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 by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2005, were most gracious with their time & words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Andy Griggs, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 9 March 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Andy Griggs who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Andy Griggs
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 9 March 2005.
‘Gene Watson is one of the ‘Last of the Mohicans’.
Gene is an outlaw and a legend…he’s one of a kind’
Thank you, Andy Griggs, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Andy Griggs…
Andy Griggs was born Andrew Tyler ‘Andy’ Griggs on Monday 13 August 1973, in West Monroe, Louisiana.
Andy Griggs’ father, Darrell, died when Andy was ten years old, and brother Mason served as the family’s father figure until he died of a heart attack at the age of twenty-two.
Andy Griggs attended River Oaks High School. He briefly attended Northeast Louisiana University before returning to his hometown in the early 1990s, where he found work as a minister and began a family with his wife.
Andy Griggs was married twice, first to Stephanie Sullivan in February 1995, but they separated.
In 2005, Andy Griggs married Renee.
In 1997, thanks to the efforts of producer / songwriter David Malloy, Andy Griggs auditioned live for Joe Galante at RCA Nashville Records.
Andy Griggs continued to work on his musical skills and, by 1999, he signed to a recording contract with RCA Records Nashville.
On Tuesday 13 April 1999, Andy Griggs saw the release of his debut album, ‘You Won’t Ever Be Lonely’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1999), which included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘You Won’t Ever Be Lonely’ (written by Andy Griggs and Brett Jones) (No.2, 1998)
‘I’ll Go Crazy’ (written by Zack Turner, Lonnie Wilson and Andy Griggs) (No.10, 1999)
‘She’s More’ (written by Liz Hengber and Rob Crosby) (No.2, 2000)
‘Waitin’ On Sundown’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Russell Smith) (No.50, 2000)
‘You Made Me That Way’ (written by Gary Burr and David Malloy) (No.19, 2000)
Andy Griggs’ debut album, ‘You Won’t Ever Be Lonely’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1999), also included the following tracks:
‘I Miss You the Most’ (written by Monty Criswell and Lee Thomas Miller)
‘A Side of Me’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Andy Griggs)
‘I Don’t Know A Thing’, which was written by Kelly Cole and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012)
‘Shine on Me’, which was written by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) / this track was a duet with Waylon Jennings
‘Ain’t Done Nothin’ Wrong’, which was written by Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Andy Griggs
‘Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This’ (written by Rodney Crowell)
Andy Griggs’ debut album, ‘You Won’t Ever Be Lonely’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1999) was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and reached No.15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999.
In 2000, Andy Griggs saw the release of a single, ‘Grow Young With You’, which was a duet with RCA Nashville Records labelmate, Coley McCabe; the track was included on the soundtrack of the film ‘Where The Heart Is’, and reached No.50 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2000.
Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) recorded Andy Griggs’ ‘Stoned On Her Love’ (co-written with Lonnie Wilson and Zack Turner) and included the track on ‘In Another World’ (Monument Records, 2001).
On Tuesday 28 May 2002, Andy Griggs saw the release of ‘Freedom’ (RCA Nashville Records, 2002), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘How Cool Is That’ (written by Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley and Andy Griggs) (No.22, 2001)
‘Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man’ (written by Rivers Rutherford and Troy Verges) (No.7, 2002)
‘Practice Life’ (written by Andy Griggs and Brett Jones) (No.33, 2002) / this track was a duet with Martina McBride
Andy Griggs’ ‘Freedom’ (RCA Nashville Records, 2002) also included the following tracks:
‘Freedom’ (written by Zack Turner, Lonnie Wilson and Andy Griggs)
‘The Road To Lasting Love’ (written by Michael Lunn and Kent Agee)
‘Always’ (written by Kris Bergsnes and Jess Leary)
‘Custom Made’ (written by David Malloy, David Lee Murphy and Andy Griggs)
‘A Hundred Miles of Bad Road’ (written by Tom Keifer, Andy Griggs and Savannah Snow) / this track was a duet with Tom Keifer
‘I’ve Learned’ (written by Angela Lauer and Tom Douglas)
‘Sweetheart of Beinja Bayou’ (written by Jerry Sullivan)
‘Brand New Something Going On’ (written by Don Cook and Jamie Hartford)
‘Where’s A Train’ (written by Allison Mellon and Andy Griggs)
‘Someone Like Me’ (written by Mason Griggs)
Andy Griggs’ ‘Freedom’ (RCA Nashville Records, 2002) reached No.7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2002.
On Tuesday 1 July 2003, Tracy Byrd saw the release of ‘The Truth About Men’; the title track, which was written by Paul Overstreet, Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and Rory Lee Feek, featured uncredited guest vocals from Blake Shelton, Andy Griggs and Montgomery Gentry, and reached No.13 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2003.
On Tuesday 10 August 2004, Andy Griggs saw the release of ‘This I Gotta See’ (RCA Nashville Records, 2004), which included four tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘She Thinks She Needs Me’ (written by Shane Minor, Sonny LeMaire and Clay Mills) (No.5, 2004)
‘If Heaven’ (written by Gretchen Peters) (No.5, 2004)
‘This I Gotta See’ (written by Neil Thrasher and Tony Martin) (No.58, 2005)
‘I Never Had A Chance’ (written by Casey Beathard and Odie Blackmon) / this track was released in 2005, but it did not chart
Andy Griggs’ ‘This I Gotta See’ (RCA Nashville Records, 2004) also included the following tracks:
‘My Kind of Beautiful’ (written by Marcus Hummon, Darrell Scott and Andy Griggs)
‘Careful Where You Kiss Me’ (written by Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley and Jeff Bates)
‘Be Still’ (written by Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley)
‘Hillbilly Band’ (written by Andy Griggs and Tony Martin)
‘Why Do I Still Want You’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Bill Luther)
‘Long Enough’ (written by Chris Lindsey, Bill Luther and Marv Green)
‘No Mississippi’ (written by Gary Nichols, Kris Bergsnes and John Paul White)
By 2005, Andy Griggs had left the roster at RCA Nashville Records, due to creative differences over his artistic control.
It was also in 2005 when Andy Griggs decided to change things when he signed with a new label, Montage Music Group, where he was offered more creative freedom than he had enjoyed at RCA Nashville Records.
Kevin Fowler recorded Andy Griggs’ ‘I Pulled A Hank Last Night’ (co-written with Marty Brown) and included the track on ‘Bring It On’ (Equity Music Group, 2007).
In 2007, Andy Griggs signed to his second recording contract, this time with Montage Music Group.
When Andy Griggs heard about the team being assembled at new label Montage Music Group, he knew he was in the right place.
Andy Griggs then set out to find a new producer to help him celebrate and embrace his newfound musical freedom.
Frank Myers, a fellow co-writer at his publishing company, Hori Pro, helped Andy Griggs to produce a couple of demos; Andy Griggs quickly recognised the chemistry the two began to have in the studio.
Andy Griggs had always been a fan of Frank Myers‘ song-writing and the way that he produced demos. Andy Griggs and Frank Myers wrote a couple of songs together, and Frank Myers produced them and Andy just fell in love with his production.
By the time Andy Griggs signed with Montage Music Group, Frank Myers was at the top of his list to produce his new album.
On Tuesday 12 February 2008, via iTunes, Andy Griggs saw the release of his first album for Montage Music Group, ‘The Good Life’ (Montage Music Group, 2008), which was released to CD stores on Tuesday 27 May 2007; the album included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Tattoo Rose’ (written by Cole Deggs and John Ramey) (No.57, 2007)
‘What If It’s Me’ (written by Frank Myers and Jon Stone) (No.52, 2007)
Andy Griggs’ first album for Montage Music Group, ‘The Good Life’ (Montage Music Group, 2008), also included the following tracks:
‘It’s All About The Money’ (written by Jody Harris and Donny Kees)
‘Tears & Time’ (written by Terry Clayton, Brett James and Kevin Mason)
‘Long Way Down’ (written by Craig Wiseman and C. Michael Spriggs)
‘Shadows’ (written by C.A. Dreyer, Frank Rogers and Chris Stapleton)
‘You Can’t Drive My Cadillac’ (written by Joe Collins and Chris Tompkins)
‘If You Had Called Yesterday’ (written by Cory Batten, Kent Blazy and Wendell Mobley)
‘Long Stretch of Lonesome’ (written by Frank Myers, Andy Griggs and Billy Montana)
‘New Orleans Lady’ (written by Hoyt Garrick and Leon Medica)
‘Burning A Hole In My Head’ (written by Andy Griggs, Donny Kees, Frank Myers and Terry McBride)
‘Time Is A Gypsy’ (written by Rob Crosby, Billy Thomas and Liz Hengber)
Between 2009 and 2013, Andy Griggs saw the release of a number of non-album singles, none of which charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Cutthroat, Montana’ (released in 2009)
‘Can I Get An Amen’ (released in 2010)
‘Don’t Let Go’ (released in 2013)
’20 Little Angels’ (released in 2013)
• Visit Andy Griggs’ official site at andygriggs.com