Gene Watson Peer’s Quote from Anita Stapleton: October 2013

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 Anita Stapleton, which she submitted to this site on Tuesday 22 October 2013.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Anita Stapleton who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.

Anita Stapleton
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 22 October 2013.

‘I believe Gene Watson is one of the greatest and one of the most influential country singers of all time.

There is absolutely nothing contrived about what he does; he just simply sings from his heart, and I love that.

Gene Watson: 'Old Loves Never Die' (MCA Records, 1981)

Gene Watson: 'Should I Come Home' (Capitol Records, 1979)

From ‘Fourteen Carat Mind‘, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Larry Lee Favorite (Saturday 6 January 1940 – Saturday 26 May 2001), to ‘Nothing Sure Looked Good On You‘ (written by Jim Rushing), (which, incidentally, is my favourite Gene Watson song) every note and every word is believable.

And, he’s not only a great singer, he’s a great person, too.

I’m so appreciative of the kindness he has shown toward me.

I’m a big Gene Watson fan….both the singer and the man!

God’s blessings to you always, Gene’

Thank you, Anita Stapleton, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Anita Stapleton…

Anita Stapleton, who is a native of Pennsylvania, has always had a great appreciation for country music.

Anita Stapleton’s biggest musical influences include a number of acclaimed country music artists, including Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998), Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), Patsy Cline (Thursday 8 September 1932 – Tuesday 5 March 1963) and Connie Smith.

Anita Stapleton took an interest in music at an early age and, with the encouragement of her parents, she began singing in the church choir.

Anita Stapleton eventually began taking piano lessons at the age of nine and started singing professionally at the age of eleven, when she and her brother, Brent, became members of a country / gospel band and began performing at local churches, county fairs and outdoor festivals throughout her home state of Pennsylvania.

Anita Stapleton soon started playing guitar, and eventually, she and her brother formed their own band and continued performing locally.

Anita Stapleton became a regular performer at the age of twelve on a local, live radio show called ‘The Appalachian Jubilee’ and she stepped into the recording studio for the first time at the age of thirteen to record her first album project, along with her brother.

In the years that followed, Anita Stapleton began performing at various venues in the surrounding states of Maryland, Delaware, New York and Ohio, where she gained more stage experience, and opened shows for a number of country music artists, including the following:

• Bill Anderson
• Crystal Gayle
• Connie Smith
• Marty Stuart
• Ricky Skaggs
• The Whites
• David Frizzell
• Ronnie Milsap
• Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998)
• T.G. Sheppard
• Jean Shepard (Tuesday 21 November 1933 – Sunday 25 September 2016)
• Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015)
• Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013)
• Buck Trent
• Boxcar Willie (Tuesday 1 September 1931 – Monday 12 April 1999)
• Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 – Thursday 17 March 2011)
• Jerry Reed Hubbard (Saturday 20 March 1937 – Monday 1 September 2008)
• Pam Tillis
• Louise Mandrell
• Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021)

When she was eighteen years old, Anita Stapleton became a regular performer on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia.

In the fall of 1995, Anita Stapleton moved to Nashville.

Anita Stapleton works as a tour guide at The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and spent about three years greeting guests on ‘The Marty Stuart Show’.

Patty Loveless and Anita Stapleton — **Patty Loveless** and Anita Stapleton

In the summer of 1997, Anita Stapleton started touring on the road as a background vocalist with acclaimed country music artist, Patty Loveless, and continued doing so until December 1998, when Patty Loveless took a hiatus from touring.

Anita Stapleton has been a background vocalist in the recording studio, and on live stage performances, for a number of artists, including the following:

• Sonya Isaacs
• John Wesley Ryles
• Merle Kilgore (Thursday 9 August 1934 – Sunday 6 February 2005)
• Jeanne Pruett
• Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001)
• Connie Smith
• Sheb Wooley (Sunday 10 April 1921 – Tuesday 16 September 2003)
• Charlie Daniels (Wednesday 28 October 1936 – Monday 6 July 2020)
• Collin Raye
• Lee Greenwood
• Tommy Cash
• Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 – Thursday 15 March 2013)
• Moe Bandy

Anita Stapleton has made several television appearances, including shows such as ‘Grand Ole Opry Live’, ‘Live With Regis & Kathie Lee’, ‘Austin City Limits’, ‘Late Night With Conan O’Brien’, ‘Tennessee Mornings’ (FOX-Nashville) and ‘The Inspirational Country Awards Show’.

Anita Stapleton’s radio appearances have included shows such as ‘The Midnight Jamboree’ and ‘The Nashville Cowboy Church’.

Anita Stapleton has recorded several solo studio projects over the years, including country and Gospel projects, demos and background vocals.

Anita Stapleton: 'The Way It Used To Be' (Anita Stapleton Independent Release, 2003)

On Sunday 1 June 2003, Anita Stapleton saw the release of ‘The Way It Used To Be’ (Anita Stapleton Independent Release, 2003), which included the following tracks:

‘Nothin’ Left To Lose’
‘(I Think I’ll Go Somewhere &) Cry Myself To Sleep’
‘Under Your Spell Again’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006)
‘There You Go Again’
‘I Saw You Today’

Gene Watson: 'A Way To Survive' (Step One Records, 1997)

‘A Way To Survive’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Moneen Carpenter / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘A Way To Survive‘ (Step One Records, 1997)

‘Finding My Way To Win’
‘Lonely Street’
‘Just Out of Reach’
‘Your Old Used To Be’
‘Put It Off Until Tomorrow’
‘Nothin’ Wrong With Me’

On Tuesday 17 February 2015, Anita Stapleton saw the release of ‘A Place In My Heart’ (DirkWorks Productions, 2015), which was produced by Dirk Johnson, and included the following tracks:

‘Someone Had To Teach You’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) / the original version of this track was recorded by George Strait, who included it on ‘Livin’ It Up’ (MCA Records, 1990)

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘Someone Had To Teach You’ included the following:

Gene Chrisman (drums)
David Smith (bass)
Ben Hall and Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar)
Dirk Johnson (piano)
Gregg Galbraith (lead guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Gail Johnson (fiddle)
John Wesley Ryles, Liana Manis and Anita Stapleton (background vocals)

‘There Won’t Be Anymore’, which was written by Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 – Tuesday 25 July 1995) / the original version of this track was recorded by Charlie Rich, who included it on ‘There Won’t Be Anymore’ (RCA Victor Records, 1974); Charlie Rich’s version of the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in March 1974

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘There Won’t Be Anymore’ included the following:

‘Old Heartaches’ (written by Larry Cordle, Larry Shell and Billy Henderson)

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘Old Heartaches’ included the following:

‘What A Way To Live’ (written by Willie Nelson and Hank Craig) / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), who included it on ‘Undo The Right’ (Stop Records, 1968) / Johnny Bush‘s version of the track reached No.29 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1968

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘What A Way To Live’ included the following:

‘I’ll MIss Missing You’, which was written by Don Goodman, Royce D. Porter (Saturday 1 April 1939 – Thursday 31 May 2018) and Anita Stapleton

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘I’ll Miss Missing You’ included the following:

‘I Want To Hear It From You’, which was written by Fred Carter Jr. (Sunday 31 December 1933 – Saturday 17 July 2010) / the original version of this track was recorded by Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), who included it on ‘Another Bridge To Burn’ (Columbia Records, 1966) / this track was also recorded by Reba McEntire, who included it on ‘My Kind of Country’ (MCA Records, 1984)

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘I Want To Hear It From You’ included the following:

‘In My Baby’s Arms Again’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999) / the original version of this track was recorded by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), who included it on ‘We Found Heaven Right Here On Earth At 4033’ (Musicor Records, 1966)

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘In My Baby’s Arms’ included the following:

‘Just Someone I Used To Know’, which was written by ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) / this track was a duet with Gene Watson / the original version of this track was recorded by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) & Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998), who included it on ‘We Go Together’ (Epic Records, 1971)

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘Just Someone I Used To Know’ included the following:

Eddy Anderson (drums)
Jimmy Carter (bass)
Joel Key (acoustic guitar)
Dirk Johnson (piano)
Gregg Galbraith (lead guitar)
Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Gail Johnson (fiddle)
John Wesley Ryles, Liana Manis and Anita Stapleton (background vocals)

‘Your Old Used To Be’, which was written by Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) and Hilda Young / the original version of this track was recorded by Faron Young, who included it on ‘Faron Young Sings The Best of Faron Young’ (Capitol Records, 1960) / Faron Young’s version of the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1960

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘Your Old Used To Be’ included the following:

Gene Chrisman (drums)
David Smith (bass)
Ben Hall and Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar)
Dirk Johnson (piano)
Gregg Galbraith (lead guitar)
John Hughey (Wednesday 27 December 1933 – Sunday 18 November 2007) (steel guitar)
Gail Johnson (fiddle)
John Wesley Ryles, Liana Manis and Anita Stapleton (background vocals)

‘You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart’, which was written by Leon Payne (Friday 15 June 1917 – Thursday 11 September 1969) / the original version of this track was recorded by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), who included it on ‘You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart’ (Epic Records, 1984)

Personnel involved in the recording of ‘You’ve Still Got A Place In My Heart’ included the following:

Anita Stapleton: 'Memories' (Anita Stapleton Independent Release, 2019)

In 2019, Anita Stapleton saw the release of ‘Memories’ (Anita Stapleton Independent Release, 2019), which was produced by David Smith, and included the following tracks:

‘Give Myself A Party’, which was written by Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003) / the original version of this track was recorded by Don Gibson, who included it on ‘I Wrote A Song’ (RCA Victor Records, 1963); Don Gibson’s version of this track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1963, and No.46 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1963 / this track was also recorded by Jeannie C. Riley, who included it on ‘Give Myself A Party’ (MGM Records, 1972)

‘Crying In The Rain’, which was written by Howard Greenfield (Sunday 15 March 1936 – Tuesday 4 March 1986) and Carole King / the original version of this track was recorded by The Everly Brothers – Don Everly (Monday 1 February 1937 – Saturday 21 August 2021) & Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 – Friday 3 January 2014) – who included it on ‘The Golden Hits of The Everly Brothers’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1962); The Everly Brothers’ version of the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1962

‘Evil On Your Mind’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) / the original version of this track was recorded by Jan Howard (Friday 13 March 1929 – Saturday 28 March 2020), who included it on ‘Evil On Your Mind’ (Decca Records, 1966); Jan Howard‘s version of this track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1966

‘Your Old Cold Shoulder’ (written by Richard Leigh) / the original version of this track was recorded by Crystal Gayle on Wednesday 13 October 1976, and was subsequently included on Crystal Gayle‘s ‘We Should Be Together’ (United Artists Records, 1979); Crystal Gayle‘s version of this track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979

‘Your Memory’, which was written by written by Charles William Quillen (Monday 21 March 1938 – Friday 19 August 2022) and John Schweers / the original version of this track was recorded by Steve Wariner, who included it on ‘Steve Wariner’ (RCA Records, 1982); Steve Wariner‘s version of the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981

‘I Hear You Talkin’, which was written by Jimmy Wakely (Monday 16 February 1914 – Thursday 23 September 1982) / the original version of this track was recorded by Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996), who included it on ‘Faron Young Sings The Best of Faron Young’ (Capitol Records, 1960); Faron Young’s version of ‘I Hear You Talkin’ reached No.27 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1960

‘There’s A Kind of Hush’, which was written by Leslie David Reed OBE (Wednesday 24 July 1935 – Monday 15 April 2019) and Geoffrey ‘Geoff’ Stephens / the original version of this track was recorded by Herman’s Hermits, who included it on ‘There’s A Kind of Hush All Over The World’ (United States & Canada: MGM Records, 1967 / United Kingdom: Columbia Records, 1967); Herman’s Hermits’ version of ‘There’s A Kind of Hush All Over The World’ reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1967, and No.7 on the United Kingdom pop music singles chart in 1967

‘Heartbreaker’

‘Some Memories Just Won’t Die’ (written by Bobby Lee Springfield) / the original version of this track was recorded by Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982), who included it on ‘Come Back To Me’ (Columbia Records, 1982); the track, which reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982, was subsequently included on Marty Robbins’ ‘Some Memories Just Won’t Die’ (Columbia Records, 1983)

‘The Far Side Banks of Jordan’

‘Don’t It Make You Want To Go Home’

Personnel involved in the recording of Anita Stapleton‘s ‘Memories’ (Anita Stapleton Independent Release, 2019) included the following:

David Smith (production, all instruments)
Eddy Anderson (drums)

• Visit Anita Stapleton’s official site at anitastapletonmusic.com