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 2023, 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 David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 23 April 2023.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson
This quote was submitted on Sunday 23 April 2023.
‘Maybe one of the first records I remember really loving was Gene Watson’s ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975).
Working for ‘Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013)…I discovered that that was a JMI record that was produced by Bob Ferguson (Friday 30 December 1927 – Sunday 22 July 2001)…that was in charge of the publishing department there at Jack’s.
(1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003).
It was written by another guy that i really enjoyed hanging with and getting to know, Vince Mathews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003).
Anyhow, Gene’s voice is a freak of nature, and one of the most iconic in the world as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve spent many years listening to Gene Watson, and will do so until my own ‘Farewell Party’ ‘
Thank you, David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, for your support of Gene Watson.
About David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson…
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson was born on Monday 2 July 1962, in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, and is an acclaimed American recording engineer.
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson’s career began in the mid-1980s when he engineered country music recordings for ’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013), at Clement’s Cowboy Arms Hotel & Recording Spa in Nashville.
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson also co-founded the Butcher Shoppe recording studio with John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020).
Today, David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson is best known for his works with Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003), as a sound engineer on the highly successful Grammy Award-winning ‘American Recordings’ albums, which were produced by Rick Rubin, in the 1990s and 2000s.
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson has also engineered or produced recordings for a number of distinguished artists, including John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020), Mac Wiseman (Saturday 23 May 1925 – Saturday 23 February 2019), Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, The Del McCoury Band, Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020), Eddy Arnold (Wednesday 15 May 1918 – Thursday 8 May 2008), and rock-n-roll band, U2.
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson appeared as himself in the U2 film, ‘Rattle & Hum’ (Paramount Pictures, 1988), and portrayed his mentor, and once real-life boss, ’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) in the Jerry Lee Lewis (Sunday 29 September 1935 – Friday 28 October 2022) film, ‘Great Balls of Fire!’ (Orion Pictures, 1989).
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson maintains a recording studio in Nashville, and resides in nearby Goodlettsville, Tennessee, close to his boyhood home.
On Tuesday 19 February 1991, Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) saw the release of ‘The Mystery of Life’ (Mercury Records, 1991), which was produced by ’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) at Cowboy Arms Hotel & Recording Spa in Nashville, and included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Goin’ By The Book’ (written by Butch Chester Lester) (No.69, 1990)
‘The Mystery of Life’ (written by Joe Nixon) / this track was released as a single in 1991, but it did not chart
Johnny Cash’s ‘The Mystery of Life’ (Mercury Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘The Greatest Cowboy of Them All’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘I’m An Easy Rider’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Hey, Porter’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Beans For Breakfast’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Wanted Man’ (written by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash) / this track was arranged by Marty Stuart
‘I’ll Go Somewhere & Sing My Songs Again’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021) / this track was a duet with Tom T. Hall
‘The Hobo Song’, which was written by John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020)
‘Angel & The Badman’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘The Wanderer’ (written by Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr.) / this track, which featured U2, was a bonus track on later pressings of the album, and was produced by Flood, Brian Eno and The Edge
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Cash’s ‘The Mystery of Life’ (Mercury Records, 1991) included the following:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) (vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals on ‘The Hobo Song’)
’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) (acoustic guitar, Dobro, ukulele, backing vocals on ‘The Hobo Song’)
Mark Howard (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin)
Marty Stuart (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, backing vocals on ‘Wanted Man’ and ‘The Mystery of Life’)
Jim Soldi (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals on ‘Wanted Man’ and ‘The Mystery of Life’)
Kerry Marx (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (acoustic guitar, backing vocals on ‘The Hobo Song’)
WS ‘Fluke’ Holland (Monday 22 April 1935 – Wednesday 23 September 2020), Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) and Jody Maphis (drums, percussion)
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 – Saturday 6 September 1997) and Steve Logan (acoustic bass)
Jimmy Tittle (electric bass, backing vocals on ‘Wanted Man’ and ‘The Mystery of Life’)
Jamie Hartford (mandolin, backing vocals on ‘The Hobo Song’)
Jack Hale Jr. and Bob Lewin (horns)
Irv Kane (horns, backing vocals on ‘The Hobo Song’)
Earl Poole Ball (piano)
Joey Miskulin (piano, keyboards, accordion)
Mark O’Connor (fiddle)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar)
Anita Carter (Friday 31 March 1933 – Thursday 29 July 1999) (backing vocals on ‘The Greatest Cowboy of Them All’ and ‘The Hobo Song’)
John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020), Debra Deklaita, Claude L. Hill, J. Niles Clement, Pat McLaughlin, Bill Maresh, Jam Dant, Cousin Bill Clement, Jay Patten, Suzanne Sherwin and Roberto Bianco (backing vocals on ‘The Hobo Song’)
Additional personnel involved in the production of Johnny Cash’s ‘The Mystery of Life’ (Mercury Records, 1991) included the following:
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (assistant producer)
Harold Shedd (executive in charge of production)
Claudia Mize and Reba Hancock (executive producers)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (chief recording engineer)
Richard Adler, Jack ‘Stack-A-Track’ Grochmal, Mark Howard, J. Niles Clement and Cousin Bob Clement (recording engineers)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (mixer)
Mark Howard (assistant mixer)
Joey Miskulin (music arrangements)
Benny Quinn at Masterfonics, Inc. in Nashville (mastering)
Marlene Cohen (album design)
Alan Messer (photography serigraph)
Kim Markovchick (executive art director)
June Carter Cash (Sunday 23 June 1929 – Thursday 15 May 2003) (liner notes)
In November 1993, John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) saw the release of ‘A John Prine Christmas’ (Oh Boy Records, 1993), which was produced by Howard ‘Howie’ Norman Epstein (Thursday 21 July 1955 – Sunday 23 February 2003), David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, Jack Grochmal and Jim Rooney, and included the following tracks:
‘Everything Is Cool’ (written by John Prine)
‘All The Best’ (written by John Prine) / this track was a ‘live’ recording
‘Silent Night All Day Long’
‘If You Were The Woman & I Was The Man’ (written by Michael Timmins) / this track was a ‘live’ recording
‘Silver Bells’, which was written by Raymond Bernard Evans (4 February 1915 – Thursday 15 February 2007) and Jay Livingston (28 March 1915 – Wednesday 17 October 2001)
‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’, which was written by Thomas Patrick Connor (16 November 1904 – Sunday 28 November 1993)
‘Christmas In Prison’ (written by John Prine) / this track was a ‘live’ recording
‘A John Prine Christmas’ (written by John Prine)
On Tuesday 26 April 1994, Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) saw the release of ‘American Recordings’ (American Recordings, 1994), which was produced by Rick Rubin, and included the following tracks:
‘Delia’s Gone’ (written by Johnny Cash, Karl Silbersdorf and Dick Toops)
‘Let The Train Blow The Whistle’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘The Beast In Me’ (written by Nick Lowe)
‘Drive On’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Why Me, Lord’ (written by Kris Kristofferson)
‘Thirteen’ (written by Glenn Danzig)
‘Oh, Bury Me Not’ (Introduction: ‘A Cowboy’s Prayer’), which was written by John Avery Lomax (23 September 1867 – Monday 26 January 1948), Alan Lomax (31 January 1915 – Friday 19 July 2002), Roy Rogers (Sunday 5 November 1911 – Monday 6 July 1998) and Vernon Harold Timothy Spencer (13 July 1908 – Friday 26 April 1974)
‘Bird On The Wire’, which was written by Leonard Norman Cohen (Friday 21 September 1934 – Monday 7 November 2016)
‘Tennessee Stud’, which was written by James Corbitt Morris (known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood / Jimmie Driftwood) (20 June 1907 – Sunday 12 July 1998)
‘Down There By The Train’ (written by Tom Waits)
‘Redemption’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Like A Soldier’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘The Man Who Couldn’t Cry’ (written by Loudon Wainwright III)
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Cash’s ‘American Recordings’ (American Recordings, 1994) included the following:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) (acoustic guitar, vocals, main performer, liner notes)
Chad Smith (drums on ‘Bird On A Wire’)
Rick Rubin (producer)
Jim Scott (mixing)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (engineer)
Stephen Marcussen (mastering)
Christine Cano (design)
Martyn Atkins (art director, photographer)
Johnny Cash’s ‘American Recordings’ (American Recordings, 1994), which reached No.23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1994, No.110 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1994, No.9 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1994, and No.72 on the Canadian RPM Top Albums Chart in 1994, marked the beginning of a career resurgence for Johnny Cash, who was widely recognised as an icon of American music but whose record sales had suffered during the late 1970s and 1980s.
On Tuesday 5 November 1996, Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) saw the release of ‘American II: Unchained’ (American Recordings, 1996), which was produced by Rick Rubin, and included the following tracks:
‘Rowboat’ (written by Beck)
‘Sea of Heartbreak’, which was written by Paul Hampton and Hal David (Wednesday 25 May 1921 – Saturday 1 September 2012)
‘Rusty Cage’, which was written by Christopher John Cornell (Monday 20 July 1964 – Thursday 18 May 2017)
‘The One Rose (That’s Left In My Heart)’, which was written by Del Lyon and Lani McIntire (15 December 1904 – Sunday 17 June 1951)
‘Country Boy’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Memories Are Made of This’, which was written by Richard Dehr, Terry Gilkyson III (Saturday 17 June 1916 – Friday 15 October 1999) and Frank Miller (29 July 1918 – Tuesday 15 December 2015)
‘Spiritual’ (written by Josh Haden)
‘The Kneeling Drunkard’s Plea’, which was written by Maybelle Carter (Monday 10 May 1909 – Monday 23 October 1978), Anita Carter (Friday 31 March 1933 – Thursday 29 July 1999), Helen Carter (Monday 19 September 1927 – Tuesday 2 June 1998) and June Carter Cash (Sunday 23 June 1929 – Thursday 15 May 2003)
‘Southern Accents’, which was written by Tom Petty (Friday 20 October 1950 – Monday 2 October 2017)
‘Mean Eyed Cat’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Meet Me In Heaven’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘I Never Picked Cotton’ (written by Bobby George and Charles Williams)
‘Unchained’ (written by Jude Johnstone)
‘I’ve Been Everywhere’, which was written by Geoff Mack (Wednesday 20 December 1922 – Friday 21 July 2017)
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Cash’s ‘American II: Unchained’ (American Recordings, 1996) included the following:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) (vocals, acoustic guitar)
Tom Petty (Friday 20 October 1950 – Monday 2 October 2017) (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, chamberlin)
Mike Campbell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, mandolin, Dobro)
Benmont Tench (piano, hammond organ, vox continental organ, harmonium, chamberlin)
Rick DePiro (piano, organ)
Howard ‘Howie’ Norman Epstein (Thursday 21 July 1955 – Sunday 23 February 2003) (acoustic guitar, bass)
Steve Ferrone and Curt Bisquera (drums, percussion)
Marty Stuart (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass)
Flea (bass)
Lindsey Buckingham (acoustic guitar)
Mick Fleetwood and Juliet Prater (percussion)
Rick Rubin (producer)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (engineer)
Sylvia Massy (engineer, mixing)
John Ewing Jr., Greg Fidelman, Eddie Miller and Michael Stock (assistant engineers)
Gene Grimaldi and Eddy Schreyer (mastering) (Oasis Mastering)
Martyn Atkins (art direction, photography)
Christine Cano (art direction, design, photography, inlay photography)
Andy Earl (photography)
Johnny Cash’s ‘American II: Unchained’ (American Recordings, 1996), which reached No.26 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1996, and No.170 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1996, received a Grammy for ‘Best Country Album’; Johnny Cash was also nominated for ‘Best Male Country Vocal Performance’ for his version of ‘Rusty Cage’.
On Tuesday 23 February 1999, Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band saw the release of ‘The Mountain’ (E-Squared Records, 1999), which was produced by Steve Earle, Ray Kennedy and Ronnie McCoury, and included the following tracks:
‘Texas Eagle’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Yours Forever Blue’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Carrie Brown’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘I’m Still In Love With You’ (written by Steve Earle) / this track was a duet with Iris DeMent
‘The Graveyard Shift’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Harlan Man’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘The Mountain’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Outlaw’s Honeymoon’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Connemara Breakdown’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Leroy’s Dustbowl Blues’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Dixieland’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Paddy On The Beat’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Long, Lonesome Highway Blues’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Pilgrim’ (written by Steve Earle)
Personnel involved in the recording of Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band’s ‘The Mountain’ (E-Squared Records, 1999) included the following:
Steve Earle and Del McCoury (guitar, vocal)
Ronnie McCoury (mandolin, vocal)
Robbie McCoury (banjo)
Jason Carter (fiddle)
Mike Bub (bass)
Additional personnel involved in the recording of Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band’s ‘The Mountain’ (E-Squared Records, 1999) included the following:
Iris Dement (duet vocal on ‘I’m Still In Love With You’)
Sam Bush (mandolin on ‘Pilgrim’)
Jerry Douglas (resonator guitar on ‘I’m Still In Love With You’ and ‘Pilgrim’)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle on ‘I’m Still In Love With You’, ‘Conamara Breakdown’ and ‘Paddy On The Beat’)
Dan Gillis (tin whistle on ‘Dixieland’)
Gene Wooten (resonator guitar on ‘The Mountain’ and ‘Leroy’s Dustbowl Blues’)
Tony Fitzpatrick (album artwork)
Meghann Ahern, Sam Bush, Kathy Chiavola, ’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013), David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, Emmylou Harris, John Hartford (Thursday 30 December 1937 – Monday 4 June 2001), J.T. Huskey, Lisa Huskey, Benny Martin, Tim O’Brien, David Rawlings, Peter Rowan, Marty Stuart and Gillian Welch (chorus on ‘The Pilgrim’)
Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band’s ‘The Mountain’ (E-Squared Records, 1999) reached No.19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999, No.14 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1999, No.93 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart in 1999, and No.133 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1999.
Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band’s ‘The Mountain’ (E-Squared Records, 1999), which Steve Earle made as a tribute to the founder of Bluegrass music, Bill Monroe (Wednesday 13 September 1911 – Monday 9 September 1996), was nominated for a Grammy Award in the ‘Best Bluegrass Album’ category in 2000.
On Tuesday 17 October 2000, Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) saw the release of ‘American III: Solitary Man’ (American Recordings, 2000), which was produced by Rick Rubin and John Carter Cash, and included the following tracks:
‘I Won’t Back Down’, which was written by Tom Petty (Friday 20 October 1950 – Monday 2 October 2017) and Jeff Lynne / this track featured guest vocals from Tom Petty
‘Solitary Man’ (written by Neil Diamond)
‘That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)’, which was written by James Lamont ‘Haven’ Gillespie (6 February 1888 – Friday 14 March 1975) and John Beasley Smith (1901 – 1968)
‘One’ (written by Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr.)
‘Nobody’ (written by Bert Williams)
‘I See A Darkness’ (written by Will Oldham) / this track featured guest vocals from Will Oldham
‘The Mercy Seat’ (written by Nick Cave and Mick Harvey)
‘Would You Lay With Me (In A Field of Stone)’ (written by David Allan Coe)
‘Field of Diamonds’ (written by Johnny Cash and Jack Wesley Routh)
‘Before My Time’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Country Trash’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Mary of The Wild Moor’ (written by Dennis Turner)
‘I’m Leavin’ Now’ (written by Johnny Cash) / this track featured guest vocals from Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Wayfaring Stranger’ (traditional)
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Cash’s ‘American III: Solitary Man’ (American Recordings, 2000) included the following:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) (vocals, guitar)
Norman Blake, Mike Campbell, Larry Perkins, Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) and Marty Stuart (guitar)
John Carter Cash (associate producer)
June Carter Cash (Sunday 23 June 1929 – Thursday 15 May 2003) and Will Oldham (vocals)
Laura Cash (fiddle)
Sheryl Crow (vocals, accordion)
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) (guitar, vocals)
Tom Petty (Friday 20 October 1950 – Monday 2 October 2017) (vocals, organ)
Benmont Tench (piano, organ, harmonium)
Martyn Atkins and Danny Clinch (photography)
Billy Bowers and Chuck Turner (digital editing)
Lindsay Chase (production coordinator)
David Coleman (art direction)
Richard Dodd and D. Sardy (additional engineering)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (engineer, mixing)
Rick Rubin (producer)
David Schiffman (additional engineering, mixing)
Eddie Schreyer (mastering)
Johnny Cash’s ‘American III: Solitary Man’ (American Recordings, 2000) reached No.11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2000, and No.88 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2000.
On Tuesday 5 November 2002, Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) saw the release of ‘American IV: The Man Comes Around’ (American Recordings / Universal Records, 2002), which was produced by Rick Rubin and John Carter Cash, and included the following tracks:
‘The Man Comes Around’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Hurt’ (written by Trent Reznor) / the video for this track, which was written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and originally released in 1994, was nominated in seven categories at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2003, and won the award for Best Cinematography. The video for this track also won the award for ‘Best Short Form Video’ in 2004
‘Give My Love To Rose’ (written by Johnny Cash) / in 2003, mere days before his 71st birthday, Johnny Cash won a Grammy Award for ‘Give My Love To Rose’, a song which he had originally recorded in the late 1950s
‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (written by Paul Simon) / this track featured guest vocals from Fiona Apple / in 2002, Johnny Cash was nominated for ‘Best Country Collaboration with Vocals’ for this track with Fiona Apple
‘I Hung My Head’ (written by Sting)
‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’, which was written by Ewan MacColl (Monday 25 January 1915 – Sunday 22 October 1989)
‘Personal Jesus’ (written by Martin Gore)
‘In My Life’, which was written by John Lennon (Wednesday 9 October 1940 – Monday 8 December 1980) and Paul McCartney
‘Sam Hall’, which was written by Tex Ritter (Thursday 12 January 1905 – Wednesday 2 January 1974)
‘Danny Boy’, which was written by Frederic Edward Weatherly (4 October 1848 – Saturday 7 September 1929)
‘Desperado’, which was written by Glenn Frey (Saturday 6 November 1948 – Tuesday 19 January 2016) and Don Henley / this track featured guest vocals from Don Henley
‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953) / this track was a duet with Nick Cave
‘Streets of Laredo’ (traditional)
‘Wichita Lineman’ (written by Jimmy Webb)
‘Big Iron’, which was written by Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982)
‘Tear Stained Letter’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘We’ll Meet Again’, which was written by Hughie Charles (24 July 1907 – Friday 6 October 1995) and Ross Parker (16 August 1914 – Thursday 1 August 1974) / this track featured guest vocals from The Whole Cash Gang
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Cash’s ‘American IV: The Man Comes Around’ (American Recordings / Universal Records, 2002) included the following:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, arranger, adaptation)
Don Henley (drums, keyboards, vocals)
Fiona Apple and Nick Cave (vocals)
Mike Campbell, John Frusciante and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018) (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Thom Bresh, Jeff Hanna, Kerry Marx and Marty Stuart (acoustic guitar)
Smokey Hormel (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, electric guitar)
’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) (Dobro)
Joey Waronker (drums)
David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (ukulele, engineer, mixing)
Laura Cash (fiddle, production assistant)
Terry Harrington (clarinet)
Benmont Tench (organ, piano, harmonium, keyboards, Mellotron, vibraphone, pipe organ, Wurlitzer electric piano)
Roger Manning (piano, tack piano, harmonium, Mellotron, Chamberlin, orchestra bells)
Billy Preston (piano, keyboards)
Rick Rubin (producer)
John Carter Cash (producer, engineer)
Thom Russo, Andrew Scheps and Chuck Turner (engineers)
Vladimir Meller (mastering)
Christine Cano (art direction, design)
Martyn Atkins (photography)
Lindsay Chase (production coordination)
Dwight Hume and Jimmy Tittle (production assistants)
Johnny Cash’s ‘American IV: The Man Comes Around’ (American Recordings / Universal Records, 2002) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2002, No.22 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2002, No.31 on the Scottish Albums Chart in 2002, and No.40 on the UK Albums Chart in 2002.
Johnny Cash’s ‘American IV: The Man Comes Around’ (American Recordings / Universal Records, 2002), which won the ‘Album of The Year’ Award at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in 2003, was released, on CD, in 2004.
On Tuesday 26 April 2005, John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) saw the release of ‘Fair & Square’ (Oh Boy Records, 2005), which was produced by John Prine and Gary Paczosa, and included the following tracks:
‘Glory of True Love’ (written by John Prine and Roger Cook)
‘Crazy As A Loon’ (written by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
‘Long Monday’ (written by John Prine and Keith Sykes)
‘Taking A Walk’ (written by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
‘Some Humans Ain’t Human’ (written by John Prine)
‘My Darlin’ Hometown’ (written by John Prine and Roger Cook)
‘Morning Train’ (written by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
‘The Moon Is Down’ (written by John Prine)
‘Clay Pigeons’, which was written by Blaze Foley (Sunday 18 December 1949 – Wednesday 1 February 1989)
‘She Is My Everything’ (written by John Prine)
‘I Hate It When That Happens To Me’, which was written by John Prine and Donald ‘Donnie’ Ray Fritts (Sunday 8 November 1942 – Tuesday 27 August 2019)
‘Bear Creek Blues’, which was written by Alvin Pleasant (A.P.) Delaney Carter (15 December 1891 – Monday 7 November 1960)
Personnel involved in the recording of John Prine’s ‘Fair & Square’ (Oh Boy Records, 2005) included the following:
John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) (vocals, guitar)
John Wilkes Booth (mandolin)
Shawn Camp and Jason Wilber (guitar)
Jerry Douglas (Weissenborn)
Dan Dugmore (pedal steel guitar)
Paul Griffith (drums)
Pat McLaughlin (guitar, mandolin, harmony vocals, Wurlitzer)
Phil Parlapiano (accordion, piano, Hammond B3)
Dave Jacques and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson (bass)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (percussion)
Roger Cook (ukulele, background vocals)
Alison Krauss, Mindy Smith and Dan Tyminski (harmony vocals)
John Prine’s ‘Fair & Square’ (Oh Boy Records, 2005) reached No.55 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2005, No.2 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart in 2005, and No.55 on the Billboard Top Internet Albums Chart in 2005.
On Tuesday 4 July 2006, American Recordings released Johnny Cash’s ‘American V: A Hundred Highways’ (American Recordings, 2006), which was produced by Rick Rubin, and included the following tracks:
‘Help Me’ (written by Larry Gatlin) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Real.Country.Music‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016) and ‘My Gospel Roots‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2017)
‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’ (traditional)
‘Like The 309’ (written by Johnny Cash) / this was the last song Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) composed before he passed away in 2003
‘If You Could Read My Mind’, which was written by Gordon Lightfoot (Thursday 17 November 1938 – Sunday 1 May 2023)
‘Further On Up The Road’ (written by Bruce Springsteen)
‘On The Evening Train’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘I Came To Believe’ (written by Johnny Cash)
‘Love’s Been Good To Me’ (written by Rod McKuen)
‘A Legend In My Time’, which was written by Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003)
‘Rose of My Heart’ (written by Hugh Moffatt)
‘Four Strong Winds’, which was written by Ian Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘I’m Free From The Chain Gang Now’ (written by Lou Herscher and Saul Klein)
Personnel involved in the recording of Johnny Cash’s ‘American V: A Hundred Highways’ (American Recordings, 2006) included the following:
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) (vocal, guitar)
Laura Cash (fiddle)
Dennis Crouch (bass guitar)
Smokey Hormel, Pat McLaughlin, Larry Perkins, Jonny Polonsky, Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018), Marty Stuart, Matt Sweeney, Pete Wade and Mac Wiseman (Saturday 23 May 1925 – Saturday 23 February 2019) (guitar)
Benmont Tench (organ, piano, harpsichord)
Martyn Atkins (photography)
Christine Cano (art direction, design)
John Carter Cash (executive producer)
Lindsay Chase (production coordination)
Greg Fidelman (mixing)
Paul Figueroa and Dan Leffler (mixing assistant)
Vlado Meller (mastering)
Rick Rubin (producer, liner notes)
David Campbell (string arranger)
Mark Santangelo (mastering assistant)
Jimmy Tittle (assistant engineer)
Engineer, David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, assisted by Jimmy Tittle, and Rick Rubin, oversaw the completion of the recordings included on Johnny Cash’s ‘American V: A Hundred Highways’ (American Recordings, 2006).
Johnny Cash’s ‘American V: A Hundred Highways’ (American Recordings, 2006) reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2006, No.1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2006, No.9 on the UK Albums Chart in 2006, No.5 on the Scottish Albums Chart in 2006, No.4 on the Canadian Billboard Albums Chart in 2006, and No.1 on the Irish Albums Chart in 2006.
Johnny Cash’s ‘American V: A Hundred Highways’ (American Recordings, 2006) was his first No.1 album in 37 years, and was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on Friday 18 August 2006.
On Tuesday 24 April 2007, John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) and Mac Wiseman (Saturday 23 May 1925 – Saturday 23 February 2019) saw the release of ‘Standard Songs For Average People’ (Oh Boy Records, 2007), which was produced by John Prine and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, and included the following tracks:
‘Blue Eyed Elaine’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
‘Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Age’, which was written by Cindy Walker (Saturday 20 July 1918 – Thursday 23 March 2006) and Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975)
‘I Forgot To Remember To Forget’, which was written by Charles Arthur Feathers (Sunday 12 June 1932 – Saturday 29 August 1998) and Stanley Augustus Kesler (Saturday 11 August 1928 – Monday 26 October 2020)
‘I Love You Because’, which was written by Leon Payne (Friday 15 June 1917 – Thursday 11 September 1969)
‘Pistol Packin’ Mama’, which was written by Al Dexter (Thursday 4 May 1905 – Saturday 28 January 1984)
‘Saginaw, Michigan’ (written by Bill Anderson and Don Wayne)
‘Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021)
‘Old Cape Cod’ (written by Claire Rothrock, Milton Yakus and Allan Jeffrey)
‘Death of Floyd Collins’ (written by Andrew Jenkins and Irene Spain)
‘Blue Side of Lonesome’, which was written by Leon Payne (Friday 15 June 1917 – Thursday 11 September 1969)
‘In The Garden’, which was written by Charles Austin Miles (7 January 1868 – Sunday 10 March 1946)
‘Just The Other Side of Nowhere’ (written by Kris Kristofferson)
‘Old Rugged Cross’, which was written by George Bennard (4 February 1873 – Friday 10 October 1958)
‘Where The Blue of The Night’, which was written by Harry Lillis ‘Bing’ Crosby Jr. (3 May 1903 – Friday 14 October 1977), Frederick Emil Ahlert (19 September 1892 – Tuesday 20 October 1953) and Roy Kenneth Turk (20 September 1892 – Friday 30 November 1934)
Personnel involved in the recording of John Prine & Mac Wiseman’s ‘Standard Songs For Average People’ (Oh Boy Records, 2007) included the following:
John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) and Mac Wiseman (Saturday 23 May 1925 – Saturday 23 February 2019) (vocals, guitar)
Lester Armistead (harmony vocals)
Kenneth Blevins (drums, percussion)
Mike Bub and David Jacques (bass)
’Cowboy’ Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) (Dobro, guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Lloyd Green (pedal steel guitar)
Jamie Hartford (guitar)
Carol Lee Singers (background vocals)
Ronnie McCoury (mandolin)
Pat McInerney (drums)
Pat McLaughlin (guitar, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele, harmony vocals, baritone guitar)
Joey Miskulin (accordion)
Tim O’Brien (banjo, guitar)
John Prine & Mac Wiseman’s ‘Standard Songs For Average People’ (Oh Boy Records, 2007) reached No.37 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart in 2007.
On Friday 28 October 2011, Swedish singer-songwriter, Anna Ternheim, saw the release of ‘The Night Visitor’ (Only Records, 2011); one of the included tracks was ‘The Longer The Waiting (The Sweeter The Kiss)’, which featured guest vocals from David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson.
On Friday 15 April 2016, Sturgill Simpson saw the release of ‘A Sailor’s Guide To Earth’ (Atlantic Records, 2016), which was engineered and mixed by David Ferguson.
On Friday 14 August 2017, Tyler Childers saw the release of ‘Purgatory’ (Hickman Holler Records, 2017), which was produced by Sturgill Simpson and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson.
On Friday 1 March 2019, Dee White saw the release of his highly acclaimed debut album, ‘Southern Gentleman’ (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Brothers Nashville, 2019), which was produced by Dan Auerbach and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, and included the following tracks:
‘Wherever You Go’ (written by Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and Dee White)
‘Rose of Alabam’ (written by Brian Burke, Jackson Miller and Dee White)
‘Bucket of Bolts’ (written by Joe Allen, Dan Auerbach and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson) / this track featured harmony vocals from Alison Krauss
‘Crazy Man’ (written by Ann J. Morton and Jim Mundy)
‘Tell The World I Do’ (written by Dan Auerbach, Dee White and Bobby Wood) / this track featured harmony vocals from Alison Krauss
‘Ol’ Muddy River’ (written by Dee White)
‘Road That Goes Both Ways’ (written by Joe Allen, Dan Auerbach and Dee White) / this track was a duet with Ashley McBryde
‘Way Down’ (written by Dan Auerbach and Russ Pahl)
‘Oh, No’ (written by Dan Auerbach and Lawrence Russell Brown)
‘Under Your Skin’ (written by Dan Auerbach and Roger Cook)
Personnel involved in the recording of Dee White’s highly acclaimed debut album, ‘Southern Gentleman’ (Easy Eye Sound / Warner Brothers Nashville, 2019), included the following:
Dee White (vocals)
Dan Auerbach (guitar)
Gene Chrisman and Bobby Wood (percussion, keys)
Billy Sanford (guitar)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (keyboards)
Mickey Raphael (harmonica)
On Friday 2 August 2019, Tyler Childers saw the release of ‘Country Squite’ (Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records, 2019), which was produced by Sturgill Simpson and David Ferguson.
On Friday 10 April 2020, John Anderson saw the release of ‘Years’ (Easy Eye Sound, 2020), which was produced by Dan Auerbach and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, and included the following tracks:
‘I’m Still Hangin’ On’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and Paul Overstreet)
‘Celebrate’ (written by John Anderson and Dan Auerbach)
‘Years’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Pat McLaughlin and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson)
‘Tuesday I’ll Be Gone’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson) / this track featured guest vocals from Blake Shelton
‘What’s A Man Got To Do’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach, Dee White and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson)
‘Wild & Free’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and Joe Allen)
‘Slow Down’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and Bobby Wood)
‘All We’re Really Looking For’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and Larry Cordle)
‘Chasing Down A Dream’ (written by John Anderson, Dan Auerbach and David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson)
‘You’re Nearly Nothing’ (written by John Anderson and Dan Auerbach)
On Friday 16 October 2020, Sturgill Simpson saw the release of ‘Cuttin’ Grass, Volume 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions’ (High Top Mountain / Thirty Tigers, 2020), which was produced by David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson and Sturgill Simpson; the album was engineered and mixed by David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson.
On Thursday 10 December 2020, Sturgill Simpson saw the release of ‘Cuttin’ Grass, Volume 2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions’ (High Top Mountain / Thirty Tigers, 2020), which was produced by Ora Simpson, David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson and Sturgill Simpson; one of the included tracks was ‘Hobo Cartoon’, which was written by Sturgill Simpson and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
In 2021, David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson saw the release of ‘Nashville No More’ (Fat Possum Records, 2021), which was produced by David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, and included the following tracks:
‘Four Strong Winds’, which was written by Ian Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘Boats To Build’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Verlon Thompson
‘Fellow Travelers’
‘Nights With You’
‘Looking For Rainbows’
‘Chardonnay’ (written by Hugh Cornwell and Roger Cook)
‘Early Morning Rain’, which was written by Gordon Lightfoot (Thursday 17 November 1938 – Sunday 1 May 2023)
‘Knocking Around Nashville’ (written by Pat McLaughlin)
‘My Autumn’s Done Come’, which was written by Lee Hazelwood (Tuesday 9 July 1929 – Saturday 4 August 2007)
‘Hard Times Come Again No More’, which was written by Stephen Foster (4 July 1826 – 13 January 1864)
Personnel involved in the recording of David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson’s ‘Nashville No More’ (Fat Possum Records, 2021) included the following:
Anna Ternheim, Ashley Wilcoxen, Hannah Combs, Maddie Combs, Harry Stinson, Margo Price, Matt Sweeney and Will Oldham (background vocals)
Bela Fleck (banjo)
Billy Sanford and Kenny Vaughan (electric guitar)
Bobby Emmett (organ, Wurlitzer, B3, keyboards)
Charles Cochran (Saturday 29 February 1936 – Thursday 7 June 2007) (Wurlitzer, piano)
Dan Auerbach (acoustic guitar)
Dave Roe and Mike Bub (bass)
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Joey Miskulin (accordion)
Justin Moses (banjo, background vocals)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (conga)
Mark Howard (acoustic guitar, ukulele, bass, classical guitar, banjo)
Matt Combs (strings)
Maxwell Schauf (drums)
Mike Rojas (keyboards, pump organ, piano, mellotron)
Pat McLaughlin (acoustic guitar, background vocals)
Pete Abbott (drums, percussion)
Ronnie McCoury (mandolin)
Roy Agee (horns)
Russ Pahl (pedal steel)
Sam Bacco (percussion)
Sierra Hull and Tim O’Brien (mandolin, background vocals)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin)
It was also in 2021, when David ‘Fergie’ Ferguson recorded ‘The Housebuilding Song’ for Rockstar Games’ album, ‘The Music of Red Dead Redemption 2: The Housebuilding’ extended play (EP), a collection of tracks from the game, Red Dead Redemption 2.
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