Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2006, were most gracious with their time and words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Buzz Cason, which he submitted to this site on Monday 8 May 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Buzz Cason who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Buzz Cason
This quote was submitted on Monday 8 May 2006.
‘Gene Watson is, by far, in my top five favourite singers of all fields combined!
‘Fourteen Carat Mind‘ is, of course, a classic!
It was a real honour when he recorded ‘The Winds of Change’, which I co-wrote with the highly talented, Kent Westberry.
Best wishes with the website!
It’s great to hear Gene on the Opry’
Thank you, Buzz Cason, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Buzz Cason…
Buzz Cason, who was born James E Cason on Monday 27 November 1939, was a native of Inglewood, Tennessee and was a legendary figure in country music circles.
Buzz Cason was a songwriter, publisher, singer, session musician, producer, studio owner and a one-time member of The Crickets.
Buzz Cason was a founding member of The Casuals, Nashville’s first rock & roll band. Together with Richard Williams and Hugh Jarrett of The Jordanaires, Buzz Cason recorded as The Statues for Liberty Records.
In 1960, Buzz Cason started a solo career under the pseudonym, Garry Miles, and enjoyed a No.16 hit single in 1960 with ‘Look For A Star’.
In 1962, Buzz Cason worked as an assistant for Tommy ‘Snuff’ Garrett (Tuesday 5 July 1938 – Wednesday 16 December 2015) in Los Angeles. In Nashville, Buzz Cason also worked for arranger, Bill Justis. Later, Buzz Cason wrote songs together with Bobby Russell, and both of them ran a publishing and record company until 1974.
Buzz Cason’s biggest hit as a writer was the song, ‘Everlasting Love’, which was recorded originally by Robert Knight, and which was a No.1 hit single on the United Kingdom Singles Chart when covered by Love Affair in February 1968 and a No.6 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in the United States in 1974. Buzz Cason’s ‘Everlasting Love’ has logged over five million plays, according to BMI.
Buzz Cason was also a backing singer for Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 – Tuesday 16 August 1977) and Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020).
In 1970, Buzz Cason founded Creative Workshop, a comfortably up-to-date recording studio, where Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed (Saturday 20 March 1937 – Monday 1 September 2008), Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), The Judds, The Doobie Brothers, Emmylou Harris, and Olivia Newton-John (Sunday 26 September 1948 – Monday 8 August 2022) recorded material.
From the mid-1980s, Buzz Cason had his own rockabilly-styled group, B.C. & The Dartz, who released some albums.
As well as co-writing the pop standard, ‘Everlasting Love’, Buzz Cason also published a number of classic country music songs, including Bobby Goldsboro’s ‘Honey’ (No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for three weeks in May / June 1968), and Roger Miller’s ‘Little Green Apples’ (No.6, 1968).
Buzz Cason’s songs have been recorded by a variety of artists, including Tommy Overstreet (Friday 10 September 1937 – Monday 2 November 2015), The Oak Ridge Boys, T.G. Sheppard, Freddy Weller, Jennifer McCarter & The McCarters (Lisa & Teresa McCarter), Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 – Thursday 13 June 1996), Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, and Jerry Reed (Saturday 20 March 1937 – Monday 1 September 2008).
Brenda Lee recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Why Me’ (co-written with Bob Beckman) and included the track on ‘Brenda That’s All’ (Decca Records, 1962).
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Ellis Dee (He Ain’t Free)’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on his debut album, ‘Down To Earth’ (Barnaby Records, 1970); the track was released as a single in 1970, but it did not chart.
Tommy Overstreet (Friday 10 September 1937 – Monday 2 November 2015) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Ann, Don’t Go Running’ and included the track on ‘This Is Tommy Overstreet’ (Dot Records, 1972); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Another Woman’ and included the track on ‘TG Sheppard’ (Melody Records, 1975).
Billy ‘Crash’ Craddock recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Another Woman’ (co-written with Dan Penn) and included the track on ‘Easy As Pie’ (ABC/Dot Records, 1976); the track reached No.92 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976.
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Rockefeller Square’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on ‘High Cumberland Jubilee’ (Barnaby Records, 1976).
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Bend A Little’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on ‘High Cumberland Jubilee’ (Barnaby Records, 1976).
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘England’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on ‘High Cumberland Jubilee’ (Barnaby Records, 1976).
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘The Hangout Gang’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on ‘High Cumberland Jubilee’ (Barnaby Records, 1976).
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘God Don’t Own A Car’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on ‘High Cumberland Jubilee’ (Barnaby Records, 1976).
Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘High Cumberland Jubilee / Comin’ Down Slow’ (co-written with Jimmy Buffett) and included the track on ‘High Cumberland Jubilee’ (Barnaby Records, 1976).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Emmylou’ and included the track on ‘Y’all Come Back Saloon’ (Dot Records, 1977).
Freddy Weller recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Bar Wars’ and included the track on ‘Love Got In The Way’ (Columbia Records, 1979).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘A Million Old Goodbyes’ and included the track on ‘Southern Rain’ (Elektra Records, 1980); the track reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Dickey Lee‘s ‘Again’ (Mercury Records, 1980), which was released in August 1980, was produced by Buzz Cason, Garth Fundis and Roy Dea; the album proved to be the most successful of Dickey Lee‘s three albums for Mercury Records.
Dickey Lee‘s two recording highlights during his time with Mercury Records were ‘Workin’ My Way To Your Heart’ and ‘Lost In Love’ (a duet with Kathy Burdick), both of which reached No.30 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Jennifer McCarter & The McCarters (Lisa & Teresa McCarter) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Timeless & True Love’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘The Gift’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in early 1988.
Jennifer McCarter & The McCarters (Lisa & Teresa McCarter) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘A Quiet Desperation’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘The Gift’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Timeless & True Love’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘Timeless & True Love’ (Rebel Records, 1991); Carl Jackson, along with Russell Moore, Alison Krauss, David Parmley and Johnny Vincent provided harmony vocals on the album.
Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 – Thursday 13 June 1996) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Forgotten, But Not Gone’, which was co-written with Johnny MacRae (1929 – Wednesday 3 July 2013), and included the track on ‘Keith Palmer’ (Epic Records, 1991); the track reached No.60 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
Gene Watson recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘The Winds of Change’ (co-written with Kent Westberry) and included the track on ‘In Other Words‘ (Canada: Mercury Records / Polygram Records, 1992 / United States: Broadland International Records, 1992).
Eileen King recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Timeless & True Love’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘You’re As Welcome As The Flowers In May’ (Eileen King Independent Release, 1992).
Gary Allan recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Forgotten, But Not Gone’, which was co-written with Johnny MacRae (1929 – Wednesday 3 July 2013), and included the track on ‘It Would Be You’ (Decca Records, 1998).
Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Winds of Change’ (co-written with by Kent Westberry) and included the track on ‘Talk To My Heart’ (Watermelon Records, 1998).
Martina McBride recorded Buzz Cason’s ‘Love’s The Only House’ (co-written with Tony Douglas) and included the track on ‘Emotion’ (RCA Records, 1999); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in early 2000.
On Sunday 16 June 2024, Buzz Cason passed away in Nashville; his death was announced by The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, who had honoured Buzz Cason in its ‘Poets & Prophets’ series in 2014.
Buzz Cason was survived by his wife, Vickie, daughters Tammy Cason, Kristy Cason and Leah Ball Steen, sons Taylor and Parker, nine grandchildren and a large extended family.
On Thursday 20 June 2024, a visitation for Buzz Cason took place, between 1:00pm and 3:00pm, at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home in Franklin, Tennessee.
On Friday 21 June 2024, a memorial service for Buzz Cason was held, between 1:00pm and 2:00pm, at Forest Hills Baptist Church.
(Monday 27 November 1939 – Sunday 16 June 2024)
• Visit Buzz Cason’s official site at buzzcason.com