Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers, who were contacted, by The Gene Watson Fan Site, during 2005, were most gracious with their time 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 Chris Wall, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 12 January 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Chris Wall who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Chris Wall
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 12 January 2005.
‘I’ve always been a huge Gene Watson fan.
I was in a band called The Famous Motel Cowboys out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the late 1980s and I used to sing ‘Memories To Burn‘ and ‘Fourteen Carat Mind‘ in the show every night, though we had to drop everything down an octave or two as I couldn’t hope to sing on the same plane as Gene.
In early 2002, he and his band put on a show at The Coupland Dancehall here in central Texas. The place was packed and, believe me, he hadn’t dropped a step.
Every note and vocal lick was spot on the money. But I couldn’t help but wonder – could he still hit ‘the note’. The night passed too quickly for us all. Hit after wonderful hit until the show ended.
The applause built and built. ‘Encore! Ye Hah! More! More!’ Then the opening notes of the saddest country song of all time. This song makes ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ sound like ‘Rebecca of Sunnybrooke Farm’.
We waited and waited, the anticipation building. Did he still have it?
The end of the last chorus was upon us and Gene had reached the point of no return. Then it came – perfect. It soared over the years, and the miles, and the entire crowd: ‘When (pause) I’m gone’. I went nuts! The whole place went crazy!
I’ve always been a huge Gene Watson fan and I’ll remain so ’til the final ‘Farewell Party‘
Thank you, Chris Wall, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Chris Wall…
Chris Wall was a native of Newport Beach, California although he later moved to Montana, where he began to write country songs. Chris Wall was considered by many to be the ‘real deal’.
In 1988, while tending bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Chris Wall had a chance encounter with Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020).
This led to a summons from Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020), in early 1989, urging him to take a break from his job as a ranch hand on Horse Creek Ranch near Livingston, Montana and join Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020) for a two week song-writing soiree, where one thing led to another.
Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020) recorded Chris Wall’s ‘Trashy Women’ and included the track on his stellar (some call it a career reviving) album, ‘Jerry Jeff Walker: Live At Gruene Hall’ (Rykodisc Records, 1989); the track, which reached No.63 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989, was subsequently included on ‘Night After Night’ (TNT Records, 1995).
Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020) recorded Chris Wall’s ‘I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight’ and included the track on his stellar (some call it a career reviving) album, ‘Jerry Jeff Walker: Live At Gruene Hall’ (Rykodisc Records, 1989).
Shortly thereafter, Chris Wall became a part of Jerry Jeff Walker’s recording and management roster on Tried & True Music / Rykodisc Records.
Five years of relentless touring with Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020), and the release of two highly acclaimed solo albums, ‘Honky Tonk Heart’ (Rykodisc Records, 1991) and ‘No Sweat’ (Rykodisc Records, 1992) on Rykodisc Records followed.
In 1991, Chris Wall saw the release of ‘Honky Tonk Heart’ (Rykodisc Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘Honky Tonk Heart’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Rodeo Wind’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘The Empty Seat Beside Me’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Faithfully’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Trashy Women’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Sure Is Smokey In Here’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘He Lives My Dream’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I Wish John Stetson Made A Heart’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Entourage’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Something To Shoot’ (written by Chris Wall)
On Friday 27 September 1991, Chris Wall saw the release of ‘No Sweat’ (Rykodisc Records, 1991), which was produced by Chris Wall, and included the following tracks:
‘Hangin’ Out’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Fine Line’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Once Before I Go’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Boots’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘No Sweat’ (written by Pinto Bennett, Chris Wall and Mark Webb)
‘Faded Blue’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Rodeo Cowboy’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I’ll Take The Whiskey (You Take The Wheel)’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Better Things to Do’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I’m Not Drinkin’ Anymore’ (written by Chris Wall)
Personnel involved in the recording of Chris Wall’s ‘No Sweat’ (Rykodisc Records, 1992) included the following:
Joel Kaserman (acoustic guitar)
David Lyle Evans (acoustic guitar, backing vocals)
Boyd Wilson (bass)
K.W. Turnbow (drums)
Mark Webb and Rob Matson (electric guitar)
Teddy Ray Jones (fiddle)
Johnny ‘Shoes’ Pisano (mandolin)
Brian Davies (pedal steel guitar)
Chris Wall (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, backing vocals)
Confederate Railroad recorded Chris Wall’s ‘Trashy Women’ and included the track on their self-titled debut album, ‘Confederate Railroad’ (Columbia Records, 1992); the track, which reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1993, was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Song’ in 1993.
Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020) recorded Chris Wall’s ‘Trashy Women’ and included the track on his stellar – some call it a career reviving – album, ‘Jerry Jeff Walker: Live At Gruene Hall’ (Rykodisc Records, 1989); the track reached No.63 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989.
Dale Watson recorded Chris Wall’s ‘That’s What I Like About Texas’ (co-written with Dale Watson) and included the track on ‘Blessed or Damned’ (Hightone Records, 1996); the track featured guest vocals from Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020).
In 1997, the BMI recognized Chris Wall in a ceremony celebrating the fact that ‘Trashy Women’ had been played over one million times on American country music radio in the United States since its release.
Chris Wall’s ability to write a country hit did not go unnoticed by the industry. Chris Wall turned down offers to write for the big assembly-line Nashville publishing companies, and opted instead for writing and releasing his own music.
It was also in 1994 when Chris Wall formed his own record label, Cold Spring Records, and saw the release of ‘Cowboy Nation’ (Cold Spring Records, 1994), ‘Any Saturday Night In Texas – Live’ (Cold Spring Records, 1998), ‘Tainted Angel’ (Cold Spring Records, 1998) and ‘Just Another Place’ (Cold Spring Records, 2004).
In 1994, Chris Wall saw the release of ‘Cowboy Nation’ (Cold Spring Records, 1994), which was produced by Chris Wall, Lloyd Maines and Pat Colgan, and included the following tracks:
‘Leanna’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Way Out West’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Cowboy Nation’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight’ (written by Chris Wall) / this track was also recorded by Sunny Sweeney, who included it on ‘Trophy’ (Aunt Daddy Records, 2017)
‘Let ‘Er Buck’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘My Favorite Lies’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Roadhouse Whiskey’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘The End of The Rainbow Inn’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Cold Blue Highway’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘The Bouncer At The Cowboy Bar’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘My Old Martin Guitar’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I Drink, Therefore I Am’ (written by Chris Wall)
Personnel involved in the recording of Chris Wall’s ‘Cowboy Nation’ (Cold Spring Records, 1994) included the following:
Lloyd Maines (acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, Dobro)
Lynn Daniel (bass)
Herb Belofsky (drums)
Gene Elders (fiddle)
Bob Livingston, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis (harmony vocals)
Kenny Grimes (lead guitar, electric guitar)
Chris Wall (lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica)
In 1998, Chris Wall saw the release of ‘Any Saturday Night In Texas – Live’ (Cold Spring Records, 1998), which featured special guests, Dale Watson, Kelly Willis, Mary Cutrufello, and Bruce Robison, and included the following tracks:
‘I Feel Like Singin’ Along’
‘Texas Time’
‘Wild Bill & The Montana Kid’
‘Big In The Heart’
‘Runaway Cadillac’
‘A Gal From San Antone’
‘Miles of Rodeo’
‘Damn Good Time’
‘Independence Day’
‘Makin’ The Rounds’
‘The Lines On My Forehead’
‘Ship Me Back To Texas’
’33 Reasons To Say Goodbye’
On Tuesday 6 October 1998, Chris Wall saw the release of ‘Tainted Angel’ (Cold Spring Records, 1998), which included the following tracks:
‘Turns To Tears’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Three Across’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘God’s Own Jukebox’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Tainted Angel’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I Never Got Over Losing You’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘The Empty Seat Beside Me’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Big Blue Teardrops’ (written by Brad Fordham and Chris Wall)
‘Waltz To Cheyenne’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Half of What Killed Elvis’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘No Sweat’ (written by Pinto Bennett, Chris Wall and Mark Webb)
‘Dylan Montana’s Last Ride’ (written by Chris Wall)
OnTuesday 31 August 2004, Chris Wall saw the release of ‘Just Another Place’ (Cold Spring Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:
‘The Poet Is Not In Today’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Old Broken Record’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘An Outlaw’s Blues’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Just Another Place’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Hank Williams’ Cadillac’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Still In The Dark’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Five Piece Band’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Raining In Atlanta’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘I Just Got Used To Lovin’ You’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Ten Cents On The Dollar’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘The Jagged Edge’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Love Is Just A Place’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Somewhere Between Forty & Fallin’ Apart’ (written by Pat Colgan and Chris Wall)
‘Colour It Blue’ (written by Chris Wall)
‘Canadian Rockies’ (written by Chris Wall)
Chris Wall travelled extensively and headlined large festivals in Europe and Scandinavia, including Norway’s prestigious Seljord Country Fest where Chris closed the Friday night show in front of a crowd of over twenty thousand people.
Chris Wall’s songs have been recorded by a number of acclaimed artists, including Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020), Confederate Railroad, Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), Dale Watson, Jack Ingram and Reckless Kelly.
Chris Wall has appeared on stage, as the opening act for many of country music’s legendary artists, including the following:
• Willie Nelson
• Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002)
• George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013)
• Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993)
• Chris LeDoux (Saturday 2 October 1948 – Wednesday 9 March 2005)
• The Chicks
• Lyle Lovett
• Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021)
• Bellamy Brothers (Howard & David Bellamy)
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Confederate Railroad
• David Allan Coe
• Bruce Robison and Charlie Robison (Tuesday 1 September 1964 – Sunday 10 September 2023)
• Shenandoah (featuring lead vocalist Marty Raybon)
• Desert Rose Band (Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and John Jorgenson)
• Jerry Jeff Walker (Monday 16 March 1942 – Friday 24 October 2020)
• Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016)
• Steve Wariner
• Kelly Willis
• Juice Newton
• Ray Benson & Asleep at The Wheel
• Robert Earl Keen
• Pat Green
• Joe Ely
• Ian Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
• Tom Russell
• Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020)
• Rambling Jack Elliot
On Friday 30 July 2021, it was announced, via Chris Wall’s official Facebook page, that he had passed away the previous evening, Thursday 29 July 2021, in hospice care at St. David’s Medical Center South in Austin, Texas following a lengthy battle with cancer.
• Visit Chris Wall’s official site at chriswallmusic.com