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 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 Bobby G. Rice, which he submitted to this site on Monday 29 July 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Bobby G. Rice who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Bobby G. Rice
This quote was submitted on Monday 29 July 2013.
‘I have been in country music for many years now with my recording career and have worked shows with almost all of the country music artists, especially those that have been around awhile, at one time or another, including Gene Watson.
I’m proud to say he’s my friend and have been a fan of his music for many years.
Gene has a great voice and, unlike many sound-a-like singers out there, he has the ability, with his own style, to sing and deliver a song like no one else can.
He has contributed so much to country music and in keeping it country!’
Thank you, Bobby G. Rice, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Bobby G. Rice…
Bobby G. Rice was born Robert Gene Rice on Tuesday 11 July 1944 in Boscobel, Wisconsin; he is a singer-songwriter, who is known professionally as Bobby G. Rice.
Between 1970 and 1988, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of nine albums, and charted thirty songs on the Billboard country music singles chart.
Bobby G. Rice’s biggest hit single, ‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis), peaked at No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973.
In January 1972, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of his debut album, ‘Hit After Hit’ (Royal American Records, 1972), which included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Sugar Shack’, which was written by Faye Voss and Keith McCormack (Saturday 19 October 1940 – Friday 10 April 2015) (No.32, 1970)
‘Hey, Baby’ (written by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channel) (No.35, 1970)
‘Lover Please’ (written by Billy Swan) (No.46, 1971)
‘Mountain of Love’, which was written by Harold Dorman (Thursday 23 December 1926 – Saturday 8 October 1988) (No.20, 1971)
‘Suspicion’, which was written by Doc Pomus (Saturday 27 June 1925 – Thursday 14 March 1991) and Mort Shuman (Thursday 12 November 1936 – Saturday 2 November 1991) (No.33, 1972)
Bobby G. Rice’s debut album, ‘Hit After Hit’ (Royal American Records, 1972), also included the following tracks:
‘Guess Who’ (written by Belvin)
‘Sweet Lil’ Ol’ You’
‘Five O’Clock World’ (written by Allen Reynolds)
‘The Birds & The Bees’ (written by Barry Stuart) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who saw it released, as a non-album single, on Wide World Records, in 1972 / this track was also recorded by Brenda Lee, who included it on ‘The Versatile Brenda Lee’ (Decca Records, 1965) / this track was also recorded by Dean Martin (Thursday 7 June 1917 – Monday 25 December 1995), who included it on ‘Remember’ (Reprise Records, 1965)
‘Hey, Hey, Santa Fe’
‘You’re So Easy To Love’
‘100lbs. of Clay’
In April 1973, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (Metromedia Records, 1973), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis) (No.3, 1973)
‘You Give Me You’ (No.8, 1973)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (Metromedia Records, 1973) also included the following tracks:
‘I Miss You Already’
‘If You Can Live With It (I Can Live Without It)’
‘Sing Me A Love Song To Baby’
‘Lay Your Sweet Lovin’ On Me’
‘Hello Darlin’
‘Baby Loving You’
‘Behind Blue Eyes’
‘Bring Your Love To Me Softly’
‘Teddy Bear Song’
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (Metromedia Records, 1973) reached No.7 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1973.
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) & Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Bobby G. Rice’s ‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (co-written with Charles Fields and Donald Riis) and included the track on ‘Louisiana Woman, Mississippi’ (MCA Records, 1973).
In June 1974, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘She Sure Laid The Loneliness On Me’ (GRT Records, 1974), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘The Whole World’s Makin’ Love Again Tonight’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Donald Riis) (No.13, 1974)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘She Sure Laid The Loneliness On Me’ (GRT Records, 1974) also included the following tracks:
‘Neon Rose’
‘Love Is The Foundation’
‘What Better Way To Say I Love You’
‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me’
‘She Sure Laid The Loneliness On Me’
‘Crazy’ (written by Willie Nelson)
‘You Really Haven’t Changed’
‘Take Me Along With You’
‘Crystal Chandeliers’, which was written by Ted Harris (Monday 2 August 1937 – Sunday 22 November 2015)
‘Sweet Satisfying Feeling’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019) and Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘She Sure Laid The Loneliness On Me’ (GRT Records, 1974) reached No.43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1974.
In April 1975, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘Write Me A Letter’ (GRT Records, 1975), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Make It Feel Like Love Again’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019) and Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998) (No.30, 1974)
‘Write Me A Letter’ (written by Tim Martin and Walt Meskell) (No.9, 1975)
‘Freda Comes, Freda Goes’ (No.10, 1975)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘Write Me A Letter’ (GRT Records, 1975) also included the following tracks:
‘Love Me & Make It All Better’
‘Hey, Hey, Santa Fe’
‘It Was So Good While It Lasted’
‘Love Me Tonight’
‘When Your Sweet Love Reaches Out For Me’
‘Little Drops of Memories’
‘There Ain’t No Way Babe’
‘Sugar Shack’, which was written by Faye Voss and Keith McCormack (Saturday 19 October 1940 – Friday 10 April 2015) (No.32, 1970)
In April 1976, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘Instant Rice: The Best of Bobby G. Rice’ (GRT Records, 1976), which included the following tracks:
‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis) (No.3, 1973)
‘Write Me A Letter’ (written by Tim Martin and Walt Meskell) (No.9, 1975)
‘You Give Me You’ (written by Tony Moon) (No.8, 1973)
‘Freda Comes, Freda Goes’ (written by Hazlewood, Hammond, Cook and Greenaway) (No.10, 1975)
‘Make It Feel Like Love Again’, which was written by Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019) and Dick Heard (1937 – Tuesday 8 September 1998) (No.30, 1974)
‘Pick Me Up On Your Way Down’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) (No.35, 1976)
‘I May Never Be Your Lover (But I’ll Always Be Your Friend)’ (written by T. Gentry) (No.64, 1975)
‘Happy Anniversary’, which was written by Gary Sanford Paxton (Thursday 18 May 1939 – Sunday 17 July 2016)
‘The Whole World’s Making Love Again Tonight’ (written by Ronald Riis, Bobby G. Rice and Charlie Fields) (No.13, 1974)
‘Right Or Wrong (I’ll Be With You)’ (written by Wanda Jackson)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘Instant Rice: The Best of Bobby G. Rice’ (GRT Records, 1976) reached No.41 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1976.
In December 1976, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘With Love’ (GRT Records, 1976), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You Are My Special Angel’ (No.53, 1976)
‘Woman Stealer’ (No.54, 1976)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘With Love’ (GRT Records, 1976) also included the following tracks:
‘Waking Up To Love’
‘Over The Rainbow’
‘Woman In Need of Someone’
‘Prisoner of Love’
‘Love She Offered You’
‘You Make It So Easy’
‘Memory Go Round’
‘Crazy Gringo’
Between 1977 and 1981, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of five non-album tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Just One Kiss Magdelena’ (No.66, 1977)
‘Whisper It To Me’ (No.57, 1978)
‘The Softest Touch In Town’ (No.30, 1978) / this track also reached No.53 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1978
‘(Oh, Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely’, which was written by Pat Ballard (19 June 1899 – Wednesday 26 October 1960) (No.49, 1979)
‘Livin’ Together (Lovin’ Apart)’ (No.86, 1981)
In July 1982, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘Bobby’s Back’ (Audiograph Records, 1982), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Pardon My French’ (written by Betty J. Gibson and Jerry Duncan) (No.63, 1981)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘Bobby’s Back’ (Audiograph Records, 1982) also included the following tracks:
‘It Comes So Easy Making Love To You’ (written by Charlie Fields and Bobby G. Rice)
‘I Ain’t Been Runnin’ With Other Women’ (written by Charlie Fields and Bobby G. Rice)
‘Over Night Sensation’ (written by Charlie Fields and Bobby G. Rice)
‘Love To Love’ (written by James Eastwood)
‘Pulling Together’ (written by Charlie Fields and Bobby G. Rice)
‘Tonight’s The Night (For You & Me)’ (written by Charlie Fields and Bobby G. Rice)
‘I Got You In My Life’ (written by James Eastwood)
‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis)
‘I’m Movin’ Up To You’ (written by Charlie Fields and Bobby G. Rice)
In December 1982, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘Silk On Silk’ (Audiograph Records, 1982), which included the following tracks:
‘Last Train To Clarksville’ (written by T. Boyce and B. Hart)
‘Sugar Shack’, which was written by Faye Voss and Keith McCormack (Saturday 19 October 1940 – Friday 10 April 2015) (No.32, 1970)
‘Alaska’ (written by D. East)
‘Mountain of Love’, which was written by Harold Dorman (Thursday 23 December 1926 – Saturday 8 October 1988) (No.20, 1971)
‘Silk On Silk’
‘Sweet Caroline’
‘Midnight Special’
‘It Keeps Right On A Hurtin’
‘Kansas City’
‘The Whole World’s Makin’ Love Again Tonight’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Donald Riis) (No.13, 1974)
In 1983, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘Audiograph Alive’ (Audiograph Records, 1983), which included the following tracks:
‘Mountain of Love’, which was written by Harold Dorman (Thursday 23 December 1926 – Saturday 8 October 1988) (No.20, 1971)
‘It Comes So Easy Making Love To You’
‘I Ain’t Been Runnin’ With Other Women’
‘Pulling Together’
‘Silk On Silk’
‘Alaska’ (written by D. East)
‘Tonight’s The Night For You & Me’
‘Temperature’s Rising’
‘Freda Comes, Freda Goes’
‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis)
In 1985, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of ‘A New Beginning’ (Door Knob Records, 1985), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘New Tradition’ (No.95, 1985)
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘A New Beginning’ (Door Knob Records, 1985) also included the following tracks:
‘Through Each Other’s Eyes’
‘You’re Still A Part of Me’
‘I Broke Down & Cried’
‘Back To Love’
‘Those Words I Never Heard’
‘State of The Union’
‘I Can’t Stop’
‘Let’s Feel It All Again’
‘Now That Baby’s Gone’
Between 1986 and 1988, Bobby G. Rice saw the release of six non-album tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Red Neck & Over Thirty’ No.70, 1986) / this track was a duet with Wayne Kemp (Sunday 1 June 1941 – Monday 9 March 2015)
‘You’ve Taken Over My Heart’ (No.70, 1986)
‘Rachel’s Room’ (No.85, 1987)
‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis) (No.79, 1987) / this track was a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973
‘A Night of Love Forgotten’ (No.70, 1988)
‘Clean Livin’ Folk’ (No.76, 1988) / this track was a duet with Perry LaPointe
In 2012, Bobby G. Rice saw the release, on the Brady, Texas-based Heart of Texas Records, of ‘Down In Texas’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2012), which was produced by Jim Loessberg, and featured a number of acclaimed musicians, including Jake Hooker, Bobby Flores (Sunday 18 June 1961 – Thursday 23 June 2022), Justin Trevino, Dave Biller and T. (Jarrod) Bonta.
Bobby G. Rice’s ‘Down In Texas’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2012) included re-recordings of some of his greatest hit songs:
‘Down In Texas’, which was written by Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015), Bobby G. Rice and Robbie Wittkowski
‘You Lay So Easy On My Mind’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Ronald Riis) / the original version of this track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973
‘That’s Saying A Lot’ (written by Ray Grizzell and Bobby G. Rice)
‘Pick Me Up On Your Way Down’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) / Bobby G. Rice recorded this track in 1976, and included it on ‘Instant Rice: The Best of Bobby G. Rice’ (GRT Records, 1976); Bobby G. Rice’s version of this track reached No.35 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976
‘You Give Me You’ (written by Tony Moon) / the original version of this track reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973
‘Mountain of Love’, which was written by Harold Dorman (Thursday 23 December 1926 – Saturday 8 October 1988) / the original version of this track reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1971
‘Let’s Just Do That’ (written by Bobby G. Rice)
‘I Think We’re On To Something Good’ (written by Bobby G. Rice and Rickey Treat) / this track featured guest vocals from Dottsy
‘The Whole World’s Makin’ Love Again Tonight’ (written by Charlie Fields, Bobby G. Rice and Donald Riis) / the original version of this track reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974
‘Too Bad I’ve Got A Good Memory’ (written by Ray Grizzell and Bobby G. Rice)
‘It’s Just A Feeling That I Get’ (written by Alden Estes and Bobby G. Rice)
‘Far Cry From Being Over You’ (written by Bobby G. Rice, Bobby Tomberlin and Robbie Wittkowski)
• Visit Bobby G. Rice’s official site at bobbygrice.com