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 2014, 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 Don Chapel, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 8 June 2014.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Don Chapel who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Don Chapel
This quote was submitted on Sunday 8 June 2014.
‘I think Gene Watson is the best male vocalist in country music, and he has been for a long time and, God willing, for a long time to come!
This was a real pleasure to be asked to do this!
Go, Gene, Go!’
Thank you, Don Chapel, for your support of Gene Watson.
Don Chapel was born Don Lloyd Amburgey in 1931 in Kentucky. One of six children, Don Chapel was raised in a very musical atmosphere; his sisters Irene, Bertha and Opal sang as Martha, Minnie and Mattie, The Sunshine Girls. Irene, who married James Roberts, became noted country gospel singer Martha Carson, Minnie sang with Bill Carlisle, Mattie, who took the stage name of Jean Chapel, became a rockabilly star.
Encouraged by Jean Chapel, who recorded Don Chapel’s ‘I’ve Got A Mem’ry (You Can’t Touch)’, Don Chapel decided concentrated on his songwriting abilities and eventually adopted his sister’s stage surname.
Don Chapel’s songs, some of which were written in collaboration with other songwriters, were recorded over the years by a number of legendary country music artists, including Lynn Anderson (Friday 26 September 1947 – Thursday 30 July 2015), Doug Kershaw, Jerry Lee Lewis (Sunday 29 September 1935 – Friday 28 October 2022), Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 – Wednesday 26 January 2011), Melba Montgomery, Webb Pierce (Monday 8 August 1921 – Sunday 24 February 1991), Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) and Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993).
During the 1960s, Don Chapel worked for various recording companies, sometimes recording himself but often as a songwriter.
In the late 1960s, Don Chapel and his daughter, future country music singer, Donna Chapel, recorded a number of duets, including ‘Take A Little Goodwill Home’ and ‘We’ve Got Love’.
Another of Don Chapel’s three children, Mike, played drums and became a record producer. With Donna and Mike, Don Chapel appeared as The Chapperones.
In 1967, Don Chapel and country singer Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) were married and they briefly worked together. Both Don and Tammy had three children and Donna was, for a while, one of Tammy Wynette’s backing singers. Don Chapel and Tammy Wynette were divorced in 1968.
Among Tammy Wynette’s recordings are some of Don Chapel’s songs, including ‘Together We Stand, Divided We Fall’, which she recorded as a duet with David Houston (Monday 9 December 1935 – Tuesday 30 November 1993) in 1967, ‘Joey’ (1969), ‘My Heart Is Soakin’ Wet’ and ‘All Night Long’ (1968).
One of the best known, and most-recorded, of Don Chapel’s songs, is ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’, notably by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) (No.2, 1969).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) (No.2, 1969) also recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Let’s Get Together’ with Melba Montgomery in 1967.
Other songs of Don Chapel’s include ‘From Here To The Door’, ‘Call Off The Party Tonight’, ‘Misty Morning Rain’, ‘Everything Is Coming Back But You’, ‘Feed It To The Fish’ and ‘Loving You Is A Way of Life With Me’.
Among songs which Don Chapel also recorded are ‘Here We Go Again’, ‘Hurtin’ Time’, ‘Summer Winds’ and ‘Flowers & Candy’.
Although songwriting was central to his career from its earliest years, Don Chapel appeared as a country music performer on many occasions, including taking the stage at The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
David Houston (Monday 9 December 1935 – Tuesday 30 November 1993) & Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Together We Stand (Divided We Fall)’ and included the track on ‘My Elusive Dreams’ (Epic Records, 1967).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) & Melba Montgomery recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Let’s Get Together (One More Time)’ and included the track on ‘Party Pickin’ (Musicor Records, 1967).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘All Night Long’ and included the track on ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E’ (Epic Records, 1968).
Jerry Lee Lewis (Sunday 29 September 1935 – Friday 28 October 2022) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘All Night Long’ and included the track on ‘Another Place, Another Time’ (Smash Records, 1968).
Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 – Thursday 15 March 2013) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on ‘Until My Dreams Come True’ (Decca Records, 1969).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Joey’ and included the track on ‘Stand By Your Man’ (Epic Records, 1969).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on ‘Darling, You Know I Wouldn’t Lie’ (Decca Records, 1969).
Jan Howard (Friday 13 March 1929 – Saturday 28 March 2020) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on ‘Jan Howard’ (Decca Records, 1969).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on ‘I’ll Share My World With You’ (Musicor Records, 1969); the track was nominated as the Country Music Association (CMA) ‘Song of The Year’ in 1969.
Charlie Louvin (Thursday 7 July 1927 – Wednesday 26 January 2011) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Loving You Is A Way Of Life With Me’ and included the track on ‘Ten Times Charlie’ (Capitol Records, 1970).
Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on ‘A Good Year For The Wine’ (Decca Records, 1970).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Jean Chapel’s ‘Another Way To Say Goodbye’ and included the track on ‘A Picture of Me (Without You)’ (Epic Records, 1972).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘From Here To The Door’ and included the track on ‘Take Me’ (RCA Victor Records, 1972).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Misty Morning Rain’ and included the track on ‘There’s Always Me’ (Monument Records, 1979); the track reached No.43 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979.
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘Misty Morning Rain’ and included the track on ‘Here’s To You’ (Step One Records, 1988).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on ‘Burn Your Playhouse Down – The Unreleased Duets’ (Bandit Records, 2008).
Rhonda Vincent recorded Don Chapel’s ‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ and included the track on (disc 2) of ‘Only Me’ (Upper Management Music, 2014), a 2-CD set.
On Sunday 6 December 2015, Don Chapel passed away; he was 84 years old.
On Friday 11 December 2015, a public visitation for Don Chapel took place between 5:00pm and 6:45pm, which was followed by a funeral service at Madison Funeral Home.