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 2009, 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 Buddy Cannon, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 5 August 2009.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Buddy Cannon who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Buddy Cannon
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 5 August 2009.
‘Gene Watson’s voice is one which, like that of George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), is the definition of country music.
As a songwriter, I have had the honour of having Gene record a song or two of mine, and those cuts rank among my most favourite throughout my career’
Thank you, Buddy Cannon, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Buddy Cannon…
Buddy Cannon, who was born in Lexington, Tennessee is an American country music songwriter and record producer.
Active since the late 1970s, Buddy Cannon is known primarily for his work as Kenny Chesney’s record producer, for which he won the Academy of Country Music’s ‘Producer of The Year’ Award in 2006.
As a producer of chart-topping hit singles by artists including Kenny Chesney, Chely Wright, John Michael Montgomery and Reba McEntire, Buddy Cannon’s talent in the recording studio continues to speak for itself.
Buddy Cannon is also a wizard behind the console, considering his many years of experience in all aspects of the business, from session background vocalist and band-member, to master songwriter and publishing company executive.
Buddy Cannon has a knack for selecting and producing artists and their hit songs and has helped launch the careers of a number of mega-stars, including Shania Twain, Sammy Kershaw and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Buddy Cannon’s song-writing prowess has provided numerous hit songs for everyone from Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) to Alabama and George Strait.
Buddy Cannon first earned his musical stripes in the early 1970s as the bass player in Grand Ole Opry star Bob Luman’s band.
Buddy Cannon’s song-writing ability turned the head of Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) (CMA Entertainer of The Year in 1976), who promptly hired Buddy Cannon to work in his band and with his publishing company.
During their eleven-year association, Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded several of Buddy Cannon’s compositions.
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I Believe In You’ (co-written with Gene Dunlap) and included the track on ‘I Believe In You’ (MCA Records, 1978); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in July 1978.
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Naked In The Rain’ (co-written with Kenny Starr) and included the track on ‘Loretta’ (MCA Records, 1980); the track reached No.30 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
In 1989, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Pyramid of Cans’ (co-written with Jimmy Darrell and Robert Corbin); the track, which was produced by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015), was included on the various artists original soundtrack of the movie ‘Next of Kin’ (Columbia Records, 1989), which starred Patrick (Wayne) Swayze (Monday 18 August 1952 – Monday 14 September 2009).
Shane Barmby (Monday 1 February 1954 – Thursday 27 October 2022) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘A Rainbow of Our Own’ (co-written with Dean Dillon) and included the track on his debut album, ‘Let’s Talk About Us’ (Mercury Records, 1989).
Shane Barmby (Monday 1 February 1954 – Thursday 27 October 2022) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘One & One & One’ (co-written with John Northrup) and included the track on his second album, ‘Jukebox Symphony’ (Mercury Records, 1990); this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘In Other Words‘ (Canada: Mercury Records / Polygram Records, 1992 / United States: Broadland International Records, 1992); Gene Watson‘s version of this track reached No.66 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Karen Tobin recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Anywhere But Here’ (co-written with Bob DiPiero and John Scott Sherrill) and included the track on ‘Carolina Smokey Moon’ (Atlantic Records, 1991), which was produced by Keith Stegall.
Following the acquisition of Mel Tillis’ publishing interests by PolyGram, Buddy Cannon was hired by PolyGram’s Mercury Records as Director of A&R for the company.
During his six-year stint at Mercury Records, Buddy Cannon was instrumental in bringing such stars as Shania Twain, Sammy Kershaw and Billy Ray Cyrus to the record label.
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore’ (co-written with Billy Ray Cyrus and Terry Shelton) and included the track on ‘Some Gave All’ (Mercury Records, 1992); the track, which reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992, was subsequently included on ‘The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover To Cover’ (Mercury Records, 1997).
Buddy Cannon produced several Billboard No.1 country music hit singles for Sammy Kershaw during this period, including ‘She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful’, ‘National Working Woman’s Holiday’ and ‘Cadillac Style’.
Buddy Cannon was eventually recruited as VP / A&R for Polydor Nashville where, among the acts he brought into the label, was a fledgling group of kids named The Moffits, who later went on to achieve international pop success.
Buddy Cannon later elected to leave that position in 1995 to pursue independent production projects.
Along with his work with Sammy Kershaw, Buddy Cannon was also at the production helm of a number of acclaimed country music albums.
On Tuesday 23 November 1993, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) saw the release of ‘High Tech Redneck’ (MCA Records, 1993), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘High-Tech Redneck’ (written by Byron Hill and Zack Turner) (No.24, 1993)
‘Never Bit A Bullet Like This’ (written by Jim Foster and Mark C. Petersen) (No.52, 1994) / this track featured guest vocals from Sammy Kershaw
George Jones‘ ‘High Tech Redneck’ (MCA Records, 1993) also included the following tracks:
‘I’ve Still Got Some Hurtin’ Left To Do’ (written by Donny Kees and Richard Ross)
‘The Love In Your Eyes’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017)
‘The Visit’ (written by Gene Ellsworth, Brad Rodgers and Charles Stefl)
‘Silent Partners’ (written by Bobby Braddock)
‘Tear Me Out of The Picture’ (written by Bill Rice, Sharon Rice and Mike Lawler)
‘A Thousand Times A Day’ (written by Gary Burr and Gary Nicholson)
‘Forever’s Here To Stay’ (written by Larry Bastian and Buddy Cannon)
‘Hello Darlin’, which was written by Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993)
Personnel involved in the recording of George Jones‘ ‘High Tech Redneck’ (MCA Records, 1993), which was dedicated to Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993), included the following:
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) (vocals, guitar)
Barry Beckett and David Briggs (piano)
Mike Chapman and Larry Paxton (bass)
Sonny Garrish and John Hughey (Wednesday 27 December 1933 – Sunday 18 November 2007) (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Kirk ‘Jelly Roll’ Johnson (harmonica)
Sammy Kershaw (vocals)
Mike Lawler (keyboards)
Brent Mason, Reggie Young (Saturday 12 December 1936 – Thursday 17 January 2019) and Danny Parks (guitar)
Steve Turner and Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Vince Gill, Cindy Walker, Dennis Wilson, Chely Wright and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Nashville String Machine (strings)
George Jones‘ ‘High Tech Redneck’ (MCA Records, 1993) reached No.30 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993.
On Tuesday 15 July 1997, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘I Will Stand’ (BNA Records, 1997), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘She’s Got It All’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Drew Womack) (No.1 for two weeks in August / September 1997)
‘A Chance’, which was written by Dean Dillon and Royce D. Porter (Saturday 1 April 1939 – Thursday 31 May 2018) (No.11, 1997)
‘That’s Why I’m Here’ (written by Mark Springer and Shaye Smith) (No.2, 1998)
‘I Will Stand’ (written by Mark Germino and Casey Beathard) (No.27, 1998)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘I Will Stand’ (BNA Records, 1997) also included the following tracks:
‘You Win, I Win, We Lose’ (written by Buddy Brock, Kenny Chesney and Donny Kees)
‘She Gets That Way’ (written by Adam Hughes and Roger Brown)
‘Steamy Windows’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘From Hillbilly Heaven To Honky Tonk Hell’ (written by Mike Geiger, Woody Mullis and Michael Huffman) / this track featured guest vocals from George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Tracy Lawrence
‘She Always Says It First’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Dean Dillon)
‘Lonely, Needin’ Lovin’ (written by Kenny Chesney, Buddy Brock and Donny Kees)
‘When I Close My Eyes’ (acoustic version) (written by Nettie Musick and Mark Springer)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘I Will Stand’ (BNA Records, 1997) included the following:
Eddie Bayers and Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Kenny Bell, Larry Byrom and Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Shannon Brown, Melonie Cannon, John Wesley Ryles, Cindy Walker, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Kenny Chesney (lead vocals)
Glen Duncan (fiddle, mandolin)
Sonny Garrish (Dobro, steel guitar)
Steve Gibson, Brent Mason and Reggie Young (Saturday 12 December 1936 – Thursday 17 January 2019) (electric guitar)
Rob Hajacos, Randy Howard and William ‘Ozzy’ Osment (fiddle)
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) (upright bass)
Kirk ‘Jelly Roll’ Johnson (harmonica)
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Tracy Lawrence (vocals on ‘From Hillbilly Heaven To Honky Tonk Hell’)
Rodger Morris (piano, synthesizer)
Farrell Morris and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (percussion)
Steve Nathan (synthesizer, vibraphone)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Matt Rollings (piano, Hammond B-3)
Pete Wade (gut string guitar)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘I Will Stand’ (BNA Records, 1997) reached No.10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1997, and No.95 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1997.
On Tuesday 27 October 1998, Sara Evans saw the release of ‘No Place That Far’ (RCA Records, 1998), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Cryin’ Game’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021) (No.56, 1998)
‘No Place That Far’ (written by Sara Evans, Tony Martin and Tom Shapiro) (No.1 for one week in February / March 1999)
‘Fool, I’m A Woman’ (written by Matraca Berg and Sara Evans) (No.32, 1999)
Sara Evans’ ‘No Place That Far’ (RCA Records, 1998) also included the following tracks:
‘The Great Unknown’ (written by Phil Barnhart, Sara Evans and James House)
‘I Thought I’d See Your Face Again’ (written by Marv Green and Rick Orozco)
‘Time Won’t Tell’ (written by Beth Nielsen Chapman)
‘The Knot Comes Untied’, which was written by Ron Harbin, Ed Hill and Sam Hogin (1950 – Monday 9 August 2004)
‘Love, Don’t Be A Stranger’ (written by Bill Rice and Sharon Rice)
‘These Days’ (written by Sara Evans and Billy Yates)
‘Cupid’ (written by Keith Gattis and Kostas)
‘There’s Only One’ (written by Sara Evans and Leslie Satcher)
Personnel involved in the recording of Sara Evans’ ‘No Place That Far’ (RCA Records, 1998) included the following:
Eddie Bayers (drums, tambourine)
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
Chris Carmichael (fiddle)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) and Billy Sanford (electric guitar)
Sara Evans (lead vocals, background vocals)
Larry Franklin (fiddle, mandolin)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, Dobro)
Vince Gill (background vocals on ‘No Place That Far’)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer)
Jim Hurst (acoustic guitar, background vocals)
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Alison Krauss, Liana Manis, Larry Marrs, Martina McBride, Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021), Dan Tyminski, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, gut string guitar)
Randy McCormick (synthesizer)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (percussion)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Sara Evans’ ‘No Place That Far’ (RCA Records, 1998) reached No.11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1998, No.116 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1998, No.1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart in 1998, and No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1998.
On Tuesday 20 October 1998, Chad Brock saw the release of his self-titled debut album, ‘Chad Brock’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1998), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Evangeline’ (written by Bob McDill and Carson Chamberlain) (No.51, 1998)
‘Ordinary Life’ (written by Connie Harrington and Bonnie Baker) (No.3, 1998)
‘Lightning Does The Work’ (written by Kelly Garrett, John Hadley and Chad Brock) (No.19, 1999)
Chad Brock’s self-titled debut album, ‘Chad Brock’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1998), also included the following tracks:
‘Going The Distance’, which was written by Walt Aldridge and John Jarrard (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001)
‘You Made A Liar Out of Me’ (written by Rich Alves, Brad Cotter and J.B. Rudd)
‘Bingo Bull’s-Eye’ (written by Jason Deere and Kelly Garrett)
‘If It Were Up To Me’ (written by Stephony Smith and Jim Collins)
‘Til I Fell For You’ (written by Noah Gordon and Tom Snyder)
‘Un-Break My Heart’ (written by Chad Brock, Buddy Brock and Jeff Silvey)
‘I Wonder Where Love Goes’ (written by Chad Brock, Buddy Brock and Phil Douglas)
Personnel involved in the recording of Chad Brock’s self-titled debut album, ‘Chad Brock’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1998), included the following:
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Chad Brock (lead vocals)
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) (electric guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic guitar)
Glen Duncan, Larry Franklin and Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Paul Franklin and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (piano, synthesizer)
David Hungate and Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Rodger Morris (synthesizer)
Brent Rowan and Reggie Young (Saturday 12 December 1936 – Thursday 17 January 2019) (electric guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Chad Brock, Jim Chapman, Cindy Richardson Walker, John Wesley Ryles, Dawn Sears (Thursday 7 December 1961 – Thursday 11 December 2014), Bergen White, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Melonie Cannon, Adam Hughes, Dillon Dixon, Susan Marshall Clinton, Lesa Reneé, Ray Scott, Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017) (additional vocals on ‘Evangeline’)
Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015) (engineering)
Chad Brock’s self-titled debut album, ‘Chad Brock’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1998) reached No.37 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1998, and No.31 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart in 1998.
On Tuesday 2 March 1999, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘Everywhere We Go’ (BNA Records, 1999), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘How Forever Feels’ (written by Wendell Mobley and Tony Mullins) (No.1 for five weeks in March / April / May 1999)
‘You Had Me From Hello’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Skip Ewing) (No.1 for one week in September 1999)
‘She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Jim Collins) (No.11, 1999)
‘What I Need To Do’ (written by Tom Damphier and Bill Luther) (No.8, 2000)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Everywhere We Go’ (BNA Records, 1999) also included the following tracks:
‘Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me’ (written by Brett James)
‘Life Is Good’ (written by Jeff Stevens and Steve Bogard)
‘Everywhere We Go’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Billy Aerts)
‘California’ (written by Chris Lindsey, Bill Luther and Aimee Mayo)
‘Baptism’ (written by Mickey Cates) / this track featured guest vocals from Randy Travis
‘A Woman Knows’ (written by Kenny Chesney, Paul Overstreet and Don Sampson)
‘I Might Get Over You’ (written by Skip Ewing and Kent Blazy)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘Everywhere We Go’ (BNA Records, 1999) included the following:
Eddie Bayers, Paul Leim and Sean Paddock (drums)
Wyatt Beard, Shannon Brown, Liana Manis, Louis Nunley (of The Jordanaires) (Thursday 15 October 1931 – Friday 26 October 2012), Melonie Cannon, John Wesley Ryles, Cindy Richardson Walker, Bergen White, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
Buddy Cannon (bass guitar, background vocals)
Kenny Chesney (acoustic guitar, lead vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) and Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Dan Dugmore and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Larry Franklin (fiddle, mandolin)
Steve Gibson (electric guitar, six string bass)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) and Gary Prim (piano)
Rick Holt (Dobro)
B. James Lowry (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, gut string guitar)
Randy McCormick (synthesizer)
Steve Nathan and Bobby Ogdin (piano, synthesizer)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Randy Travis (vocals on ‘Baptism’)
Kristin Wilkinson (string arrangements & conductor)
Nashville String Machine and Carl Gorodetzky (strings)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Everywhere We Go’ (BNA Records, 1999) reached No.5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999, and No.51 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1999.
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Everywhere We Go’ (BNA Records, 1999) was the first album in his career to receive 2x ‘Platinum’ certification for sales of two million copies.
On Tuesday 18 May 1999, Chely Wright saw the release of ‘Single White Female’ (MCA Nashville Records, 1999), which was produced by Tony Brown, Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Single White Female’ (written by Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Shaye Smith) (No.1 for one week in September 1999) / this track also reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1999, and No.1 on the Canadian Country Tracks Chart in 1999
‘It Was’ (written by Gary Burr and Mark Wright) (No.11, 1999) / this track also reached No.52 on the Canadian Country Tracks Chart in 1999
‘She Went Out For Cigarettes’ (written by Ronnie Guilbeau and John McElroy) (No.49, 2000) / this track also reached No.84 on the Canadian Country Tracks Chart in 2000
Chely Wright’s ‘Single White Female’ (MCA Nashville Records, 1999) also included the following tracks:
‘Unknown’ (written by Gary Burr and Aimee Mayo)
‘The Love That We Lost’ (written by Gary Burr and Monty Powell) / this track was a re-recording of a Chely Wright single, the original version of which reached No.41 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996
‘The Fire’ (written by Clarence ‘Satch’ Satchell and Leslie Satcher)
‘Picket Fences’ (written by Chely Wright)
‘Some Kind of Somethin’ (written by Sunny Russ and Chely Wright)
‘Rubbin’ It In’ (written by Chad Smith)
‘Why Do I Still Want You’ (written by Leslie Satcher)
Personnel involved in the recording of Chely Wright’s ‘Single White Female’ (MCA Nashville Records, 1999) included the following:
Pat Buchanan (electric guitar)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Stuart Duncan and Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin, background vocals)
Dan Dugmore (acoustic slide guitar, steel guitar)
Vince Gill, Sonya Isaacs, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Melonie Cannon and Trisha Yearwood (background vocals)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (Hammond B-3 Organ, keyboards)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (percussion)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Matt Rollings (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards)
Robby Turner (steel guitar)
John Wills (acoustic guitar)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar, background vocals)
Chely Wright (lead vocals)
Chely Wright‘s ‘Single White Female’ (MCA Records, 1999) reached No.15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999, No.124 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, and No.16 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums / CD’s Chart in 1999.
Alabama recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Little Things’, which was co-written with Greg Fowler, Teddy Gentry, John Jarrard (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) and Randy Owen, and included the track on ‘Twentieth Century’ (RCA Records, 1999).
On Tuesday 2 May 2000, Chad Brock saw the release of ‘Yes’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2000), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘A Country Boy Can Survive’ (written by Hank Williams Jr.) (No.30, 1999) / this track, which was listed as the Y2K version, featured guest vocals from George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Hank Williams Jr.
‘Yes!’ (written by Stephony Smith, Jim Collins and Chad Brock) (No.1 for three weeks in June / July 2000)
‘The Visit’ (written by Brad Rodgers, Charles Stefl and Gene Ellsworth) (No.21, 2000)
Chad Brock’s ‘Yes’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2000) also included the following tracks:
‘Hey Mister’, which was written by Dale Oliver, Dave Robbins and Kim Chadwick Tribble (Wednesday 14 November 1951 – Thursday 26 August 2021)
‘Young Enough To Know It All’ (written by Rick Giles, Goddard Giles and Tim Nichols)
‘She Does’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Chris Farren)
‘Love Lives (Events of The Heart)’ (written by Skip Ewing and Danny Wilde)
‘This’ (written by Stephony Smith, Jim Collins and Chad Brock)
‘You Had To Be There’ (written by Walt Aldridge and James LeBlanc)
‘If I Were You’ (written by Billy Dean and Verlon Thompson) / this track was a duet with Mark Wills
Chad Brock’s ‘Yes’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2000) reached No.17 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2000, No.125 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2000, No.3 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart in 2000, and No.21 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 2000.
On Tuesday 19 September 2000, John Michael Montgomery saw the release of ‘Brand New Me’ (Atlantic Records, 2000), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, John Michael Montgomery and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘The Little Girl’, which was written by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011) (No.1 for two weeks in October / November 2000) / this track also reached No.1 on the Canadian RPM country music singles chart in 2000, and No.35 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 2000
‘That’s What I Like About You’ (written by Richard Fagan and Larry Alderman) (No.44, 2001)
‘Even Then’, which was written by Patricia Karen Bunch (Thursday 22 June 1939 – Monday 30 January 2023) and Shane Teeters (No.59, 2001)
John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Brand New Me’ (Atlantic Records, 2000) also included the following tracks:
‘Brand New Me’ (written by Kris Bergsnes and Lee Thomas Miller)
‘Bus To Birmingham’ (written by Tony Lane and Jess Brown)
‘Weekend Superstar’ (written by George Molton)
‘Thanks For The G Chord’ (written by Byron Hill and Mark Narmore)
‘That’s Not Her Picture’ (written by Bill Anderson and Gary Burr)
‘Real Love’ (written by Neil Thrasher and Kent Blazy)
‘I Love It All’ (written by John Michael Montgomery and Blair Daly)
Personnel involved in the recording of John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Brand New Me’ (Atlantic Records, 2000), included the following:
Melonie Cannon, Blair Daly, Kim Fleming, Wes Hightower, Garnet Imes, Alison Krauss, Curtis Young and Liana Manis (background vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) (electric guitar)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Glen Duncan (fiddle, mandolin)
Larry Franklin (fiddle)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar, Dobro)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) and Bobby Ogdin (piano, organ)
Troy Lancaster, Brent Mason and Dale Oliver (electric guitar)
B. James Lowry and John Willis (acoustic guitar)
Randy McCormick (piano, keyboards, organ)
John Michael Montgomery (electric guitar, lead vocals)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Scotty Sanders (lap steel guitar)
Dan Tyminski (mandolin, background vocals)
Tommy White (steel guitar)
John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Brand New Me’ (Atlantic Records, 2000) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2000, No.15 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2000, and No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 2000.
On Tuesday 23 April 2002, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem’ (BNA Records, 2002), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Young’ (written by Craig Wiseman, Naoise Sheridan and Steve McEwan) (No.2, 2002)
‘The Good Stuff’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Jim Collins) (No.1 for six weeks in July / August / September 2002)
‘A Lot of Things Different’ (written by Bill Anderson and Dean Dillon) (No.6, 2003)
‘Big Star’ (written by Stephony Smith) (No.2, 2003)
‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem’ (written by Casey Beathard) (No.2, 2003)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem’ (BNA Records, 2002) also included the following tracks:
‘I Remember’ (written by Brad Crisler and James LeBlanc)
‘On The Coast of Somewhere Beautiful’ (written by LuAnn Reid, Bill Luther and Danny Simpson)
‘Never Gonna Feel Like That Again’ (written by Paul Overstreet and Phillip Coleman)
‘Dreams’ (written by Skip Ewing and Kenny Chesney)
‘Live Those Songs’ (written by Chris Bain, Cole Deggs and David Lowe)
‘One Step Up’ (written by Bruce Springsteen)
‘I Can’t Go There’ (written by Skip Ewing and Kenny Chesney) / this track was an acoustic version and was listed as a ‘bonus track’
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem’ (BNA Records, 2002), included the following:
Wyatt Beard (piano, background vocals)
David Briggs (synthesizer)
Pat Buchanan, John Jorgenson, Clayton Mitchell, Dale Oliver and John Willis (electric guitar)
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
Melonie Cannon, Chip Davis, Wes Hightower, Chris Kartevold, Liana Manis and Sunny Russ (background vocals)
Mark Casstevens (electric guitar, ukulele)
Kenny Chesney (lead vocals)
Dan Dugmore and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Glen Duncan, Larry Franklin, Rob Hajacos and Nicholas Hoffman (fiddle)
Tim Hensley (Monday 8 October 1962 – Tuesday 30 April 2013) (acoustic guitar, banjo, background vocals)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019), Randy McCormick and Steve Nathan (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, synthesizer)
Paul Leim (drums, percussion, tambourine)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gut string guitar)
Steve Marshall, Larry Paxton and Michael Rhodes (bass guitar)
Brent Mason (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Sean Paddock (drums)
Gary Prim (piano, synthesizer)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem’ (BNA Records, 2002) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2002, and No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2002.
Kenny Chesney’s ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem’ (BNA Records, 2002) earned a 4× ‘Platinum’ certification for sales of four million copies in the United States.
On Tuesday 3 February 2004, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (BNA Records, 2004), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney, and included six tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘There Goes My Life’ (written by Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley) (No.1 for six weeks in December 2003 / January 2004)
‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (written by Brett James) (No.1 for four weeks in April / May 2004) / this track was a duet with Uncle Kracker
‘I Go Back’ (written by Kenny Chesney) (No.2, 2004)
‘The Woman With You’ (written by Craig Wiseman and David Frasier) (No.2, 2004)
‘Anything But Mine’ (written by Scooter Carusoe) (No.1 for one week in April 2005)
‘Keg In The Closet’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Brett James) (No.6, 2005)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (BNA Records, 2004) also included the following tracks:
‘Some People Change’ (written by Neil Thrasher, Jason Sellers and Michael Dulaney)
‘When I Think About Leaving’, which was written by Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012), Rory Lee Feek and Paul Overstreet
‘Being Drunk’s A Lot Like Loving You’ (written by Skip Ewing and Kenny Chesney)
‘Outta Here’ (written by Skip Ewing and Kenny Chesney)
‘Old Blue Chair’ (written by Kenny Chesney)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (BNA Records, 2004), included the following:
Eddie Bayers and Chad Cromwell (drums)
Wyatt Beard, Melonie Cannon, Wes Hightower and Neil Thrasher (background vocals)
Mat Britain and Tom Roady (steel drums, percussion)
Pat Buchanan (electric guitar, harmonica)
Kenny Chesney (lead vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020), Dann Huff, John Jorgenson and Clayton Mitchell (electric guitar)
Dan Dugmore and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Tim Hensley (Monday 8 October 1962 – Tuesday 30 April 2013) (banjo, background vocals)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (piano, B3 organ)
Paul Leim (drums, percussion, finger snaps, tambourine)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar, bottleneck guitar)
Randy McCormick (piano, B3 organ, keyboards, synthesizer)
Steve Nathan (Wurlitzer electric piano, B3 organ)
Sean Paddock (percussion)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Gary Prim (piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizer)
Scotty Sanders (steel guitar)
Uncle Kracker (vocals on ‘When The Sun Goes Down’)
John Willis (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (BNA Records, 2004) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2004, and No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2004.
Kenny Chesney’s ‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (BNA Records, 2004) debuted at No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart, selling about 550,000 copies in its first week.
On Tuesday 1 June 2004, Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) saw the release of ‘Tougher Than Nails’ (Broken Bow Records, 2004), which was produced by Joe Diffie, Lonnie Wilson and Buddy Cannon, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Tougher Than Nails’ (written by Max T. Barnes, Kendell Marvel and Phil O’Donnell) (No.19, 2004)
‘If I Could Only Bring You Back’ (written by Chip Davis and Frank Myers) (No.50, 2004)
Joe Diffie’s ‘Tougher Than Nails’ (Broken Bow Records, 2004) also included the following tracks:
‘Nothin’ But The Radio’ (written by Frank Myers and George Teren)
‘Good News, Bad News’ (written by Danny Wells and Chris Wallin)
‘The More You Drink, The Better I Look’, which was written by Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) and Shawn Camp
‘Am I’, which was written by Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) and Billy Yates
‘Movin’ Train’, which was written by Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020)
‘What Would Waylon Do’ (written by Leslie Satcher and Wynn Varble) / this track was a duet with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013)
‘Something I Do For Me’, which was written by Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) and Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011)
‘Daddy’s Home’, which was written by Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020) and Jimmy Yeary
‘This Time Last Year’ (written by Gilles Godard, Bobby Tomberlin and Robbie Wittkowski)
‘My Redneck of The Woods’ (written by Phil O’Donnell and Craig Morgan)
Joe Diffie’s ‘Tougher Than Nails’ (Broken Bow Records, 2004) reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2004, and No.16 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart in 2004.
On Tuesday 31 August 2004, Melonie Cannon saw the release of her self-titled debut album, ‘Melonie Cannon’ (Skaggs Family Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:
‘Nothing To Lose’ (written by Kim Fox)
‘Tennessee Roads’ (written by Matraca Berg and Jim Photoglo)
‘I Feel You Everywhere’ (written by Ronnie Bowman and Buddy Cannon)
‘What Took You So Long?’ (written by Ronnie Bowman, Buddy Cannon and John Scott Sherrill)
‘Westbound Train’ (written by Buddy Cannon)
‘Sweeter Than Sugarcane’ (written by John Scott Sherrill)
‘Whiskey Lullabye’ (written by Jon Randall)
‘Separate Ways’ (written by Ronnie Bowman, Jody King and Wyatt Rice)
‘I’ll Be Back’ (written by Ronnie Bowman, Marla Cannon-Goodman and Buddy Cannon)
‘Nobody Hops A Train Anymore’, which was written by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011) and Leslie Satcher
On Tuesday 25 January 2005, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘Be As You Are (Songs From An Old Blue Chair)’ (BNA Records, 2005), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney; the album, which was intended by Kenny Chesney to be a side project, included the following tracks:
‘Old Blue Chair’ (written by Kenny Chesney)
‘Be As You Are’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Dean Dillon)
‘Guitars & Tiki Bars’ (written by Kenny Chesney, Dean Dillon and Mark Tamburino)
‘Island Boy’ (written by Kenny Chesney, Phil Vassar and Mark Tamburino)
‘Somewhere In The Sun’ (written by Daryl Hobb, Tim Holly, Danny Tucker and Kenny Chesney)
‘Boston’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Mark Tamburino)
‘Something Sexy About The Rain’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Skip Ewing)
‘French Kissing Life’ (written by Kenny Chesney)
‘Key Lime Pie’ (written by Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney)
‘Sherry’s Living In Paradise’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Clayton Mitchell)
‘Magic’ (written by Kenny Chesney)
‘Soul of A Sailor’ (written by Kenny Chesney, Dean Dillon and Scotty Emerick)
‘Old Blue Chair’ (written by Kenny Chesney)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Be As You Are (Songs From An Old Blue Chair)’ (BNA Records, 2005) produced no Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart singles, although ‘Guitars & Tiki Bars’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Mark Tamburino) reached No.53 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart based on unsolicited airplay.
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘Be As You Are (Songs From An Old Blue Chair)’ (BNA Records, 2005), included the following:
Wyatt Beard, Buddy Cannon, Murray Cannon, Tim Hensley (Monday 8 October 1962 – Tuesday 30 April 2013) and Liana Manis (background vocals)
David Briggs (piano, keyboards, B3 organ)
Mat Britain and Robert Greenidge (steel drums)
Pat Buchanan (electric guitar, harmonica)
Kenny Chesney (acoustic guitar, lead vocals)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) (electric guitar, gut string guitar, nylon string guitar)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Steve Herman and Quentin Ware Jr. (trumpet)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (piano, keyboards, B3 organ)
Jim Hoke (tenor saxophone, penny whistle)
Jim Horn (tenor saxophone)
John Jorgenson (electric guitar)
Paul Leim (drums, percussion, shaker)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, nylon string guitar, steel guitar)
Randy McCormick (piano, keyboards, B3 organ, Wurlitzer electric piano)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar, fretless bass, background vocals)
Tom Roady (percussion, tambourine)
Amy Joe Stelzer and Mark Tamburino (intro to ‘Key Lime Pie’)
Tommy White (Dobro)
John Willis (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, gut string guitar, nylon string guitar)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair)’ (BNA Records, 2005) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2005, and No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2005.
On Tuesday 8 November 2005, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘The Road & The Radio’ (BNA Records, 2005), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney and Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 – Thursday 8 June 2017), and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Who You’d Be Today’ (written by Bill Luther and Aimee Mayo) (No.2, 2005)
‘Living In Fast Forward’ (written by David Lee Murphy and Rivers Rutherford) (No.1 for two weeks in March / April 2006)
‘Summertime’ (written by Craig Wiseman and Steve McEwan) (No.1 for four weeks in June / July 2006)
‘You Save Me’ (written by Brett James and Troy Verges) (No.3, 2006)
‘Beer In Mexico’ (written by Kenny Chesney) (No.1 for two weeks in March / April 2007)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘The Road & The Radio’ (BNA Records, 2005) also included the following tracks:
‘The Road & The Radio’ (written by Kenny Chesney and Casey Beathard)
‘In A Small Town’ (written by Jon McElroy and Cory Mayo)
‘Freedom’ (written by Tom Douglas and Bill Luther)
‘Tequila Loves Me’ (written by Jon McElroy and Arnie Roman)
‘Somebody Take Me Home’ (written by Radney Foster and Randy Rogers)
‘Like Me’ (written by Troy Jones)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘The Road & The Radio’ (BNA Records, 2005) included the following:
Jeff Bailey and Steve Patrick (trumpet)
Wyatt Beard (piano, background vocals)
Pat Buchanan and J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 – Saturday 24 October 2020) (electric guitar)
Buddy Cannon and Melonie Cannon (background vocals)
Kenny Chesney (lead vocals)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Dan Dugmore, Steve Hinson and Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Chris Dunn (trombone)
Kenny Greenberg (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Tim Hensley (Monday 8 October 1962 – Tuesday 30 April 2013) (banjo, background vocals)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (piano, keyboards, B3 organ, synthesizer)
Jim Horn (baritone saxophone)
John Jorgenson (acoustic guiar, electric guitar, baritone guitar)
Paul Leim (drums, percussion)
Samuel B. Levine (tenor saxophone)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, nylon string guitar)
Randy McCormick (piano, keyboards, B3 organ, Wurlitzer electric piano)
Steve Nathan (synthesizer)
Larry Paxton and Michael Rhodes (bass guitar)
John Willis (acoustic guitar, nylon string guitar, banjo)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘The Road & The Radio’ (BNA Records, 2005) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2005, and No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2005.
On Tuesday 14 August 2007, Charlie Sizemore Band saw the release of ‘Good News’ (Rounder Records, 2007), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included the following tracks:
‘I’ve Fallen & I Can’t Get Up’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014) and David Kent
‘I Won’t Be Far From Here’ (written by Buddy Cannon and Charlie Sizemore)
‘Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart’ (written by Hugh Prestwood)
‘Devil On A Plow’, which was written by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011) and John Pennell
‘Alison’s Band’ (written by Buddy Cannon and Charlie Sizemore)
‘Whiskey Willie’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021)
‘Blame It On Vern’ (written by Jeff Barbra)
‘No Blues Is Good News’, which was written by Eddie Noack (Tuesday 29 April 1930 – Sunday 5 February 1978)
‘The Less That I Drink’ (written by Buddy Cannon and Charlie Sizemore)
‘Mama, Turn Aloosa My Soul’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014)
‘The Silver Bugle’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021) and Charlie Sizemore
‘Hey Moon’
‘My Dying Day’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Craig Martin
‘Good News When I Die’ (written by Matt DeSpain)
On Tuesday 11 September 2007, Kenny Chesney saw the release of ‘Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates’ (BNA Records, 2007), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney, with the exception of ‘Wild Ride’ (written by Dwight Yoakam), which was produced by Joe Walsh, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Never Wanted Nothing More’ (written by Ronnie Bowman and Chris Stapleton) (No.1 for four weeks in August / September 2007)
‘Don’t Blink’ (written by Casey Beathard and Chris Wallin) (No.1 for three weeks in October / November 2007)
‘Shiftwork’ (written by Troy Jones) (No.2, 2008) / this track was a duet with George Strait
‘Better As A Memory’ (written by Scooter Carusoe and Lady Goodman) (No.1 for one week in June / July 2008)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates’ (BNA Records, 2007) also included the following tracks:
‘Just Not Today’ (written by David Lee Murphy)
‘Wife & Kids’ (written by Jim Collins and Brett James)
‘Got ALittle Crazy’ (written by Craig Monday and Chris Wallin)
‘Dancin’ For The Groceries’ (written by Brett James and Don Schlitz)
‘Wild Ride’ (written by Dwight Yoakam) / this track was a duet with Joe Walsh
‘Scare Me’ (written by Wendell Mobley, Joe Don Rooney and Neil Thrasher)
‘Demons’ (written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kenny Chesney’s ‘Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates’ (BNA Records, 2007) included the following:
Wyatt Beard, Bekka Bramlett, Buddy Cannon, Melonie Cannon, Tim Hensley (Monday 8 October 1962 – Tuesday 30 April 2013), Jonell Mosser, Jon Randall and Andrea Zonn (background vocals)
William F. Bowman and Chris Stapleton (acoustic guitar)
Mat Britain (steel drums)
Pat Buchanan, Vince Gill and Kenny Greenberg (electric guitar)
Kenny Chesney (lead vocals)
Jeff Coffin (tenor saxophone)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Dan Dugmore (steel guitar)
Chris Dunn (trombone)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, Dobro)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Steve Herman and Quentin Ware Jr. (trumpet)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) (piano, keyboards)
Jim Horn (baritone saxophone)
Paul Leim (drums, percussion)
Randy McCormick (Hammond B-3 organ, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, Wurlitzer)
Larry Paxton (bass guitar)
Gary Prim (Hammond B-3 organ, piano, keyboards)
Mickey Raphael (harmonica)
George Strait (vocals on ‘Shiftwork’)
Scott Vestal (banjo)
Joe Walsh (electric guitar and vocals on ‘Wild Ride’)
Quentin Ware Jr. (trumpet)
John Willis (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, talk box guitar, gut string guitar)
Kenny Chesney’s ‘Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates’ (BNA Records, 2007) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2007, No.3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2007, and No.7 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 2007.
On Tuesday 7 October 2008, Melonie Cannon saw the release of ‘And The Wheels Turn’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2008), which included the following tracks:
‘Cactus In A Coffee Can’ (written by Allen Shamblin)
‘Dark Shadows’ (written by Stephen Mougin)
‘Send A Little Love’ (written by Ronnie Bowman and John Scott Sherrill)
‘I Call It Gone’ (written by Marla Cannon-Goodman and Michael Patrick Heeney)
‘The Day Before You’ (written by Lisa Brokop and Liz Rose)
‘It’s All Right There’ (written by Marla Cannon-Goodman and Melonie Cannon)
‘Back To Earth’ (written by Willie Nelson) / this track featured guest vocals from Willie Nelson
‘Mary Magdalene (Why You Cryin)’ (written by Ronnie Bowman, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Buddy Cannon and Melonie Cannon)
‘Set ‘Em Up, Joe’, which was written by Buddy Cannon, Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010), Dean Dillon and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009)
‘I’ve Seen Enough of What’s Behind Me’ (written by Ronnie Bowman)
‘I Just Don’t Have It In Me’ (written by Marla Cannon-Goodman and Melonie Cannon)
‘And The Wheels Turn’ (written by Larry Bastian)
Buddy Cannon can also boast of a very impressive personal song catalogue.
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 – Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Have You Ever Said I Love You To A Lady’ (co-written with Steve Smith) and included the track on ‘Neither One of Us’ (Epic Records, 1973).
Bob Luman (Thursday 15 April 1937 – Wednesday 27 December 1978) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Baby, Made it Good’ (co-written with Steve Smith) and included the track on ‘Neither One of Us’ (Epic Records, 1973).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Golden Nugget Gambling Casino’ (co-written with Gene Dunlap) and included the track on ‘Heart Healer’ (MCA Records, 1977).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I Don’t Want To Feel This Way Forever’ (co-written with Gene Dunlap) and included the track on ‘Heart Healer’ (MCA Records, 1977).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Everyone Needs Someone’ (co-written with Gene Dunlap) and included the track on ‘Heart Healer’ (MCA Records, 1977).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘It’s Just Not That Easy To Say’ (co-written with Gene Dunlap and Billy Williams) and included the track on ‘Heart Healer’ (MCA Records, 1977).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Woman, You Should Be In Movies’ and included the track on ‘Love’s Troubled Waters’ (MCA Records, 1977).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I Believe In You’ (co-written with Gene Dunlap) and included the track on ‘I Believe In You’ (MCA Records, 1978); the track, which was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in 1978, was subsequently included on ‘M-M-Mel Live’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘She Don’t Trust You, Daddy’ (co-written with Jimmy Darrell) and included the track on ‘I Believe In You’ (MCA Records, 1978).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘West Bound Trains’ and included the track on ‘I Believe In You’ (MCA Records, 1978).
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Woman, You Should Be In Movies’ and included the track on ‘Portrait’ (MCA Records, 1979).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Every Now & Then’ and included the track on ‘Are You Sincere’ (MCA Records, 1979).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Friends’ and included the track on ‘Mr. Entertainer’ (MCA Records, 1979).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Whiskey Chasin’ and included the track on ‘Your Body Is An Outlaw’ (Elektra Records, 1980).
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Naked In The Rain’ (co-written with Kenny Starr) and included the track on ‘Loretta’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Pyramid of Cans’ (co-written with Bob Corbin) and included the track on ‘Southern Rain’ (Elektra Records, 1980).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) & Nancy Sinatra recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Texas Cowboy Night’ (co-written with Mel Tillis and Raleigh Squires) and included the track on ‘Mel & Nancy’ (Elektra Records, 1981); the track reached No.23 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Dream of Me’ and included the track on ‘Today My World Slipped Away’ (A&M Records, 1983).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘She Meant Forever When She Said Goodbye’ and included the track on ‘After All This Time’ (MCA Records, 1983).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘He Drove Her Out of His Mind’ (co-written with Bob Corbin and Larry Paxton) and included the track on ‘New Patches’ (MCA Records, 1984).
Sawyer Brown recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Smoking In The Rockies’, which was co-written with Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 – Friday 23 November 2012), Dean Dillon and Gary Stewart (Sunday 28 May 1944 – Tuesday 16 December 2003), and included the track on ‘Sawyer Brown’ (Capitol Records, 1985).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Another Heart Down’ (co-written with Larry Shell) and included the track on ‘California Road’ (RCA Victor Records, 1985).
Gene Watson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Ain’t No Fun To Be Alone in San Antone’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Back in the Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Set ‘Em Up, Joe’, which was co-written with Hank Cochran (Thursday 22 June 1939 – Monday 30 January 2023), Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on ‘Chiseled in Stone’ (Columbia Records, 1988); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in July 1988.
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Is It That Time Again’, which was co-written with Dean Dillon and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), and included the track on ‘If You Ain’t Lovin’, You Ain’t Livin’ (MCA Records, 1988).
In 1989, David Ball recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘If She Were Mine’ (co-written with Pamela Brown Hayes) for RCA Records; the track was included on ‘David Ball’ (RCA Records, 1994), an album project which was not released by RCA Records until 1994.
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘What’s The Score’ (co-written with Raleigh Squires) and included the track on ‘Prime Cuts’ (Capitol Records, 1989).
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I’m Still Crazy’ (co-written with Steve Gosdin and Vern Gosdin) and included the track on ‘Alone’ (Columbia Records, 1989); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1989.
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I’ve Come To Expect It From You’ (co-written with Dean Dillon) and included the track on ‘Livin’ It Up’ (MCA Records, 1990).
Larry Boone recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Down That River Road’ (co-written with Mark Collie) and included the track on ‘Down That River Road’ (Mercury Records, 1990).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I’ve Convinced Everybody But Me’, which was co-written with Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and David Lewis, and included the track on ‘Chill of An Early Fall’ (MCA Records, 1991).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Anywhere But Here’ (co-written with Bob DiPiero and John Scott Sherrill) and included the track on ‘Don’t Go Near The Water’ (Mercury Records, 1991); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
Randy Travis recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Let Me Try’ (co-written with Allen Shamblin) and included the track on ‘High Lonesome’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Dean Dillon recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Friday Night’s Woman’, which was co-written with Blake Mevis (1949 – Wednesday 9 February 2022) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on ‘Out of Your Ever Lovin’ Mind’ (Atlantic Records, 1991).
Dean Dillon recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Best Love Friends’, which was co-written with Dean Dillon and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), and included the track on ‘Out of Your Ever Lovin’ Mind’ (Atlantic Records, 1991).
Dean Dillon recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘She Knows What She Wants’ (co-written with Dean Dillon) and included the track on ‘Out of Your Ever Lovin’ Mind’ (Atlantic Records, 1991).
Dean Dillon recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘A Country Boy (Who Rolled The Rock Away)’ (co-written with Dean Dillon and Jimmy Darrell) and included the track on ‘Out of Your Ever Lovin’ Mind’ (Atlantic Records, 1991).
Dean Dillon recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘You Must Be Out of Your Ever Lovin’ Mind’ (co-written with Dean Dillon) and included the track on ‘Out of Your Ever Lovin’ Mind’ (Atlantic Records, 1991).
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore’ (co-written with Terry Shelton and Billy Ray Cyrus) and included the track on ‘Some Gave All’ (Mercury Records, 1992).
Jeffrey Barosh Sr. (Jeff Chance) (Monday 13 December 1954 – Friday 12 December 2008) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Ain’t No Fun To Be Alone In San Antone’ (co-written with Luke Reed) and included the track on ‘Walk Softly On The Bridges’ (Mercury Records, 1992).
Gene Watson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘One & One & One’ (co-written with John Northrup) and included the track on ‘In Other Words‘ (Canada: Mercury Records / Polygram Records, 1992 / United States: Broadland International Records, 1992); the track reached No.66 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Tracy Byrd recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Back In The Swing of Things’, which was co-written with Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on ‘Tracy Byrd’ (MCA Records, 1993).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Forever’s Here To Stay’ (co-written with Larry Bastian) and included the track on ‘High Tech Redneck’ (MCA Records, 1993).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Haunted Heart’ (co-written with Larry Bastian) and included the track on ‘Haunted Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1993); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Sammy Kershaw recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘If You’re Gonna Walk, I’m Gonna Crawl’ (co-written with Larry Bastian) and included the track on ‘Feelin’ Good Train’ (Mercury Records, 1994).
Dale Ann Bradley & The New Coon Creek Girls (Ramona Church Taylor, Vicki Simmons and Pam Perry, with special guest Deanie Richardson) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Westbound Train’ and included the track on ‘Ain’t Love A Good Thing’ (Pinecastle Records, 1995).
Sammy Kershaw recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Same Place’ (co-written with Dean Dillon and Marla Cannon) and included the track on ‘Politics, Religion & Her’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 1996).
Steve Kolander recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Full Moon Fever’, which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 – Sunday 11 January 2004) and Steve Kolander, and included the track on ‘Pieces of A Puzzle’ (River North Records, 1996), which was prdouced by Buddy Cannon.
Billy Keeble recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘The Road To Yesterday’ (co-written with Curt Ryle) and included the track on ‘Unchained Country’ (Universal Sound Records, 1999).
Craig Morgan recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I Want Us Back’ (co-written with Maria Cannon-Goodman and Dean Dillon) and included the track on ‘Craig Morgan’ (Atlantic Records, 2000).
Craig Morgan recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘I Wish I Could See Bakersfield’ and included the track on ‘Craig Morgan’ (Atlantic Records, 2000); the track featured guest vocals from Merle Haggard. (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
Tracy Byrd recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Baby, Put Your Clothes On’ (co-written with Bill Anderson and Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Truth About Men’ (RCA Records, 2003).
Craig Morgan recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Look At Us’ (co-written with Larry Bastian and Craig Morgan) and included the track on ‘I Love It’ (Broken Bow Records, 2003).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Give It Away’ (co-written with Jamey Johnson and Bill Anderson) and included the track on ‘It Just Comes Natural’ (MCA Records, 2006); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart for one week in September / October 2006.
Bradley Walker recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘We Know Where He Is’ (co-written with Shawn Camp) and included the track on ‘Highway of Dreams’ (Rounder Records, 2006).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘It Was Me’, which was co-written with Randy ‘Tiny’ Hardison (Saturday 11 March 1961 – Tuesday 4 June 2002), and included the track on ‘Jamey Johnson’ (BNA Records, 2006).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Between Jennings & Jones’ (co-written with Jamey Johnson) and included the track on ‘That Lonesome Song’ (United States: Mercury Records, 2008 / United Kingdom: Hump Head Country, 2008).
George Strait recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘It Was Me’, which was co-written with Randy ‘Tiny’ Hardison (Saturday 11 March 1961 – Tuesday 4 June 2002), and included the track on ‘Troubadour’ (MCA Records, 2008).
Willie Nelson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘When I Was Young & Grandma Wasn’t Old’ and included the track on ‘Moment of Forever’ (Lost Highway Records, 2008).
Joe Nichols recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Old Things New’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet and Bill Anderson) and included the track on ‘Old Things New’ (Universal South Records, 2009).
Joe Nichols recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Cheaper Than A Shrink’ (co-written with Bill Anderson and Jamey Johnson) and included the track on ‘Old Things New’ (Universal South Records, 2009).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘How Can I Believe In You (When You’ll Be Leaving Me)’, which was co-written with Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), and included the track on ‘Rockin’ In The Country’ (E1 Music Records, 2009).
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Ain’t A Woman Somebody When She’s Gone’, which was co-written with Tommy Collins (Sunday 28 September 1930 – Tuesday 14 March 2000), and included the track on ‘Lonely Street’ (Rounder Records, 2009).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Set ‘Em Up Joe’, which was co-written with Hank Cochran, Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on ‘The Guitar Song’ (Mercury Records, 2010).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Dog In The Yard’ (co-written with Jamey Johnson) and included the track on ‘The Guitar Song’ (Mercury Records, 2010).
Jamey Johnson recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Front Porch Swing Afternoon’ (co-written with Jamey Johnson and Larry Shell) and included the track on ‘The Guitar Song’ (Mercury Records, 2010).
On Tuesday 15 May 2012, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘Heroes’ (Legacy Recordings, 2012), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included the following tracks:
‘A Horse Called Music’, which was written by Wayne Carson (Monday 31 May 1943 – Monday 20 July 2015) / this track featured guest vocals from Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Lukas Nelson
‘Roll Me Up’ (written by Willie Nelson, Buddy Cannon, Rich Alves, John Colgin and Mike McQuerry) / this track featured guest vocals from Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson and Jamey Johnson
‘That’s All There Is To This Song’ (written by Buddy Cannon)
‘No Place To Fly’ (written by Lukas Nelson) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson
‘Every Time He Drinks, He Thinks of Her’ (written by Lukas Nelson) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson
‘Come On Up To The House’ (written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson and Sheryl Crow
‘Hero’ (written by Willie Nelson) / this track featured guest vocals from Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020) and Jamey Johnson
‘My Window Faces The South’, which was written by Jerry Livingston (25 March 1909 – Wednesday 1 July 1987), Mitchell Parish (Tuesday 10 July 1900 – Wednesday 31 March 1993) and Abner Silver (28 December 1899 – Thursday 24 November 1966) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson
‘The Sound of Your Memory’ (written by Lukas Nelson and Elizabeth Rainey) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson
‘This Cold War With You’, which was written by Floyd Tillman (Tuesday 8 December 1914 – Friday 22 August 2003) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson and Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013)
‘Just Breathe’ (written by Eddie Vedder) / this track featued guest vocals from Lukas Nelson
‘Home In San Antone’, which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954) / this track featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson
‘Come On Back Jesus’ (written by Willie Nelson, Buddy Cannon and Micah Nelson) / this track featured guest vocals from Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020), Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson
‘The Scientist’ (written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin)
On Tuesday 15 October 2013, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘To All The Girls…’ (Legacy Recordings, 2013), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included the following tracks:
‘From Here To The Moon & Back’ (written by Dolly Parton) / this track was a duet with Dolly Parton
‘She Was No Good For Me’, which was written by Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) / this track was a duet with Miranda Lambert
‘It Won’t Be Very Long’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon) / this track was a duet with The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers and Lydia Stagle)
‘Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends’ (written by Kris Kristofferson) / this track was a duet with Rosanne Cash
‘Far Away Places’, which was written by Joan Whitney Kramer (26 June 1914 – Thursday 12 July 1990) and Alex J. Kramer (30 May 1903 – Tuesday 10 February 1998) / this track was a duet with Sheryl Crow
‘Bloody Mary Morning’ (written by Willie Nelson) / this track was a duet with Wynonna Judd
‘Always On My Mind’, which was written by Wayne Carson (Monday 31 May 1943 – Monday 20 July 2015), Johnny Christopher and Mark James / this track was a duet with Carrie Underwood
‘Somewhere Between’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) / this track was a duet with Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022)
‘No Mas Amor’ (written by Keith Gattis and Sammy Barrett) / this track was a duet with Alison Krauss
‘Back To Earth’ (written by Willie Nelson) / this track was a duet with Melonie Cannon
‘Grandma’s Hands’, which was written by Bill Withers (Monday 4 July 1938 – Monday 30 March 2020) / this track was a duet with Mavis Staples
‘Walkin’ (written by Willie Nelson) / this track was a duet with Norah Jones
‘Til The End of The World’ (written by Vaughn Horton) / this track was a duet with Shelby Lynne
‘Will You Remember Mine’ (written by Willie Nelson) / this track was a duet with Lily Meola
‘Dry Lightning’ (written by Bruce Springsteen) / this track was a duet with Emmylou Harris
‘Making Believe’, which was written by Jimmy Work (Saturday 29 March 1924 – Saturday 22 December 2018) / this track was a duet with Brandi Carlile
‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’ (written by John Fogerty) / this track was a duet with Paula Nelson
‘After The Fire Is Gone’, which was written by L.E. White (1930 – Tuesday 7 September 2004) / this track was a duet with Tina Rose
Randy Travis recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Set ‘Em Up, Joe’, which was co-written with Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on ‘Influence Vol. 2: The Man I Am’ (Warner Bros. Records Nashville, 2014).
On Tuesday 17 June 2014, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘Band of Brothers’ (Legacy Recordings, 2014), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included the following tracks:
‘Bring It On’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Guitar In The Corner’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘The Wall’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Whenever You Come Around’ (written by Vince Gill and Pete Wasner)
‘Wives & Girlfriends’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘I Thought I Left You’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Send Me A Picture’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Used To Her’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘The Git Go’, which was written by Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020) and Gary Nicholson / this track featured guest vocals from Jamey Johnson
‘Band of Brothers’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Hard To Be An Outlaw’, which was written by Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020)
‘Crazy Like Me’ (written by Dennis Morgan, Shawn Camp and Billy Burnette)
‘The Songwriters’ (written by Gordie Sampson and Bill Anderson)
‘I’ve Got A Lot of Traveling To Do’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘It’s All Going To Pot’ (co-written with Jamey Johnson and Larry Shell) and included the track on ‘Django & Jimmie’ (Legacy Recordings, 2015); the track reached No.48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2015.
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Alice In Hulaland’ (co-written with Willie Nelson) and included the track on ‘Django & Jimmie’ (Legacy Recordings, 2015).
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘It’s Only Money’ (co-written with Willie Nelson) and included the track on ‘Django & Jimmie’ (Legacy Recordings, 2015).
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Where Dreams Come To Die’ (co-written with Willie Nelson) and included the track on ‘Django & Jimmie’ (Legacy Recordings, 2015).
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Driving The Herd’ (co-written with Willie Nelson) and included the track on ‘Django & Jimmie’ (Legacy Recordings, 2015).
Moe Bandy recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘It Was Me’, which was co-written with Randy ‘Tiny’ Hardison (Saturday 11 March 1961 – Tuesday 4 June 2002), and included the track on ‘Lucky Me’ (Moe Bandy Music, 2016).
On Friday 26 February 2016, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin’ (Legacy Recordings, 2016), which was produced by Buddy Cannon and Matt Rollings, and included the following tracks, all of which were written by George Jacob Gershwin (26 September 1898 – Sunday 11 July 1937) and Ira Gershwin (6 December 1896 – Wednesday 17 August 1983):
‘But Not For Me’
‘Somebody Loves Me’
‘Someone To Watch Over Me’
‘Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off’ / this track featured guest vocals from Cyndi Lauper
‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’
‘I Got Rhythm’
‘Love Is Here To Stay’
‘They All Laughed’
‘Embraceable You’ / this track featured guest vocals from Sheryl Crow
‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’
‘Summertime’
On Friday 17 February 2017 (United States) and Tuesday 3 March 2017 (United Kingdom & Ireland), Alison Krauss saw the release of ‘Windy City’ (Capitol Records, 2017), her first solo release of new material in almost eighteen years, which included ten covers of classic songs, all of which she had handpicked with producer Buddy Cannon.
Alison Krauss’ ‘Windy City’ (Capitol Records, 2017), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, included the following tracks:
‘Losing You’, which was written by Pierre Havet, Jean Renard and Carl Sigman (24 September 1909 – Tuesday 26 September 2000) / the original version of this track was recorded by Brenda Lee, who included it on ‘Let Me Sing’ (Decca Records, 1963); Brenda Lee’s version of the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1963
‘It’s Goodbye & So Long To You’ (written by Raymond Couture and Harold J. Breau) / the original version of this track was recorded by The Osborne Brothers & Mac Wiseman (Saturday 23 May 1925 – Saturday 23 February 2019), who included it on ‘The Essential Bluegrass Album’ (CMH Records, 1988)
‘Windy City’ (written by Bobby Osborne and Pete Goble) / the original version of this track was recorded by The Osborne Brothers (Bobby & Sonny Osborne), who included it on ‘The Osborne Brothers: Bobby & Sonny’ (Decca Records, 1972)
‘I Never Cared For You’ (written by Willie Nelson) / the original version of this track was recorded by Willie Nelson, who included it on ‘Country Music Concert’ (RCA Records, 1966); the album was recorded ‘live’ at Panther Hall in Fort Worth, Texas in July 1966 and featured Willie Nelson (vocal, guitar), Wade Ray (bass), Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) (drums) and Chip Young (guitar)
‘River In The Rain’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992) / the original version of this track was recorded by Roger Miller, who included it on ‘Roger Miller’ (MCA Records, 1986)
‘Dream of Me’ (written by Jimmy Darrell, Raleigh Squires and Buddy Cannon) / the original version of this track was recorded by Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), who included it on ‘Today My World Slipped Away’ (AMI Records, 1983); Vern Gosdin‘s version of ‘Dream of Me’ reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983
‘Gentle On My Mind’, which was written by John Hartford (Thursday 30 December 1937 – Monday 4 June 2001) / the original version of this track was recorded by Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017), who included it on ‘Gentle On My Mind’ (Capitol Records, 1967); Glen Campbell’s version of ‘Gentle On My Mind’ reached No.30 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1968, and No.62 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1968
‘All Alone Am I’, which was written by Manos Hatzidakis (Friday 23 October 1925 – Wednesday 15 June 1994) and Arthur Altman (1910 – Tuesday 18 January 1994) / the original version of this track was recorded by Brenda Lee, who included it on ‘All Alone Am I’ (Decca Records, 1963); Brenda Lee’s version of ‘All Alone Am I’ reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1963
‘Poison Love’ (written by Elmer Laird) / the original version of this track was recorded by Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996) & Charlie Monroe (Saturday 4 July 1903 – Saturday 27 September 1975), who included it on ‘Bill Monroe & Charlie Monroe’ (Decca Records, 1969)
‘You Don’t Know Me’, which was written by Cindy Walker (Saturday 20 July 1918 – Thursday 23 March 2006) and Eddy Arnold (Wednesday 15 May 1918 – Thursday 8 May 2008) / the original version of this track was recorded by Eddy Arnold, who included it on ‘Eddy Arnold Sings Them Again’ (RCA Records, 1960); Eddy Arnold’s version of ‘You Don’t Know Me’ reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1960
On Friday 28 April 2017, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘God’s Problem Child’ (Legacy Recordings, 2017), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included the following tracks:
‘Little House On The Hill’ (written by Lyndel Rhodes)
‘Old Timer’ (written by Donnie Fritts and Lenny LeBlanc)
‘True Love’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Delete & Fast Forward’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘A Woman’s Love’ (written by Mike Reid and Sam Hunter)
‘Your Memory Has A Mind of Its Own’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Butterfly’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton and Mark Sherrill)
‘Still Not Dead’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘God’s Problem Child’, which was written by Jamey Johnson and Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018)
‘It Gets Easier’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Lady Luck’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘I Made A Mistake’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘He Won’t Ever Be Gone’ (written by Gary Nicholson) / this track was a tribute to Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
Jordan Mogey recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘Set ‘Em Up, Joe’, which was co-written with Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009), Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Dean Dillon, and included the track on ‘Cowboys, Drifters & Angels’ (Jordan Mogey Independent Release, 2017).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Buddy Cannon’s ‘There Will Be Light’ (co-written with Jamie Johnson and Larry Shell) and included the track on ’17th Avenue Rival’ (Lightning Rod Records, 2017).
On Friday 21 June 2019, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘Ride Me Back Home’ (Sony Music / Legacy Recordings, 2019), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included six tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Ride Me Back Home’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton) / this track was released as a single in 2019, but it did not chart
‘My Favorite Picture of You’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) / this track was released as a single in 2019, but it did not chart
‘Come On Time’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon) / this track was released as a single in 2019, but it did not chart
‘It’s Hard To Be Humble’, which was written by Mac Davis (Wednesday 21 January 1942 – Tuesday 29 September 2020) / this track, which featured guest vocals from Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, was released as a single in 2019, but it did not chart
‘Immigrant Eyes’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) / this track was released as a single in 2019, but it did not chart
‘Seven Year Itch’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon) / this track was released as a single in 2019, but it did not chart
Willie Nelson’s ‘Ride Me Back Home’ (Sony Music / Legacy Recordings, 2019) also included the following tracks:
‘Stay Away From Lonely Places’ (written by Willie Nelson and Don Bowman)
‘Just The Way You Are’ (written by Billy Joel)
‘One More Song To Write’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Nobody’s Listening’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Maybe I Should’ve Been Listening’ (written by Buzz Rabin) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Between This Time & The Next Time‘ (MCA Records, 1981)
On Friday 3 July 2020, Willie Nelson saw the release of ‘First Rose of Spring’ (Legacy Recordings, 2020), which was produced by Buddy Cannon, and included four tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘First Rose of Spring’ (written by Randy Houser, Allen Shamblin and Mark Beeson) / this track was released as a single in 2020, but it did not chart
‘Our Song’ (written by Chris Stapleton) / this track was released as a single in 2020, but it did not chart
‘I’m The Only Hell My Mama Ever Raised’, which was written by Wayne Kemp (Sunday 1 June 1941 – Monday 9 March 2015), Bobby Borchers and Mack Vickery (Wednesday 8 June 1938 – Tuesday 21 December 2004) / this track was released as a single in 2020, but it did not chart / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Paycheck (Tuesday 31 May 1938 – Wednesday 19 February 2003), who included it on ‘Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets’ (Epic Records, 1977); Johnny Paycheck’s version of this track reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977, and No.6 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1977
‘We Are The Cowboys’, which was written by Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020) / this track was released as a single in 2020, but it did not chart
Willie Nelson’s ‘First Rose of Spring’ (Legacy Recordings, 2020) also included the following tracks:
‘Blue Star’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘I’ll Break Out Again Tonight’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999)
‘Don’t Let The Old Man In’ (written by Toby Keith)
‘Just Bummin’ Around’ (written by Pete Graves)
‘Stealing Home’ (written by Marla Cannon-Goodman, Casey Beathard and Don Sampson)
‘Love Just Laughed’ (written by Willie Nelson and Buddy Cannon)
‘Yesterday When I Was Young’, which was written by Charles Aznavour (22 May 1924 – Monday 1 October 2018) and Herbert Kretzmer, OBE (5 October 1925 – Wednesday 14 October 2020) / the original version of this track was recorded by Roy Linwood Clark (Saturday 15 April 1933 – Thursday 15 November 2018), who included it on ‘Yesterday When I Was Young’ (Dot Records, 1969); Roy Linwood Clark’s version of the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in August 1969, No.19 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1969, No.7 on the Canadian RPM pop music singles chart in 1969, No.2 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1969, and No.1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary Chart in 1969
Personnel involved in the recording of Willie Nelson’s ‘First Rose of Spring’ (Legacy Recordings, 2020) included the following:
Dave Angell, Monisa Angell, Jerry Bifano, David Davidson, Connie Ellisor, Alicia Enstrom, Anthony La Marchina, Sari Reist, Kristin Wilkinson and Karen Winkelmann (strings)
Buddy Cannon (acoustic guitar, background vocals)
Melodie Cannon and Ward Davis (background vocals)
Chad Cromwell and Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Kevin ‘Swine’ Grantt and Larry Paxton (upright bass)
Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Catherine Marx (piano, B3 organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes)
Willie Nelson (Trigger, lead vocals)
Mickey Raphael (harmonica)
Bobby Terry (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, steel guitar)
Willie Nelson’s ‘First Rose of Spring’ (Legacy Recordings, 2020) debuted at No.5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart, with 12,000 album equivalent units.
Buddy Cannon has also been the proud recipient, as producer, of Gold Awards for a number of albums, including the following:
Sara Evans’ ‘No Place That Far’ (RCA Records, 1998)
Chely Wright‘s ‘Single White Female’ (MCA Records, 1999)
John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Brand New Me’ (Atlantic Records, 2000)
Reba McEntire’s ‘Room To Breathe’ (MCA Records, 2003)
• Visit Buddy Cannon’s official site at buddycannon.com