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 Craig Bickhardt, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 17 October 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Craig Bickhardt who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Craig Bickhardt
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 17 October 2006.
‘I’ll tell you how important Gene was to me – he’s an artist whose music inspired me to move to Nashville in 1983.
The authenticity of that voice and his taste in classic country songs…damn, that made me want to be a better songwriter!
I’ve never had a Gene Watson cut, I’m sorry to say.
But Gene, if you’re reading this, you da man anyway!’
Thank you, Craig Bickhardt, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Craig Bickhardt…
Craig Bickhardt has written songs which have been recorded by more than one hundred artists worldwide.
Craig Bickhardt is the recipient of nine ASCAP ‘Popular Song’ Awards for his country music hits ‘Turn It Loose’ and ‘I Know Where I’m Going’, which were recorded by The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – in 1987, ‘In Between Dances’ (recorded by Pam Tillis) in 1994, and ‘It Must Be Love’ (recorded by Ty Herndon) in 1998.
Craig Bickhardt was born in Pennsylvania in 1954.
Craig Bickhardt’s father, Harry, worked at radio station WIP in Philadelphia and moonlighted as a big band musician.
Craig Bickhardt performed as a local musician during his teenage years, including in a local band called Wire & Wood, which opened for Bruce Springsteen and others.
In 1974, Craig Bickhardt moved to Los Angeles, California, where he and Michael Sembello began writing songs, including some which were recorded by Art Garfunkel.
A re-established Wire & Wood later recorded for October Records, but never completed an album due to financial problems.
Art Garfunkel recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Finally Found A Reason’ (co-written with David Batteau, Micheal Sembello and Rick Bell) and included the track on ‘Fate For Breakfast’ (Columbia Records, 1979).
Anne Murray recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘If A Heart Must Be Broken’ and included the track on ‘Where Do You Go When You Dream’ (Capitol Records, 1981); the album reached No.4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1981, and No.55 on the Billboard Top 200 pop music albums chart. In Anne Murray’s native Canada, the album reached No.7 on the album chart.
Randy Meisner (Friday 8 March 1946 – Wednesday 26 July 2023), formerly of The Eagles, recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Never Been In Love’ and included the track on ‘Randy Meisner’ (Epic Records, 1982); the track reached No.28 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1982, and No.30 on the Canadian RPM Chart in 1982.
Craig Bickhardt, who is originally from Philadelphia, first came to Nashville in 1982 in order to record his song, ‘You Are What Love Means To Me’.
In 1982, Craig Bickhardt signed to a publishing contract with EMI. Among his first musical recordings were two songs for the soundtrack to the 1983 film, ‘Tender Mercies’, starring Robert Duvall, one of which, ‘You Are What Love Means To Me’, reached No.86 on the Billboard country music singles chart; the track was featured as the closing theme in the Academy Award-winning motion picture.
In 1983, Craig Bickhardt made middle Tennessee his permanent residence.
On Monday 1 October 1984, Reba McEntire saw the release of ‘My Kind of Country’ (MCA Records, 1984), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘How Blue’ (written by John Moffat) (No.1 for one week in January 1985)
‘Somebody Should Leave’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) and Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 – Friday 21 January 2022) (No.1 for one week in May 1985)
Reba McEntire’s ‘My Kind of Country’ (MCA Records, 1984) also included the following tracks:
‘That’s What He Said’ (written by Rick Carnes and Janis Carnes)
‘I Want To Hear It From You’ (written by Fred Carter Jr.)
‘It’s Not Over (If I’m Not Over You)’, which was written by Larry Kingston (Sunday 10 August 1941 – Sunday 20 February 2005) and Mark Wright
‘Everything But My Heart’ (written by Graham Lyle and Troy Seals)
‘Don’t You Believe Him’, which was written by Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988)
‘Before I Met You’ (written by J. William Denny, Joe ‘Cannonball’ Lewis and Chuck Seitz)
‘He’s Only Everything’, which was written by Billy Deaton and Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996)
‘You’ve Got Me (Right Where You Want Me)’, which was written by George Richey (Saturday 30 November 1935 – Saturday 31 July 2010) and Connie Smith
• Ann M. Stuckey submitted a ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson on Saturday 24 January 2014
Personnel involved in the recording of Reba McEntire’s ‘My Kind of Country’ (MCA Records, 1984) included the following:
Eddie Bayers and Jerry Kroon (drums)
Craig Bickhardt, Buddy Cannon, Ted Hewitt and Wendy Waldman (background vocals)
Kenny Bell, Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 – Monday 1 June 2020), Ray Edenton (Wednesday 3 November 1926 – Wednesday 21 September 2022) and Bobby Thompson (Monday 5 July 1937 – Wednesday 18 May 2005) (acoustic guitar)
David Briggs and Mitch Humphries (keyboards)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Gregg Galbraith, Brent Rowan and Paul Worley (lead guitar)
Sonny Garrish and Doyle Grisham (steel guitar)
Johnny Gimble (Sunday 30 May 1926 – Saturday 9 May 2015) and Mark O’Connor (fiddle)
Reba McEntire (lead vocals, background vocals)
Joe Osborn, Larry Paxton and Bob Wray (bass guitar)
Reba McEntire’s ‘My Kind of Country’ (MCA Records, 1984) reached No.13 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
On Monday 10 November 2014, England’s Hux Records released Reba McEntire’s ‘My Kind of Country’ (MCA Records, 1984), along with Reba McEntire’s ‘Just A Little Love’ (MCA Records, 1984), as a special ‘2-for-1‘ CD set (HUX142).
Steve Wariner recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘In Love & Out of Danger’ (co-written with Wendy Waldman) and included the track on ‘Life’s Highway’ (MCA Nashville Records, 1985).
Sylvia recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘One Step Closer’ (co-written with Brent Maher) and included the track on ‘One Step Closer’ (RCA Records, 1985).
The Forester Sisters (Kathy, June, Kim and Christy) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Heartless Night’ (co-written with Michael Bonagura) and included the track on ‘Perfume, Ribbons & Pearls’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986).
In May 1986, Nicolette Larson (Thursday 17 July 1952 – Tuesday 16 December 1997) & Steve Wariner saw the release, as a single, of Craig Bickhardt’s ‘That’s How You Know When Love’s Right’ (co-written with Wendy Waldman); the track, which was included on Nicolette Larson’s ‘Rose of My Heart’ (MCA Records, 1986), reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
Marie Osmond recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Your Love Carries Me Away’ (co-written with Kathie Baillie and Michael Bonagura) and included the track on ‘I Only Wanted You’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
In 1986, Thom Schuyler, Paul Overstreet and J Fred Knobloch formed the group S-K-O. Signed to MTM Records, a record label, which was owned by Mary Tyler Moore (Tuesday 29 December 1936 – Wednesday 25 January 2017), they scored Billboard country music hit singles with ‘You Can’t Stop Love’ (No.9, 1987) and ‘Baby’s Got A New Baby’ (No.1 for one week in March 1987); both tracks were included on ‘S-K-O’ (MTM Records, 1986).
When Paul Overstreet left S-K-O in 1987, in order to pursue a solo career, he was replaced by Craig Bickhardt and they changed their name to Schuyler, Knobloch & Bickhardt (S-K-B).
S-K-B (Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Craig Bickhardt) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘This Old House’ (co-written with Thom Schuyler) and included the track on ‘No Easy Horses’ (MTM Records, 1988); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
S-K-B (Thom Schuyler, J Fred Knobloch and Craig Bickhardt) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Givers & Takers’ and included the track on ‘No Easy Horses’ (MTM Records, 1988); the track reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
In 1989, S-K-B disbanded, when their record label, MTM Records, shut down.
Kathy Mattea recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘You’re The Power’ (co-written with F.C. Collins) and included the track on ‘Walk The Way The Wind Blows’ (Mercury Records, 1986); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
On Monday 2 February 1987, The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – saw the release of ‘Heartland’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1987), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Don’t Be Cruel’, which was written by Otis Blackwell (Monday 16 February 1931 – Monday 6 May 2002) and Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 – Tuesday 16 August 1977) (No.10, 1987) / this track featured harmony vocals from The Jordanaires
‘I Know Where I’m Going’ (written by Don Schlitz, Craig Bickhardt and Brent Maher) (No.1 for one week in July 1987)
‘Maybe Your Baby’s Got The Blues’ (written by Troy Seals and Graham Lyle) (No.1 for one week in November 1987)
‘Turn It Loose’ (written by Don Schlitz, Craig Bickhardt and Brent Maher) (No.1 for one week in 1988)
The Judds’ ‘Heartland’ (RCA Nashville Records / Curb Records, 1987) also included the following tracks:
‘I’m Falling In Love Tonight’ (written by Craig Bickhardt, Brent Maher and Don Potter)
‘Old Pictures’, which was written by Jerry Gillespie and K.T. Oslin (Friday 15 May 1942 – Monday 21 December 2020)
‘Cow Cow Boogie’ (written by Benny Carter, Gene De Paul and Don Raye)
‘Why Don’t You Believe Me’ (written by Brent Maher, Don Potter and Don Schlitz)
‘The Sweetest Gift (A Mother’s Smile)’ (written by James B. Coats) / this track featured harmony vocals from Emmylou Harris
The following tracks were added to the European edition of The Judds’ ‘Heartland’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1987), which was released, in Europe, under the title ‘Give A Little Love’ (Curb Records, 1987), as a 15-track compilation:
‘Give A Little Love To Me’
‘Had A Dream (For The Heart)’
‘John Deere Tractor’
‘Isn’t He A Strange One’
‘Blue Nun Cafe’
‘Change of Heart’
The European edition of The Judds’ ‘Heartland’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1987), which was released, in Europe, under the title ‘Give A Little Love’ (Curb Records, 1987), as a 15-track compilation, reached No.1 on the United Kindom’s country music album chart in 1987, soon after The Judds toured there.
Personnel involved in the recording of The Judds’ ‘Heartland’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1987) / ‘Give A Little Love’ (Curb Records, 1987) included the following:
Bobby Ogdin (organ, piano)
Craig Bickhardt and Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Don Potter (rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, pedal steel guitar, Dobro)
Kirk ‘Jelly Roll’ Johnson (harmonica)
Craig Nelson (acoustic guitar, electric bass)
Jack Williams (electric bass)
David Schaufer (Dulcimer)
Eddie Bayers (drums, percussion)
Farrell Morris (percussion)
The Judds’ ‘Heartland’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1987) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1987.
Kathy Mattea recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Untasted Honey’ (co-written with Barry Alfonso) and included the track on ‘Untasted Honey’ (Mercury Records, 1987); Craig Bickhardt also played guitar and provided background vocals on the album.
Baillie & The Boys – Kathie Baillie (lead vocals), Michael Bonagura (vocals, acoustic guitar & electric guitar) and Alan LeBoeuf (vocals & bass guitar) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Wilder Days’ (co-written with Michael Bonagura) and included the track on ‘Baillie & The Boys’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1988); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Baillie & The Boys – Kathie Baillie (lead vocals), Michael Bonagura (vocals, acoustic guitar & electric guitar) and Alan LeBoeuf (vocals & bass guitar) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Waitin’ Out The Storm’ (co-written with Michael Bonagura) and included the track on ‘Baillie & The Boys’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1988).
Baillie & The Boys – Kathie Baillie (lead vocals), Michael Bonagura (vocals, acoustic guitar & electric guitar) and Alan LeBoeuf (vocals & bass guitar) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Heartless Night’ (co-written with Michael Bonagura) and included the track on ‘Baillie & The Boys’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1988).
Sweethearts of The Rodeo (Kristine Arnold & Janis Oliver) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘If I Never See Midnight Again’ (co-written with Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘One Time, One Night’ (Columbia Records, 1988); the track reached No.39 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Southern Pacific recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Bail Out’ (co-written with Bill LaBounty) and included the track on ‘Zuma’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).
Michael Johnson (Tuesday 8 August 1944 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Oh, Rosalee’ (co-written with Brent Maher and Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘That’s That’ (RCA Records, 1988).
Tony Rice (Friday 8 June 1951 – Friday 25 December 2020) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Brother To The Wind’ (co-written with F.C. Collins) and included the track on ‘Native American’ (Rounder Records, 1988).
The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Cadillac Red’ (co-written with John Jarvis and Naomi Judd) and included the track on ‘River of Time’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1989).
The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Do I Dare’ (co-written with Don Schlitz and Brent Maher) and included the track on ‘River of Time’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1989).
Baillie & The Boys – Kathie Baillie (lead vocals), Michael Bonagura (vocals, acoustic guitar & electric guitar) and Alan LeBoeuf (vocals & bass guitar) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘I Can’t Turn The Tide’ (co-written with Kathie Baillie and Michael Bonagura) and included the track on ‘Turn The Tide’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1989); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.
The Judds – Wynonna Judd & Naomi Judd (Friday 11 January 1946 – Saturday 30 April 2022) – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Calling In The Wind’ (co-written with Don Schlitz and Brent Maher) and included the track on ‘Love Can Build A Bridge’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1990).
Michelle Wright recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘The Dust Ain’t Settled Yet’ (co-written with Brent Maher and Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘Michelle Wright’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1990).
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Donald & June’ and included the track on ‘True Love’ (RCA Records, 1990).
Stacy Dean Campbell recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Rosalee’ (co-written with Brent Maher and Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘Lonesome Wins Again’ (Columbia Records, 1992); the track reached No.54 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
Linda Davis recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Tonight She’s Climbing The Walls’ and included the track on ‘Linda Davis’ (Liberty Records, 1992).
In 1993, Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler teamed up again to write and produce ‘Precious Child: The Story of Christmas’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993), which was ‘The Story of Christmas Retold In Words By Thom Schuyler & Music by Craig Bickhardt’, and which included the following tracks:
‘Unto Us A Child Is Born’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Mary & Joseph, Rejoice!’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘One More Generation’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Concerning Elizabeth’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Child In A Barren Land’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Concerning The Birth’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Adoration’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Part of Heaven’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘In The Dark of Night’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘When Heaven’s Calling You’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘So You Say That You Saw A Star’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Concerning The Flight’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘The Flight’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Light of Salvation’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
‘Precious Child’ (written by Craig Bickhardt and Thom Schuyler)
Martina McBride recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Where I Used To Have A Heart’ and included the track on ‘The Way That I Am’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1993); the track reached No.49 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.
Dale Daniel recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘The Dust Ain’t Settled yet’ (co-written with Brent Maher and Don Schlitz) and included the track on ‘Luck of Our Own’ (BNA Records, 1993).
Pearl River recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Josephine’ and included the track on ‘Find Out What’s Happening’ (Liberty Records, 1993).
Pam Tillis recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘In Between Dances’ (co-written with Barry Afonso) and included the track on ‘Everybody’s Sweetheart’ (Arista Records, 1994); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994.
Martina McBride recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘All The Things We’ve Never Done’ (co-written with Jeff Pennig) and included the track on ‘Wild At Heart’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1995).
Trisha Yearwood recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Even A Cowboy Can Dream’ (co-written with Barry Alfonso) and included the track on ‘Everybody Knows’ (MCA Records, 1996).
Great Plains recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Nothin’ I Can Do About The Rain’ (co-written with Jack Sundrud) and included the track on ‘Homeland’ (Magnatone Records, 1996).
Great Plains recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Dancin’ With The Wind’ (co-written with Jack Sundrud) and included the track on ‘Homeland’ (Magnatone Records, 1996).
The Kinleys (Heather Kinley & Jennifer Kinley) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Dance In The Boat’ (co-written with Tony Haselden) and included the track on ‘The Kinleys’ (Epic Records, 1997); the track reached No.49 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 1998.
Ty Herndon recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘It Must Be Love’ (co-written with Jack Sundrud) and included the track on ‘Big Hopes’ (Epic Records, 1998); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in December 1998.
The Wilkinsons (Amanda Wilkinson, Tyler Wilkinson and Steve Wilkinson) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘I’ll Know Love’ (co-written with Steve Wilkinson) and included the track on ‘Here & Now’ (Giant Records, 2000).
Janie Fricke recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘In Here’ (co-written with Jeff Pennig) and included the track on ‘Bouncin’ Back’ (JMF Records, 2000).
Janie Fricke recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Quilt of Dreams’ (co-written with Tony Hasleden) and included the track on ‘Bouncin’ Back’ (JMF Records, 2000).
Janie Fricke recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Our Love’s Worth Fighting For’ (co-written with Tony Hasleden) and included the track on ‘Bouncin’ Back’ (JMF Records, 2000).
Janie Fricke recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘See-Saw Ride’ (co-written with Brent Maher and C. Alphonso) and included the track on ‘Bouncin’ Back’ (JMF Records, 2000).
In 2001, Craig Bickhardt returned to recording and saw the release of his first solo album, ‘Easy Fires’ (Stone Barn Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘Easy Fire’
‘The Only Way I Know’
‘Sugarcane Street’
‘Where I Used To Have A Heart’
‘Pay Your Love On Time’
‘Still The Voice’
‘Troubled Shores’
‘One Rose’
‘I Can’t Turn The Tide’
‘Dance With Father Time’
‘The Ransom’
‘St. Martin’s Summer’
Gina Jeffreys recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Quilt of Dreams’ (co-written with Tony Haselden) and included the track on ‘Angel’ (ABC Music Records, 2001).
Sylvia recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Where In The World’ (co-written with Thom Schuyler) and included the track on ‘Where In The World’ (Red Pony Records, 2002).
Sylvia recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Crazy Nightingale’ and included the track on ‘Where In The World’ (Red Pony Records, 2002).
Sylvia recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘When Heaven’s Calling You’ and included the track on ‘A Cradle In Bethlehem’ (Red Pony Records, 2002).
Poco recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Never Get Enough’ (co-written with Jack Sundrud and David James) and included the track on ‘Running Horse’ (Drifter’s Church Productions, 2002).
Michael Johnson (Tuesday 8 August 1944 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘I Still Love You’ (co-written with Rick Bell and Eli Fries) and included the track on ‘Lifetime Guarantee’ (EMI Records, 2002).
Janie Fricke recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘See-Saw Ride’ and included the track on ‘Janie Fricke: Live At Billy Bob’s, Texas’ (Smith Music Group, 2004).
Janie Fricke recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Quilt of Dreams’ (co-written with Tony Haselden) and included the track on ‘Janie Fricke: Live At Billy Bob’s, Texas’ (Smith Music Group, 2004).
The Highwaymen – Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003), Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson – recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘If He Came Back Again’ (co-written with Barry Alfonso); the track was included as a bonus track on the re-issue of ‘The Road Goes on Forever’ (Capitol Records / EMI Records, 2005).
Michelle Wright recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Dance In The Boat’ (co-written with Tony Haselden) and included the track on ‘Everything & More’ (Icon Records, 2006).
Poco recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Father’s Day’ (co-written with Helen Darling) and included the track on ‘The Wildwood Sessions’ (Drifter’s Church Productions, 2006).
In 2008, Craig Bickhardt won First Prize in the prestigious 4th Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards) with his song ‘Sugarcane Street’ in the Open Category. Craig Bickhardt also hosted a songwriting workshop in association with the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
On Friday 13 February 2009, Craig Bickhardt saw the release of ‘Brother To The Wind’ (CD Baby, 2009), which included the following tracks:
‘Life With The Sound Turned Down’
‘Carrying A Dream’
‘Brother To The Wind’
‘Even A Cowboy Can Dream’
‘A Day Well Spent’
‘If He Came Back Again’
‘This Old House’
‘Lord Franklin’
‘The Real Game’
‘Donald & June’
‘Prayers For You’
‘Where In The World’
Special guests on Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Brother To The Wind’ (CD Baby, 2009) included Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines, Janis Ian, Maura O’Connell and Beth Nielsen Chapman.
On Saturday 12 March 2011, Craig Bickhardt appeared with J.D. Malone and Thom Schuyler for a performance which included original music from all three artists; this tour was called ‘On The Road & In The Round’.
On Saturday 1 October 2011, Craig Bickhardt saw the release of ‘Craig Bickhardt, Live At Sellerville Theatre’ (CD Baby, 2011), which was recorded ‘live’ at Sellersville Theatre in Philadelphia, and included the following tracks:
‘Prayers For You’
‘Even A Cowboy Can Dream’
‘The Real Game’
‘Donald & June’
‘A Day Well Spent’
‘Sugarcane Street’
‘Crazy Nightingale’
‘Men & Rivers’
‘Life With The Sound Turned Down’
‘If He Came Back Again’
‘This Old House’
‘From Galway To Graceland’
Poco recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Drink It In’ (co-written with Jack Sundrud) and included the track on ‘All Fired Up’ (Drifter’s Church Productions, 2013).
Helen Darling recorded Craig Bickhardt’s ‘Father’s Day’ (co-written with Jack Sundrud and Helen Darling) and included the track on ‘Who I Am Tonight’ (Little Chatterbox Music, 2014).
Craig Bickhardt’s work has also been featured in the film, ‘At Close Range’, and his song, ‘Where I Used To Have A Heart’, was used as the closing theme for the film, ‘Switchback’.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, in October 2006, Craig Bickhardt was living in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife, Eileen, and twin children.
• Visit Craig Bickhardt’s official site at craigbickhardt.com