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 2006, 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 Billy Swan, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Billy Swan who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Billy Swan
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 1 August 2006.
‘I think Gene Watson is one of the very best country stylists / singers around.
Thanks so much for asking me to provide a quote’
Thank you,Billy Swan, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Billy Swan…
Billy Swan, who was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in May 1942, grew up listening to country music until he discovered rock ‘n’ roll as a teenager. Billy Swan learned drums, piano and guitar and also began writing songs.
‘Lover Please’ was a song Billy Swan wrote when he was sixteen years old, and which was recorded by a local group he played with called Mirt Mirly & The Rhythm Stoppers.
Later, when Billy Swan’s friends traveled to Memphis to record with Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 – Tuesday 16 August 1977) bassist, Bill Black, Black wound up cutting the tune himself. Not long after, ‘Lover Please’ (written by Billy Swan) found its way to R&B star, Clyde Lensley McPhatter (Tuesday 15 November 1932 – Tuesday 13 June 1972), who turned it into a Billboard Top 10 hit single in 1962, when it reached No.4.
Billy Swan stayed in Memphis to write for Bill Black’s combo and also worked as a guard at Graceland for a time.
Billy Swan soon moved to Nashville, where he worked as a janitor at Columbia Records recording studios, where he later handed the job over to a young Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024).
Billy Swan later worked as a roadie for Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017).
Billy Swan also wrote songs, which were recorded by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) and Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Buried Alive’ and included the track on ‘Stateside’ (Kapp Records, 1966).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Sensitive Heart’ and included the track on ‘Here’s Conway Twitty’ (Decca Records, 1968).
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘I Fall In Love So Easily’ (co-written with Glenn Martin) and included the track on ‘Hangin On’ (RCA Records, 1968).
An association with Monument Records led to Billy Swan’s first gig as a record producer.
In 1969, Billy Swan was nominated to produce ‘Black & White’ (Monument Records, 1969), the debut album from Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018); one of the included tracks was ‘Polk Salad Annie’ (written by Tony Joe White), which reached No.8 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1969.
Tony Joe White’s debut album, ‘Black & White’ (Monument Records, 1969), also included the following tracks:
‘Willie & Laura Mae Jones’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘Soul Francisco’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘Aspen, Colorado’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘Whompt Out On You’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘Don’t Steal My Love’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘Who’s Making Love’, which was written by Homer Banks (Saturday 2 August 1941 – Thursday 3 April 2003), Bettye Crutcher, Don Davis and Raymond Earl Jackson (Thursday 11 September 1941 – Friday 10 November 1972)
‘Scratch My Back’ (written by Moore)
‘Little Green Apples’, which was written by Bobby Russell (Friday 19 April 1940 – Thursday 19 November 1992)
‘Wichita Lineman’ (written by Jimmy Webb)
‘Look of Love’, which was written by Burt Bacharach (Saturday 12 May 1928 – Wednesday 8 February 2023) and Hal David (Wednesday 25 May 1921 – Saturday 1 September 2012)
‘Polk Salad Annie’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018), was subsequently recorded by Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 – Tuesday 16 August 1977), who included the track on ‘Elvis Presley, On Stage: February 1970’ (RCA Victor, 1970).
In 1971, Billy Swan joined Kris Kristofferson’s backing band as the bass player and toured with him for the next year and a half.
Bobby G. Rice recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Lover Please’ and included the track on ‘Hit After Hit’ (Royal American Records, 1972); the track reached No.46 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972.
Billy Swan next served as a sideman for Kinky Friedman (Tuesday 31 October 1944 – Wednesday 26 June 2024) and Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020) and, shortly after his return to the band of Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024), Billy Swan obtained a recording deal of his own with Monument Records.
In 1974, Fred Foster (Sunday 26 July 1931 – Wednesday 20 February 2019) signed Billy Swan to Monuments Records, where he enjoyed his biggest hit song, ‘I Can Help’ (written by Billy Swan), which was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in December 1974; the track was also a huge hit on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart, where it reached No.1 in 1974, along with reaching No.6 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart in 1974.
In November 1974, Billy Swan’s ‘I Can Help’ (Monument Records, 1974), which included the following tracks:
‘Lover Please’ (written by Billy Swan)
‘I’m Her Fool’ (written by Billy Swan) / this track reached No.53 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1974
‘I’d Like To Work For You’ (written by Billy Swan)
‘Shake Rattle & Roll’, which was written by Charles E. Calhoun aka Jesse Stone (Saturday 16 November 1901 – Thursday 1 April 1999) (No.95, 1976)
‘Queen of My Heart’ (written by Billy Swan)
‘Don’t Be Cruel’, which was written by Otis Blackwell (Monday 16 February 1931 – Monday 6 May 2002)
‘Wedding Bells’, which was written by Claude Boone (18 February 1916 – Friday 23 February 2007)
‘The Ways of A Woman In Love’, which was written by William Everett ‘Bill’ Justis Jr. (Thursday 14 October 1926 – Thursday 15 July 1982) and Charlie Rich (Wednesday 14 December 1932 – Tuesday 25 July 1995)
‘P.M.S. (Post Mortem Sickness)’ (written by Billy Swan)
Billy Swan’s ‘I Can Help’ (Monument Records, 1974) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1974.
Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Queen of My Heart’ (co-written with Benny Whitehead) and included the track on ‘Rednecks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer’ (RCA Records, 1974).
Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) & Rita Coolidge recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Lover Please’ and included the track on ‘Breakaway’ (Monument Records, 1974); the track reached No.42 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Singles Chart in 1974.
Billy Swan never came close to duplicating the success of ‘I Can Help’ (written by Billy Swan), but he did reach the Billboard country music Top 20 with a single in 1975; ‘Everything’s The Same (Ain’t Nothing Changed)’, which was included on ‘Rock & Roll Moon’ (Monument Records, 1975), reached No.17 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975.
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘I Can Help’ and included the track on ‘Back To The Country’ (Decca Records, 1975).
Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 – Tuesday 16 August 1977) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘I Can Help’ and included the track on ‘Elvis Today’ (RCA Records, 1975).
Dave & Sugar recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Queen of My Heart’ (co-written with Benny Whitehead) and included the track on their self-titled debut album, ‘Dave & Sugar’ (RCA Records, 1976), which was produced by Jerry Bradley, Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) and Dave Rowland (Monday 26 January 1942 – Thursday 1 November 2018).
In May 1976, Billy Swan saw the release of ‘Billy Swan’ (Monument Records, 1976), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Just Want To Taste Your Wine’ (No.45, 1976)
‘You’re The One’ (No.75, 1976)
Billy Swan’s ‘Billy Swan’ (Monument Records, 1976) also included the following tracks:
‘Miss Misery’
‘I Got It For You’
‘Number One’ (written by Billy Swan and Sonny Curtis)
‘Vanessa’, which was written by Billy Swan and Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
‘I Hear You Knockin’
‘Lucky’
‘Love You Baby To The Bone’
‘Your True Love’
‘Blue Suede Shoes’
‘Lover Please’ (written by Billy Swan)
In 1977, Billy Swan saw the release of ‘Four’ (Monument Records, 1977), which included the following tracks:
‘Swept Away’
‘Playing The Game of Love’
‘Pardon Me’
‘Oliver Swan’
‘Smoky Places’
‘Don’t Kill Our Love’
‘Not Everyone Knows’
‘Last Call’
‘California Song’
‘Me & My Honey’
Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) & Rita Coolidge recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Not Everyone Knows’ (co-written with Robert ‘Rob Dog’ Morrison) and included the track on ‘Natural Act’ (A&M Records, 1978).
Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) & Rita Coolidge recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Number One’ (co-written with Sonny Curtis) and included the track on ‘Natural Act’ (A&M Records, 1978).
In 1979, Billy Swan saw the release of ‘Billy Swan: At His Best’ (Monument Records, 1978), which included the following tracks:
‘I Can Help’ (No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in December 1974) / this track also reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1974, and No.6 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart in 1974
‘Shake Rattle & Roll’, which was written by Charles E. Calhoun aka Jesse Stone (Saturday 16 November 1901 – Thursday 1 April 1999) (No.95, 1976)
‘Stranger’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024)
‘Lover Please’ (written by Billy Swan)
‘Number One’ (written by Billy Swan and Sonny Curtis)
‘Everything’s The Same (Ain’t Nothing Changed)’ / this track reached No.17 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975
‘Don’t Be Cruel’, which was written by Otis Blackwell (Monday 16 February 1931 – Monday 6 May 2002)
‘(You Just) Woman Handled My Mind’
‘Just Want To Taste Your Wine’ / this track reached No.45 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976
‘Vanessa’, which was written by Billy Swan and Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
In February 1978, Billy Swan saw the release of ‘You’re OK, I’m OK’ (A&M Records, 1979), which included the following tracks:
‘You’re OK, I’m OK’
‘No Way Around It (It’s Love)’
‘(Can’t Get You Out of) My Bloodstream’
‘Please Help Me, I’m Falling’
‘You Make My Soul Rock ‘n’ Roll’
‘Forever in Your Love’
‘Lonely Avenue’
‘That’s America To Me’
‘Never Go Lookin’ Again’
‘Let The Rain Keep Fallin’
‘Hello, Remember Me’
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Not In Front of The Kids’ and included the track on ‘The Great Mel Tillis’ (Gusto Records, 1979).
Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Nobody Loves Anybody Anymore’ (co-written with Kris Kristofferson) and included the track on ‘To The Bone’ (Monument Records, 1981); the track reached No.68 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Billy Swan also played guitar and provided background vocals on Kris Kristofferson’s ‘To The Bone’ (Monument Records, 1981).
In May 1981, Billy Swan saw the release of ‘I’m Into Lovin’ You (Epic Records, 1981), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Do I Have To Draw A Picture’ (No.18, 1981)
‘I’m Into Lovin’ You’ (No.18, 1981)
‘Stuck Right in The Middle of Your Love’ (No.19, 1981)
Billy Swan’s ‘I’m Into Lovin’ You (Epic Records, 1981) also included the following tracks:
‘Not Far From Forty’
‘My Girl Josephine’
‘Win You Over’
‘What’s Our Love Coming To’
‘Soft Touch’
‘Lay Down & Love Me Tonight’
‘Only Be You’
Shakin’ Stevens (Michael Barratt) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Vanessa’, which was co-written with Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006), and included the track on ‘Give Me Your Heart Tonight’ (Epic Records, 1982).
Emmylou Harris recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Drivin’ Wheel’ and included the track on ‘White Shoes’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1983).
In 1986, Billy Swan teamed up with Randy Meisner (Friday 8 March 1946 – Wednesday 26 July 2023) (formerly of The Eagles), Jimmy Griffin (Tuesday 10 August 1943 – Tuesday 11 January 2005) (formerly of Bread), David Kemper, David Miner and David Mansfield, and formed Black Tie, a country-rock band, and saw the release of ‘When The Night Falls’ (Bench Records, 1986), which included the following tracks:
‘If You Gotta Make A Fool of Somebody’
‘You’re My Life’
‘Jerry Lee’
‘Number 8’
‘Save The Last Dance For Me’
‘Please Take A Letter, Miss Brown’
‘Krieger’
‘I Feel Fine’, which was written by John Lennon (Wednesday 9 October 1940 – Monday 8 December 1980) and Paul McCartney
‘When The Night Falls’
‘Leaving The Game’
‘Chain Gang’
‘1985’
‘Oh, My Lover’
‘Ten’
In the late 1980s, Billy Swan resumed work with the band of Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024), and appeared on two Kris Kristofferson albums; ‘Repossessed’ (Mercury Records, 1986) and ‘Third World Warrior’ (Mercury Records, 1990).
Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) recorded Billy Swan’s ‘Love of Money’ (co-written with Kris Kristofferson, Danny Lawson, Glen Clark and J.J. Meeker) and included the track on ‘Third World Warrior’ (Mercury Records, 1990).
Aaron Tippin recorded Billy Swan’s ‘I Can Help’ and included the track on ‘Tool Box’ (RCA Records, 1995).
In 1995, Billy Swan, along with Sweet Pea Atkinson, Sir Harry Bowens and Jonell Mosser, provided background vocals on ‘A Moment of Forever’ (Justice Records, 1995), an album from Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024).
Steve Kolander recorded Billy Swan’s ‘I Can Help’ and included the track on ‘Pieces of A Puzzle’ (River North Records, 1996), an album which was produced by Buddy Cannon.
In January 1998, Billy Swan saw the release of ‘The Best of Billy Swan’ (Epic Records, 1998), which included the following tracks:
‘I Can Help’ (written by Billy Swan) (No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in December 1974) / the track also reached No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1974, and No.6 on the United Kingdom Singles Chart in 1974
‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’, which was written by Charles E. Calhoun aka Jesse Stone (Saturday 16 November 1901 – Thursday 1 April 1999) (No.95, 1976)
‘Stranger’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024)
‘Lover Please’ (written by Billy Swan)
‘Number One’
‘Don’t Be Cruel’, which was written by Otis Blackwell (Monday 16 February 1931 – Monday 6 May 2002)
‘(You Just) Woman Handled My Mind’
‘Everything’s The Same (Ain’t Nothing Changed’ (No.17, 1975)
‘Just Want To Taste Your Wine’ (No.45, 1976) / this track featured guest vocals from The Jordanaires
‘Vanessa’, which was written by Billy Swan and Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
‘You’re The One’ (No.75, 1976)
‘Do I Have To Draw A Picture’ (No.18, 1981)
‘I’m Into Lovin’ You’ (No.18, 1981)
‘Stuck Right in The Middle of Your Love’ (No.19, 1981)
‘With Their Kind of Money & Our Kind of Love’ (No.32, 1982)
‘Your Picture Still Loves Me (& I Still Love You)’ (No.56, 1982)
Taking time out from his still-active career as a session and back-up musician, Billy Swan recorded a new album at the original Sun Records studios, ‘Like Elvis Used To Do’ (Koch Records, 2000), which included the following tracks:
‘Suspicious Minds’
‘Mystery Train’
‘Wooden Heart’
‘Blue Moon of Kentucky’
‘Viva Las Vegas’
‘Too Much’
‘Milk Cow Blues’
‘Heartbreak Hotel’
‘Jailhouse Rock’
‘King Creole’
‘Love Me Tender’
‘Baby, Let’s Play House’
‘I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone’
‘Burning Love’
‘Memphis Rocks’
‘That’s All Right, Mama’
In January 2003, Billy Swan teamed up with Randy Meisner (Friday 8 March 1946 – Wednesday 26 July 2023) (formerly of The Eagles), once again, as well as Alan Rich; together they saw the release of a self-titled album, ‘Meisner, Swan & Rich’ (Revola Records, 2002), which included the following tracks:
‘Pretty Baby’
‘You Look Like Someone I Could Love’
‘He Loves You’
‘My How Things Have’
‘Who’s Gonna Love You Baby’
‘One Used Diamond’
‘Honey (Sweet Sweet Honey)’
‘Make Yourself At Home In My Heart’
‘(It’s Like I) Never Had A Broken Heart’
‘Where The Rubber Meets The Road’
• Read a Billy Swan Interview at Elvis Australia – Official Elvis Presley Fan Club