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 2012, 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 Jerry Kilgore, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 5 July 2012.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jerry Kilgore who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jerry Kilgore
This quote was submitted on Saturday 14 July 2012.
‘I sure had a great time on tour with Gene Watson in England in July 2012.
What a class act!’
‘Gene Watson is one of the all-time greatest country singers, ever. For me it was Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), Ricky Skaggs, George Strait and Gene Watson, not necessarily in that order.
The best compliment I think I ever received was, after coming off stage in a bar in Portland, Oregon nearly twenty-five years ago, an older gentleman stopped me to say ‘Boy, when you sing, I hear Gene Watson, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), George Strait and Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), all wrapped in one’.
That made me feel so good, I’ve never forgotten it’.
Thank you, Jerry Kilgore, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jerry Kilgore…
Jerry Kilgore was born in Tillamook, Oregon on Thursday 12 November 1964 and, at the time of the acquisition of this ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson, in July 2012, he was residing in Franklin, Tennessee.
Jerry Kilgore assembled his first band when he was 19 years old and worked for two years in a Portland, Oregon honky-tonk. Jerry Kilgore then put in three years working Arizona clubs and another three years fronting a band in Salisbury, North Carolina, before he moved to Nashville. Eventually, Jerry Kilgore found a deal as a songwriter.
Tracy Byrd recorded Jerry Kilgore’s ‘Love Lessons’ (co-written with Ted Hewitt, Monty Powell and Sarah Majors) and included the track on ‘Love Lessons’ (MCA Records, 1995); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.
Jerry Kilgore then signed to Asylum Records, but did not record anything for the label.
Mark Wills recorded Jerry Kilgore’s ‘Leavin’ Comin’ On’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘Mark Wills’ (Mercury Records, 1996).
John Michael Montgomery recorded Jerry Kilgore’s ‘Cover You In Kisses’ (co-written with Brett Jones and Jess Brown) and included the track on ‘Leave a Mark’ (Atlantic Records, 1998); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1998.
Clay Walker recorded Jerry Kilgore’s ‘If A Man Ain’t Thinking (‘Bout His Woman)’ (co-written with Buddy Brock and Debi Cochran) and included the track on ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ (Giant Records, 1999).
In 1999, Jerry Kilgore was the first male singer signed to Virgin Nashville Records’ by label president Scott Hendricks. Songwriters Jeff Stevens and Steve Bogard produced four songs on Jerry Kilgore and played the demo for Scott Hendricks at Virgin Nashville Records, who decided to sign the singer.
On Tuesday 21 September 1999, Virgin Nashville released Jerry Kilgore’s debut album, ‘Love Trip’ (Virgin Nashville, 1999). Produced by Steve Bogard, Jeff Stevens and Scott Hendricks, ‘Love Trip’ (Virgin Nashville, 1999) was a collection of smooth, easy-going country songs which were reminiscent of material which George Strait would record.
Virgin Nashville billed Jerry Kilgore’s music as ‘new country that tasted vintage’.
The album’s first single, and video, ‘Love Trip’ (written by Gil Grand, Brett Jones and Jerry Kilgore), reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999, while a further two singles were released in 2000, ‘The Look’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jeff Stevens) (No.49, 2000) and ‘Cactus In A Coffee Can’ (written by Allen Shamblin) (No.73, 2000).
Jerry Kilgore’s debut album, ‘Love Trip’ (Virgin Nashville, 1999), also included the following tracks:
‘I Just Want My Baby Back’ (written by Ted Hewitt and Jerry Kilgore)
‘The More I Love You’ (written by Steve Bogard, Jerry Kilgore and Jeff Stevens)
‘All I’ve Got To Say’ (written by Jim Collins, Rob Crosby and Paul Overstreet)
‘It’s Dangerous With You On My Mind’ (written by Steve Bogard, Jerry Kilgore and Jeff Stevens)
‘Don’t Tell Me You’re Not In Love’, which was written by Tony Colton, Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and Bobby Wood
‘All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose’ (written by Jerry Kilgore)
‘If A Man Ain’t Thinking (‘Bout His Woman)’ (written by Buddy Brock, Debbie Cochran and Jerry Kilgore)
‘Lonesome Love List’ (written by Ted Hewitt and Jerry Kilgore)
‘The Real Thing’ (written by Steve Bogard, Scott Borchetta and Jeff Stevens)
When ‘The Look’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jeff Stevens) (No.49, 2000) and ‘Cactus In A Coffee Can’ (written by Allen Shamblin) (No.73, 2000) failed to make the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, Jerry Kilgore was dropped from the roster of Virgin Nashville Records.
Clay Walker recorded Jerry Kilgore’s ‘If You Ever Feel Like Lovin’ Me Again’ (co-written with Jeff Stevens and Steve Bogard) and included the track on ‘Say No More’ (Giant Records, 2001); the track reached No.27 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2001.
In 2007, Jerry Kilgore established his own personal record label, Nic Nic Neer Records.
On Tuesday 18 March 2008, Jerry Kilgore saw the release of his first independent album, the highly acclaimed ‘Loaded & Empty’ (Nic Nic Neer Records, 2008), which Jerry Kilgore co-produced with Matt Rollings; the track ‘Whats It Take To Get A Drink In Here’ was released as a single, but it did not chart.
Jerry Kilgore’s ‘Loaded & Empty’ (Nic Nic Neer Records, 2008) also included the following tracks:
‘Down On My Luck’
‘Ain’t Got One Honky Tonk’
‘Loaded & Empty’
‘Both Be On Our Way’
‘Let’s Talk About Us’
‘Shore Thing’
‘Night of Day’
‘American Car’ (written by Bob DiPiero)
‘Hag’
‘Not Another Goodbye’
‘Lookin’ For A Highway’
On Saturday 31 March 2012, Jerry Kilgore saw the release of his second independent album ‘Telephone, TX’ (Nic Nic Neer Records, 2012); the track ‘Places To Go’ (written by Melody Guy and Jerry Kilgore) was released from the album as a single, but it did not chart.
Jerry Kilgore’s ‘Telephone, TX’ (Nic Nic Neer Records, 2012) also included the following tracks:
‘Can’t Hide A Heartache’ (written by Jerry Kilgore and Morry Trent)
‘Life Goes On’ (written by Janet Guess-Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore)
‘If Ya Wanna Keep Your Beer Cold’ (written by Janet Guess-Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore)
‘Do My Own Thing’ (written by Janet Guess-Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore)
‘Everybody Knows Me’ (written by Jerry Kilgore)
‘Leavin’ Feelin’ (written by Jerry Kilgore)
‘Ain’t On The Menu’ (written by Jerry Kilgore and Morry Trent)
‘Right Where You Belong’ (written by Jerry Kilgore and Morry Trent)
‘The Truth’ (written by Janet Guess-Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore)
‘Born Rich’ (written by Jerry Kilgore and Morry Trent)
‘Cinnamon Bay’ (written by Janet Guess-Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore)
‘Telephone, TX’ (written by Janet Guess-Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore)
In July 2012, Jerry Kilgore toured England and played dates on Friday 6 July 2012, Saturday 7 July 2012, Sunday 8 July 2012 and Monday 9 July 2012.
Sammy Sadler recorded Jerry Kilgore’s ‘Heart Shaped Like Texas’ (co-written with Ted Hewitt) and included the track on ‘Heart Shaped Like Texas’ (S Records, 2012).
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