and included the track on ‘Chapter Three: Whatever Gets You Through The Night’ (Erin Enderlin Productions / Blaster Records, 2019), a 3-track extended play (EP) disc; the track was subsequently included on Erin Enderlin‘s ‘Faulkner County’ (Black Crow Productions, 2019).
• Visit Rory Feek’s official site at hardisonmill.com/roryfeek