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 2011, 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 Landon Dodd, which he submitted to this site on Friday 23 September 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Landon Dodd who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Landon Dodd
This quote was submitted on Friday 23 September 2011.
‘I’m a Gene Watson fan; you bet I am.
Gene has one of the finest voices in modern country music!’
Thank you, Landon Dodd, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Landon Dodd…
Landon Dodd was born on Wednesday 28 August 1974 in Fort Worth, Texas and music has always been a big part of his life.
Music was constantly playing in Landon Dodd’s childhood home, as well as the gospel songs sung at church. Sometimes the two would overlap! Landon Dodd’s Dad tells a funny story of a three-year-old Landon standing up in a quiet church building singing ‘I’m a Dirty White Boy’.
While his parents listened to everything from the aforementioned Foreigner to Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) to Willie Nelson to Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975), Landon Dodd always loved that traditional country music sound and its shuffle beat.
Landon Dodd’s father bought him his first guitar when he was seventeen years old.
Landon Dodd immediately fell in love with the instrument and knew that playing and singing were going to be a permanent part of his life.
Landon Dodd spent some time at Abilene Christian and Tarrant County College, studying music. From there, Landon Dodd was in and out of bands for the next few years and formed a few of his own.
After taking some time off from the music business, Landon Dodd made a comeback in 2006 and formed his band The Dancehall Drifters. The band entered and won the 92.1 KTFW ‘Battle of the Bands’ contest.
Landon Dodd & The Dancehall Drifters performed at Legend’s Fest in Sundance Square, along with a number of country music artists, including Tommy Alverson, Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), Johnny Rodriguez, Doug Stone and Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019).
Landon Dodd & The Dancehall Drifters have also opened shows for Gene Watson, Johnny Rodriguez and Moe Bandy.
Landon Dodd & The Dancehall Drifters were the Academy of Western Artist ‘Pure Country Band of The Year’.
The Dancehall Drifters have been gaining a large following for those who love the true shuffles with an emphasis on fiddle and steel guitar. They have played dancehalls all over Texas, including The Finish Line Club and Pearl’s Dancehall & Saloon in Fort Worth, London Hall in London, The Western Club in Navasota, The Coachman in San Angelo and many more along the way.
In 2010, Landon Dodd saw the release of his debut album, ‘Call of The Wine’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2010), which included traditional dance hall country music, replete with shuffles, two steps and waltzes, accompanied by steel guitar and fiddles.
Landon Dodd’s ‘Call of The Wine’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2010) was released under the imprint of Heart of Texas Records, a recording company whose sui genesis is to propagate pure unadulterated country music evidenced by the records released by its signed roster, including Amber Digby, Justin Trevino and Leona Williams.
Landon Dodd’s ‘Call of The Wine’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2010) featured heavy weights of the traditional country music scene who dominate the disc, with Jake Hooker on bass and Bobby Flores (Sunday 18 June 1961 – Thursday 23 June 2022) on fiddle, along with Amber Digby, Justin Trevino and Leona Williams on backing vocals.
The tracks on Landon Dodd’s ‘Call of The Wine’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2010) are culled from the classic country music songbook, including Ray Price‘s ‘I Want To Hear It From You’ (1966), Wynn Stewart‘s ‘I Bought The Shoes That Just Walked Out On Me’ (1970), George Jones‘ ‘A Good Year For The Roses’ (1971) and Mel Tillis & Sherry Bryce’s ‘Mr. Right & Mrs. Wrong’ (1974), the latter recorded as a duet with Amber Digby.
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded ‘I Want To Hear It From You’ and included the track on ‘Another Bridge To Burn’ (Columbia Records, 1966).
Wynn Stewart (Thursday 7 June 1934 – Wednesday 17 July 1985) recorded ‘I Bought The Shoes That Just Walked Out On Me’ and included the track on ‘You Don’t Care What Happens To Me’ (Capitol Records, 1970).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded ‘A Good Year For The Roses’ and included the track on ‘George Jones With Love’ (Musicor Records, 1971); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1971.
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) & Sherry Bryce recorded ‘Mr. Right & Mrs. Wrong’ and included the track on ‘Let’s Go All The Way Tonight’ (MGM Records, 1974).
Landon Dodd’s ‘Call of The Wine’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2010) also included ‘We’re Off & Loving Again’, which was a duet with Leona Williams – the third wife of Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) – along with the 1971 classic Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) hit ‘There’s Something About A Lady’.
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded ‘There’s Something About A Lady’ and included the track on ‘Leavin’ & Sayin’ Goodbye’ (Mercury Records, 1971).
In 2016, Landon Dodd saw the release of ‘What Comes Natural To A Fool’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2016), which was produced by Landon Dodd and Jake Hooker, and included the following tracks:
‘What Comes Natural To A Fool’ (written by Ronald Elmer McCown)
‘All They Serve In Here Is Misery’ (written by Landon Dodd)
‘Excuse Me (But You Know That’s It So)’, which was written by Cindy Walker (Saturday 20 July 1918 – Thursday 23 March 2006)
‘Because of You’ (written by Jake Hooker, Sheila Hooker and Kacey Hooker)
‘Give A Lonely Heart A Home’
‘One Bar At A Time’
‘Our Paths May Never Cross’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Same Old Town’, which was written by Skeets McDonald (Friday 1 October 1915 – Sunday 31 March 1968) and Eddie Miller (Wednesday 10 December 1919 – Monday 11 April 1977)
‘Barstool Mountain’, which was written by Wayne Carson (Monday 31 May 1943 – Monday 20 July 2015) and Donn Tankersley
‘I’m Still Not Over You’ (written by Ronnie Milsap)
‘Loving You Could Never Be Better’
‘Mabel’, which was written by Skeets McDonald (Friday 1 October 1915 – Sunday 31 March 1968) and Eddie Miller (Wednesday 10 December 1919 – Monday 11 April 1977)
Personnel involved in the recording of Landon Dodd’s ‘What Comes Natural To A Fool’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2016), included the following:
Jake Hooker (bass)
Josh Rodgers (drums)
Dan Walton (piano)
Rocky Gribble (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Gary Carpenter (steel guitar)
Jess Meador and Hank Singer (twin fiddles)
Stephen Bailey and Roxanne Poe (harmony vocals)
• Visit Landon Dodd’s official site at landondoddmusic.com