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 2013, 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 Eric Taylor, which he submitted to this site on Friday 8 March 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Eric Taylor who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
photo courtesy of Stephen L. Clark
Eric Taylor
This quote was submitted on Friday 8 March 2013.
‘Gene Watson was carved out of God’s jukebox.
And, he carved with one hand, while he was raising the needle on the hi-fi to get to the third song.
Thank you, and keep things going for Watson and his kind. Spin the world.
As Gene would say, ‘it’s all we’ve got, except for last night’
Thank you, Eric Taylor, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Eric Taylor…
(photo courtesy of Marco Bakker)
Eric Taylor, who was born in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday 25 September 1949, was a sage musician, a lyrical genius and a master of the guitar.
If you’re familiar with the intricate Texas singer/songwriter jigsaw puzzle, you probably already know a lot about Eric Taylor.
If you’re not familiar with Eric Taylor by name, you’ve probably heard his songs, which have been performed by a number of artists, including Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) and Lyle Lovett.
Eric Taylor has created a multitude of fans and devotees who are legends themselves in the singer/songwriter realm, artists who have long considered Eric Taylor to be a teacher and a lantern bearer whose time is long overdue.
Eric Taylor grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and started playing soul music in his early years, steeping himself in the rich cultural heritage of the black South. Eric Taylor has written poetry all his life and, when he learned how to play guitar, it was a natural progression to write songs.
After high school, a brief stint at Georgetown University in Washington, DC in Eric Taylor’s own words, ‘just didn’t work out’.
Music lured Eric Taylor away; he made his way to California, but ran out of money and ended up in Houston, Texas where the musical environment during the 1970s was just what Eric Taylor needed to inspire him.
Eric Taylor learned intricate blues guitar stylings from music legends Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mance Lipscomb and Mississippi Fred McDowell, while working at The Family Hand Club.
Later, Eric Taylor developed his own unique guitar picking style, which would be imitated by many of his contemporaries from the early Houston days, including Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016), Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997), Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle and Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021).
As Eric Taylor recalls, ‘There were no lines drawn in the sand between musical genres in Houston back in those days. You were just a musician. I believe so many great writers came out of that scene because you could learn from others. Isn’t that the point of this whole thing?’
In 1977, Eric Taylor was a winner of the ‘New Folk’ competition at Kerrville Folk Festival.
In December 1977 and January 1978, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) saw the recording of her debut album, ‘There’s A Light Beyond These Woods’ (B.F. Deal Records, 1978), which took place at Pecan Street Studios in Austin, Texas; the album was produced by Mike Williams and Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), and included the following tracks:
‘I Remember Joe’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Alabama Soft Spoken Blues’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) and Maggie Graham
‘Michael’s Song’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Song For Remembered Heroes’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘West Texas Sun’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘There’s A Light Beyond These Woods (Mary Margaret)’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) / Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) re-recorded this track and included it on ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (MCA Records, 1987)
‘Dollar Matinee’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track featured Eric Taylor on lead vocal and acoustic guitar
‘Montana Backroads’ (written by Bruce Carlson)
‘John Philip Griffith’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
Personnel involved in the recording of Nanci Caroline Griffith‘s debut album, ‘There’s A Light Beyond These Woods’ (B.F. Deal Records, 1978), included the following:
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (lead vocal, acoustic guitar)
Eric Taylor (Sunday 25 September 1949 – Monday 9 March 2020) (lead vocal, acoustic guitar on ‘Dollar Matinee’)
Tom Pittman (banjo)
Stephen Doster (acoustic lead guitar)
Rick West (acoustic lead guitar, Dobro, mandolin)
Tom Ellis (mandolin on ‘Montana Backroads’)
Hugh Sparks (bass guitar, supporting vocals)
Paul Kelly (bass guitar)
John Hagen (cello)
Mike Williams (12-string guitar, wind chimes, supporting vocals)
Richard Cooper (electric piano on ‘Alabama Soft Spoken Blues’)
Carla Cain, Lela Cain, Maggie Graham, Franci Files and Frank Delvy (supporting vocals)
Nanci Caroline Griffith‘s debut album, ‘There’s A Light Beyond These Woods’ (B.F. Deal Records, 1978) was subsequently released by Featherbed Records in 1982 and by Philo Records / Rounder Records in 1986.
In 1981, Eric Taylor saw the release of his debut album, ‘Shameless Love’ (Featherbed Records, 1981), which included the following tracks:
‘Only Lovers’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Game of Hearts’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Hey, Little Ryder’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘East Texas Moon’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Joseph Cross’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Featherbed’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Shermann Karmann’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Cowgirl’s Heel’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Charlie Ray McWhite’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Shameless Love’ (written by Eric Taylor)
In 2004, Eric Taylor’s debut album, ‘Shameless Love’ (Featherbed Records, 1981), was re-issued by Blue Ruby Music, Eric Taylor’s record label, and included two bonus tracks, ‘Dollar Bill Hines’ (written by Eric Taylor) and ‘Half Moon Hotel’ (written by Eric Taylor).
Recording sessions for Eric Taylor’s debut album, ‘Shameless Love’ (Featherbed Records, 1981), took place at Loma Ranch Studios, near Fredericksburg, Texas; the album was co-produced by Eric Taylor and the studio owners, John Hill and Laurie Hill, and featured prominent vocals from Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021).
In 1982, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) saw the release of ‘Poet In My Window’ (Philo Records, 1982), which was recorded at Loma Ranch Studio in Fredericksberg, Texas and produced by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), John Hill and Laurie Hill, included the following tracks:
‘Marilyn Monroe / Neon & Waltzes’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Heart of A Miner’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Julie Anne’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘You Can’t Go Home Again’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘October Reasons’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Wheels’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Workin’ In Corners’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Waltzing With The Angels’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Trouble With Roses’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Tonight I Think I’m Gonna Go Downtown’ (written by Jimmie Gilmore and John Reed)
‘Poet In My Window’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
Personnel involved in the recording of Nanci Caroline Griffith‘s ‘Poet In My Window’ (Philo Records, 1982) included the following:
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (acoustic guitar, lead vocal, harmony vocals)
Brian Wood (acoustic lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, harmony vocals)
Wells Young (piano, synthesizer, bass on ‘October Reasons’)
Eric Taylor (Sunday 25 September 1949 – Monday 9 March 2020) and Al Copp (bass)
Evelyne Taylor (harmony vocals)
John Hill (drums)
The Gulf Coasters (harmony vocals on ‘Wheels’)
Marlin Griffith (tenor)
John Grosnick (lead)
Dick Blatter (baritone)
Mo Rector (vocal arrangements)
In 2002, Nanci Caroline Griffith‘s ‘Poet In My Window’ (Philo Records, 1982) was re-issued with a bonus track, ‘Can’t Love Wrong’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), in the unusual position as the album’s lead-off track, preceding all of the original tracks.
In 1984, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) saw the release of ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (Philo Records, 1984), which was recorded at ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clements’ Cowboy Arms Hotel & Recording Spa in Nashville, and produced by Jim Rooney and Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), included the following tracks:
‘Ghost In The Music’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) and Eric Taylor (Sunday 25 September 1949 – Monday 9 March 2020)
‘Love Is A Hard Waltz’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Roseville Fair’ (written by Bill Staines)
‘Mary & Omie’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Friend Out In The Madness’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Time Alone’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Ballad of Robin Winter-Smith’, which was written by Richard Dobson (Thursday 19 March 1942 – Saturday 16 December 2017)
‘Daddy Said’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (written by Pat Alger and Gene Levine) / this track was also recorded by Dolly Parton, who included it on ‘Real Love’ (RCA Records, 1985)
‘I’m Not Drivin’ These Wheels’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Year Down In New Orleans’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Spin On A Red Brick Floor’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
The CD release of Nanci Caroline Griffith‘s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (Philo Records, 1984) included the following additional track:
‘If I Were The Woman You Wanted’ (written by Lyle Lovett)
Personnel involved in the recording of Nanci Caroline Griffith‘s ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (Philo Records, 1984) included the following:
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (acoustic guitar, lead vocals, harmony vocals)
Pat Alger(acoustic guitar, sea gulls)
John Catchings (cello)
Philip Donnelly (Friday 31 December 1948 – Thursday 28 November 2019) (electric guitar)
Stephen Doster (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Denise Franke and Lyle Lovett (harmony vocals)
Lloyd Green (Dobro, pedal steel guitar)
Mark Howard (acoustic rhythm guitar, high-strung guitar)
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) (up-right bass)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (percussion)
Mark O’Connor (piccolo mandolin, mandolin, fiddle, violin, mandola)
Ralph Vitello (piano, synthesizer)
In 1986, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) saw the release of ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986); the album, which was recorded between Monday 7 October 1985 and Wednesday 9 October 1985 at ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement’s Cowboy Arms Hotel & Recording Spa in Nashville, and produced by Jim Rooney and Nanci Caroline Griffith, included the following tracks:
‘Last of The True Believers’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Love At The Five & Dime’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) / this track was also recorded by Kathy Mattea, who included it on ‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (Mercury Records, 1986)
‘St. Olav’s Gate’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘More Than A Whisper’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) and Bobby Nelson
‘Banks of The Pontchartrain’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Lookin’ For The Time (Workin’ Girl)’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Goin’ Gone’ (written by Pat Alger, Bill Dale and Fred Koller) / this track was also recorded by Kathy Mattea, who included it on ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987); Kathy Mattea‘s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in 1987
‘One of These Days’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Love’s Found A Shoulder’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
Fly By Night’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘The Wing & The Wheel’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
Personnel involved in the recording of Nanci Caroline Griffith’s ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986) included the following:
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) (vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar)
Philip Donnelly (Friday 31 December 1948 – Thursday 28 November 2019) (electric guitar)
Pat Alger (acoustic guitar, high-string guitar)
Rick West (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) (double bass)
Ralph Vitello (piano)
Lloyd Green (Dobro, pedal steel guitar)
Béla Fleck (banjo)
Mark O’Connor (mandolin, violin, mandola)
John Catchings (cello)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (drums, percussion)
Lyle Lovett (harmony vocals)
Pros & Cons Harmony Choir – Marlin ‘Griff’ Griffith, Richard Dobson (Thursday 19 March 1942 – Saturday 16 December 2017), Robert Earl Keen and Tom Russell (harmony vocals on ‘St. Olav’s Gate’)
Rachel Peer Prine (harmony vocals on ‘More Than A Whisper’)
Maura O’Connell (harmony vocals on ‘Banks of The Pontchartrain’)
Curtis Allen (harmony vocals on ‘Fly By Night’)
Gove Scrivenor (autoharp on ‘Goin’ Gone’)
Robin Batteau (violin on ‘The Wing & The Wheel’)
The front and back cover of Nanci Caroline Griffith’s ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986) were shot at The Blue Moon Cafe in Austin, Texas.
The photograph on the album cover contains several references to the album’s songs. A couple can be seen dancing behind Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), standing in front of a Woolworth’s store as described in ‘Love At The Five & Dime’. The male dancer is Lyle Lovett, who also appears on the album as a vocalist. The man standing at the far left is John T. Davis who, at the time, was a music writer for The Austin American-Statesman.
The acclaim accorded Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) following the release of ‘Once In A Very Blue Moon’ (Philo Records, 1984) and ‘The Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986) would gain her a contract with MCA Records, a major recording company. At MCA Records, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) continued her turn toward a more country music-oriented work, with the release of ‘Lone Star State of Mind’ (MCA Records, 1987).
Nanci Caroline Griffith’s ‘One Fair Summer Evening’ (MCA Records, 1988) was her seventh album and was her first to be recorded in a ‘live’ setting. The album, which was recorded on Friday 19 August 1988 and Saturday 20 August 1988 at Anderson Fair, in Houston, Texas (Anderson Fair was a club long known for featuring folk artists in an intimate setting), reached No.43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1988.
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) mainly performed ‘live’ versions of songs from her previously released albums, but added in a couple of new tracks, including ‘Deadwood, South Dakota’ (written by Eric Taylor).
In late 1988, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) saw the release of ‘Storms’ (MCA Records, 1988), the title track of which was written by Eric Taylor; the album reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989.
On Tuesday 27 September 1994, Lyle Lovett saw the release of ‘I Love Everybody’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1994); one of the included tracks was ‘Fat Babies’ (written by Lyle Lovett and Eric Taylor), which featured Eric Taylor and Julia Roberts on background vocals.
After a hiatus of almost fourteen years, Eric Taylor returned to the recording scene with a self-titled album, ‘Eric Taylor’ (Watermelon Records, 1995), which was selected, in 1996, as The Kerrville Folk Festival ‘Album of The Year’, and included the following tracks:
‘Dean Moriarty’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Prison Movie’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Hey, Little Ryder’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Deadwood’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Mission Door’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Tractor Song’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Visitors From Indiana’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘All So Much Like Me’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Whooping Crane’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Hemingway’s Shotgun’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘All Day Saturday’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Shoeshine Boy’ (written by Eric Taylor)
Eric Taylor’s self-titled album, ‘Eric Taylor’ (Watermelon Records, 1995), featured a number of special guests, including Denice Franke and Lyle Lovett on background vocals, Ted Roddy on harmonica and Gene Elders on violin.
In 1998, Denice Franke saw the release of her debut album, ‘You Don’t Know Me’ (de nICE gIRL Music, 1998), which was produced by Eric Taylor, and featured musicians Mike Sumler, Gene Elders, Glenn Fukunaga, Paul Pearcy, Eric Demmer, Iain Matthews and Tommie Lee Jackson.
In 1998, Eric Taylor saw the release of ‘Resurrect’ (Koch Records,1998), which was produced by Eric Taylor, and included the following tracks:
‘Walkin’ Back Home’
‘Louis Armstrong’s Broken Heart’
‘Sweet Sunny South’
‘Texas, Texas’
‘Two Fires’
‘Birdland’
‘Strong Enough For Two’
‘Four Great White Fathers’
‘Comanche’
‘Resurrect’
‘Depot Light’
Eric Taylor’s ‘Resurrect’ (Koch Records,1998) was subsequently named one of the ‘100 essential records of all time’ by Buddy Magazine; the album featured background vocals from Denice Franke.
On Tuesday 22 September 1998, Lyle Lovett saw the release of ‘Step Inside This House’ (MCA Records, 1998).
In contrast to his earlier albums, which were populated with Lyle Lovett’s own songs, ‘Step Inside This House’ (MCA Records, 1998) was a 2-disc set of songs written by fellow Texans, including the following:
Disc 1
‘Bears’, which was written by Steven Fromholz (Friday 8 June 1945 – Sunday 19 January 2014)
‘Lungs’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Step Inside This House (Step Inside My House)’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016)
‘Memphis Midnight / Memphis Morning’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘I’ve Had Enough’ (written by Vince Bell and Craig Calvert)
‘Teach Me About Love’, which was written by Walter Hyatt (Tuesday 25 October 1949 – Saturday 11 May 1996)
‘Sleepwalking’ (written by Willis Alan Ramsey)
‘Ballad of The Snow Leopard & The Tanqueray Cowboy’ (written by David Rodriguez)
‘More Pretty Girls Than One’ (traditional)
‘West Texas Highway’ (written by Boomer Castleman and Michael Martin Murphey)
‘Rollin’ By’ (written by Robert Earl Keen)
Disc 2
‘Texas Trilogy: Daybreak’, which was written by Steven Fromholz (Friday 8 June 1945 – Sunday 19 January 2014)
‘Texas Trilogy: Train Ride’, which was written by Steven Fromholz (Friday 8 June 1945 – Sunday 19 January 2014)
‘Texas Trilogy: Bosque County Romance’, which was written by Steven Fromholz (Friday 8 June 1945 – Sunday 19 January 2014)
‘Flyin’ Shoes’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Babes In The Woods’, which was written by Walter Hyatt (Tuesday 25 October 1949 – Saturday 11 May 1996)
‘Highway Kind’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Lonely In Love’, which was written by Walter Hyatt (Tuesday 25 October 1949 – Saturday 11 May 1996)
‘If I Needed You’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘I’ll Come Knockin’, which was written by Walter Hyatt (Tuesday 25 October 1949 – Saturday 11 May 1996)
‘Texas River Song’ (traditional)
Personnel involved in the recording of Lyle Lovett’s ‘Step Inside This House’ (MCA Records, 1998) including the following:
Lyle Lovett (vocals, acoustic guitar)
Sam Bush (mandolin)
Russ Kunkel (drums)
Luis Conte (percussion)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro, Weissenborn)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitar)
Dean Parks (electric guitar)
Don Potter (acoustic guitar)
John Hagen (cello)
Deschamps Hood, Alison Krauss and David Ball (harmony vocals)
Viktor Krauss and Leland Sklar (bass)
Matt Rollings (piano)
Eric Taylor has headlined the prestigious Newport Folk Festival, played National Public Radio’s ‘Mountain Stage’ and has appeared on both ‘Late Night With David Letterman’ with Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), and ‘Austin City Limits’ with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Robert Earl Keen.
‘To say that Eric Taylor is one of the finest writers of our time, would be an understatement. If you miss an opportunity to hear Eric Taylor, you have missed a chance to hear a voice I consider the William Faulkner of songwriting in our current time’ Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded several of Eric Taylor’s songs, including ‘Deadwood’, ‘Storms’, ‘Dollar Matinee’ and ‘Ghost in The Music’, the latter track was one they wrote together.
Lyle Lovett, who has recorded Eric Taylor’s ‘Memphis Midnight / Memphis Morning’, ‘Whooping Crane’, ‘Understand You’, and with whom Eric Taylor co-wrote the immensely popular ‘Fat Babies’, has compared Eric Taylor’s narrative voice to that of Bruce Springsteen.
On Tuesday 27 February 2001, Denice Franke saw the release of ‘Comfort’ (Certain Records, 2001), which was produced and arranged by Eric Taylor, and featured musicians Mike Sumler, James Gilmer, Gene Elders, John Hagen, Tommy Elskes, Eric Demmer and Craig Holden.
Denice Franke’s ‘Comfort’ (Certain Records, 2001) included the following tracks:
‘Little Bit of Poison’ (written by David Olney)
‘Personally’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘Kindred Skin’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘Indifference’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘Hard Comin’ Home’ (written by Denice Franke and Doug Hudson)
‘100 Miles From Mexico’ (written by Vince Bell)
‘Morning Glories’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘To The Light’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘Let Me Go’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘Friends Out There’ (written by Denice Franke)
‘Dance Intro’ (written by Eric Demmer)
‘Dance To The Moon’ (written by Denice Franke)
On Tuesday 20 March 2001, Eric Taylor saw the release of ‘Scuffletown’ (Eminent Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘Happy Endings’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Where I Lead Me’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘All The Way To Heaven’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Chicken Pie’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Blue Piano’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘White Bone’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Delia’ / ‘Bad News’ (written by Eric Taylor) (traditional)
‘Your God’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Bread & Wine’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Game Is Gone’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Nothin’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
Eric Taylor’s ‘Scuffletown’ (Eminent Records, 2001) featured background vocals from Denice Franke.
Following the release of ‘Scuffletown’ (Eminent Records, 2001), Eric Taylor was a featured artist on ‘Austin City Limits’ and National Public Radio’s ‘Morning Edition’.
On Tuesday 3 June 2003, Eric Taylor saw the release of his first ‘live’ album, ‘The Kerrville Tapes’ (Silverwolf Records, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘Sweet Sunny South’ (public domain / written by Eric Taylor)
‘Texas, Texas’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Where I Lead Me’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Prison Movie’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Walkin’ Back Home’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Louis Armstrong’s Broken Heart’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Hemingway’s Shotgun’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Two Fires’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Birdland’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Strong Enough For Two’ (written by Eric Taylor)
Eric Taylor’s first ‘live’ album, ‘The Kerrville Tapes’ (Silverwolf Records, 2003), was recorded during three years of appearances at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival and featured background vocals from Denice Franke.
In 2004, heeding repeated requests by fans and media, Eric Taylor re-mastered the vinyl album, ‘Shameless Love’ (Featherbed Records, 1981), and re-issued it on CD, on Blue Ruby Music, complete with two bonus tracks, ‘Dollar Bill Hines’ and ‘Half Moon Hotel’.
The 2004 re-issue, on Blue Ruby Music, of Eric Taylor’s ‘Shameless Love’ (Featherbed Records, 1981), included the following tracks:
‘Only Lovers’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Game of Hearts’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Hey, Little Ryder’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘East Texas Moon’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Joseph Cross’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Featherbed’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Shermann Karmann’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Cowgirl’s Heel’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Charlie Ray McWhite’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Shameless Love’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Dollar Bill Hines’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track was a bonus track
‘Half Moon Hotel’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track was a bonus track
In Spring 2005, Eric Taylor returned to Rock Romano’s Red Shack in Houston, Texas to record his fifth studio album, ‘The Great Divide’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2005).
Garnering rave reviews at home and abroad, Eric Taylor’s ‘The Great Divide’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2005) quickly reached No.3 on the Euro Americana Chart, and in 2006 was named one of the ‘Top Releases Most Played by Folk Radio’.
In 2007, Eric Taylor saw the release of ‘Hollywood Pocketknife’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2007), a ten song collection which showed Eric Taylor in his prime as a writer and performer, with his exquisite narrative style, his keen, studied observation of the human spirit and his intricate, roots-driven guitar work.
Produced by Eric Taylor, ‘Hollywood Pocketknife’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2007) featured a stellar cast of musicians, including Eric Demmer (saxophone), David Webb (keyboard, Hammond organ), Mathias Schneider (lap steel guitar), James Gilmer (percussion), Vince Bell (vocals), Steven Fromholz (Friday 8 June 1945 – Sunday 19 January 2014) (vocals) and Susan Lindfors (vocals).
Eric Taylor’s ‘Hollywood Pocketknife’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2007) included the following tracks:
‘Hollywood Pocketknife’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Carnival Jim & Jean’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Highway Kind’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Jail Widow’s Walk’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Better Man’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Olney’s Poison & The Houston Blues’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘A Matter of Degrees’ (written by Susan Lindfors Taylor)
‘Postcards, 3 For A Dime’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Peppercorn Tree’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Rally ‘Round the Flag’ (traditional)
In January 2008, Eric Taylor and ‘Hollywood Pocketknife’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2007) were nominated for FolkWax’s ‘Artist of The Year’ and ‘Album of The Year’.
Peter Cooper (1970 – Tuesday 5 December 2022) recorded Eric Taylor’s ‘All The Way To Heaven’ and included the track on ‘Mission Door’ (Red Beet Records, 2008).
Peter Cooper (1970 – Tuesday 5 December 2022) recorded Eric Taylor’s ‘Mission Door’ and included the track on ‘Mission Door’ (Red Beet Records, 2008).
On Tuesday 20 October 2009, Lyle Lovett saw the release of ‘Natural Forces’ (Curb Records / Lost Highway Records, 2009), which included the following tracks:
‘Natural Forces’ (written by Lyle Lovett)
‘Farmer Brown’ (written by Lyle Lovett) / ‘Chicken Reel’ (traditional)
‘Pantry’ (written by Lyle Lovett and April Kimble)
‘Empty Blue Shoes’ (written by Lyle Lovett)
‘Whooping Crane’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Bayou Song’ (written by Don Sanders)
‘Bohemia’ (written by Tommy Elskes)
‘Don’t You Think I Feel It Too’ (written by David Ball)
‘Sun & Moon & Stars’ (written by Vince Bell)
‘Loretta, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘It’s Rock & Roll’ (written by Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen)
‘Pantry’ (written by Lyle Lovett and April Kimble) (acoustic version)
On Tuesday 7 September 2010, Eric Brace and Peter Cooper (1970 – Tuesday 5 December 2022) saw the release of ‘Master Sessions’ (Red Beet Records, 2010), which featured special guests Lloyd Green and Mike Auldridge (Friday 30 December 1938 – Saturday 29 December 2012); one of the included tracks was ‘Behind Your Back’ (written by Peter Cooper), which was written about Eric Taylor (Sunday 25 September 1949 – Monday 9 March 2020), and featured vocals from Lonesome Bob Chaney, Chris Richards, David Olney, Denice Franke and Vince Bell.
In early 2011, Eric Taylor decided to bring together some of his oldest friends and favourite musicians for a live recording, ‘Live At The Red Shack’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2011).
In May 2011, two nights of music were recorded ‘live’ at The Red Shack Studio in Houston, Texas in front of a film crew and a live studio audience.
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) flew in from Nashville to sing, along with Lyle Lovett, Denice Franke and Susan Lindfors Taylor.
Marco Python Fecchio flew in from Milan, Italy to play electric guitar, and James Gilmer came in to play percussion. Two magical nights of music and friendship and Houston history were captured.
Eric Taylor’s ‘Live At The Red Shack’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2011) included the following tracks:
‘Carnival, Jim & Jean’ / this track was performed by Eric Taylor
‘Texas, Texas’ / this track was performed by Eric Taylor
‘Memphis Midnight, Memphis Morning’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track was performed by Lyle Lovett
‘Tractor Song’ / this track was performed by Lyle Lovett
‘Visitors From Indiana’ / this track was performed by Lyle Lovett
‘Blue Piano’ / this track was performed by Lyle Lovett
‘The Amazing Dean Moriarty’ / this track was performed by Dean Moriarty
‘Mission Door’ / this track was performed by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
‘Dollar Matinee’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track was performed by Eric Taylor
‘Deadwood’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track was performed by Marco Python Fecchio
‘Prison Movie’ (written by Eric Taylor) / this track was performed by Eric Taylor
‘Is Rock Prayin?’
Eric Taylor’s ‘Live At The Red Shack’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2011) was named ‘One of The Top 10 Albums of The Year’ by Texas Music Magazine, and ‘Best of 2012 – Live Album’ by Third Coast Music Magazine.
On Tuesday 28 February 2012, Lyle Lovett saw the release of ‘Release Me’ (Curb Records / Lost Highway Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:
‘Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom’
‘Release Me’ / this track featured guest vocals from k.d. lang
‘White Boy Lost In The Blues’
‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ / this track featured guest vocals from Kat Edmonson
‘Isn’t That So’
‘Understand You’ (written by Eric Taylor)
‘Brown-Eyed Handsome Man’
‘Keep It Clean’
‘One Way Gal’
‘Dress of Laces’ / this track featured guest vocals from Jewel
‘The Girl With The Holiday Smile’
‘Night’s Lullaby’
‘White Freightliner Blues’
‘Keep Us Steadfast’
Lyle Lovett’s ‘Release Me’ (Curb Records / Lost Highway Records, 2012) reached No.9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2012.
In 2013, Eric Taylor saw the release of ‘Studio 10’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘Molly’s Painted Pony’
‘Reno’
‘Bill’
‘Cover These Bones’
‘Dark Corner, Ice Water’
‘Francestown’
‘Adios’
‘Tully’s Titles’
‘Tully’
‘String of Pearls’
Personnel involved in the recording of Eric Taylor’s ‘Studio 10’ (Blue Ruby Music, 2013) included the following:
Rock Romano (electric bass, harmony vocals)
Susan Lindfors Taylor (harmony vocals, supporting vocals)
David Webb (keyboards)
James Gilmer (percussion)
Eric Taylor (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass)
In 2015, Peter Cooper (1970 – Tuesday 5 December 2022) saw the release of ‘Depot Light: Songs of Eric Taylor’ (Red Beet Records, 2015), which included the following tracks, all of which were written by Eric Taylor:
‘All So Much Like Me’
‘Depot Light’
‘The Great Divide’
‘Prison Movie’
‘Charlie Ray McWhite’
‘More Storms’
‘Carnival Jim & Jean’
‘Dollar Bill Hines’
‘Two Fires’
‘Deadwood’
‘Louis Armstrong’s Broken Heart’
‘Happy Endings’
Eric Taylor was a mesmerizing performer and toured extensively in the United States and Europe, playing notable venues, including Club Passim, The Bottom Line, Caffe Lena, The Bluebird Cafe, Eddie’s Attic, The Ark, CSPS, Freight & Salvage, The Green Note (London), Paradiso (Amsterdam), Theatre Kikker (Utrecht), The Real Music Club (Belfast), Hotel du Nord (Paris), Grey’s Pub (Brighton) and The Bein Inn (Perth).
Eric Taylor’s Festival appearances also included Kerrville, Newport Folk Festival, Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Boston Folk Festival, Glasgow Americana Festival (Scotland), Take Root (The Netherlands) and Roots of Heaven Festival (The Netherlands).
Eric Taylor taught at Kerrville Song School and has also conducted songwriting workshops at Fulston Manor Performing Arts Centre (Sittingbourne, England), CARAD (Rhayader, Wales), Puget’s Sound Productions (Washington) and Plowshares Coffeehouse (Pennsylvania).
On Monday 9 March 2020, Eric Taylor passed away in Austin, Texas; he was 70 years old.
• Visit Eric Taylor’s official site at erictaylorsongwriter.com
• Visit Blue Ruby Music’s official site at bluerubymusic.com
• Like Eric Taylor on Facebook