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 & words.
It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Doug Supernaw, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 30 November 2005.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Doug Supernaw who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Doug Supernaw
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 30 November 2005.
‘Gene Watson, to me, epitomises everything great and everything sad about country music. Being, undoubtedly, one of the purest country singers ever, I believe that he would rather be in an auto shop singing for his buddies, rather than playing the politics of the music business.
Houston, Texas and surrounding areas have been the most competitive country music market for years, and I don’t think that you would find anyone down here in the business who has not been influenced by the wonderful gentleman.
I have the same sad disease as Gene, in that I sing because I have to, not to be on ‘You Can Be A Star’. The music and honky tonks, regardless of who thinks what about them, are very therapeutic to a bunch of our breed, and Gene can bring you to your knees on any sawdust dance floor.
Thanks to you, Sean, for keeping his music alive’
Thank you, Doug Supernaw, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Doug Supernaw…
Doug Supernaw was born Douglas Anderson Supernaw in Bryan, Texas on Monday 26 September 1960 and is an artist who was heavily influenced by Gene Watson, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
Doug Supernaw later attended college on a golfing scholarship; after dropping out of college in 1979, Doug Supernaw briefly worked on an oil rig before serving as a musician in local bands.
In 1987, Doug Supernaw moved to Nashville, where he found work as a session songwriter. After four years in Nashville, however, Doug Supernaw moved back to Texas in 1991, where he founded a band called Texas Steel.
An A&R executive for RCA Records discovered Doug Supernaw and signed him to the label’s BNA Entertainment (BNA Records) division in 1993.
On Tuesday 27 April 1993, Doug Supernaw saw the release of his debut album, ‘Red & Rio Grande’ (BNA Records, 1993), which was produced by Richard Landis (Monday 18 February 1946 – Tuesday 16 May 2023), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Honky Tonkin’ Fool’ (written by Aaron Barker) (No.50, 1993)
‘Reno’ (written by Tim Buckley, Doug Supernaw, Joe Deleon, Kenny King, Allen Huff, Justin White and Don Crider) (No.4, 1993)
‘I Don’t Call Him Daddy’, which was written by Reed Nielsen (1950 – Saturday 15 November 2014) (No.1 for one week in December 1993) / this track was also recorded by Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020), who included it on ‘I Prefer The Moonlight’ (RCA Nashville Records, 1987); Kenny Rogers’ version of the track reached No.86 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987
‘Red & Rio Grande’ (written by Lonnie Atkinson and Doug Supernaw) (No.23, 1994)
Doug Supernaw’s debut album, ‘Red & Rio Grande’ (BNA Records, 1993), also included the following tracks:
‘Perfect Picture To Fit My Frame of Mind’ (written by Bob McDill and Bucky Jones)
‘Five Generations of Rock County Wilsons’ (written by John Scott Sherrill)
‘You’re Gonna Bring Back Cheatin’ Songs’ (written by Chris Waters and Tom Shapiro)
‘I Would Have Loved You All Night’, which was written by Glenn W. Martin (Thursday 30 June 1932 – Sunday 12 May 2019)
‘Daddy’s Girl’ (written by Rick Robertson and Doug Supernaw)
‘Carousel’ (written by Doug Supernaw)
Personnel involved in the recording of Doug Supernaw’s debut album, ‘Red & Rio Grande’ (BNA Records, 1993), included the following:
Steve Gibson, Larry Byrom and Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
David Hungate (bass)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Glen Duncan (fiddle)
Carl Marsh and Mitch Humphries (piano, keyboards)
Michael Black, Harry Stinson, Mervyn Warren, Chris Willis, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (vocal backing)
Doug Supernaw’s debut album, ‘Red & Rio Grande’ (BNA Records, 1993), which was recorded, in 1992, at The Music Mill in Nashville and Sound Stage Studio in Nashville, reached No.27 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1992, and achieved ‘Gold’ certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States.
A series of injuries nearly ended Doug Supernaw’s career following the release of his first album, ‘Red & Rio Grande’ (BNA Records, 1993). After recovering from a broken neck suffered while surfing, Doug Supernaw was involved in a head-on car collision.
Finally, Doug Supernaw was hospitalised after a nearly-fatal case of food poisoning.
Once he had recovered from the food poisoning, Doug Supernaw recorded his second album for BNA Records.
On Tuesday 13 September 1994, Doug Supernaw saw the release of ‘Deep Thoughts From A Shallow Mind’ (BNA Records, 1994), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘State Fair’ (written by Mickey Cates) (No.55, 1994)
‘You Never Even Called Me By My Name’, which was written by Steve Goodman (Sunday 25 July 1948 – Thursday 20 September 1984) and John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) (No.60, 1994) / this track featured guest vocals from David Allan Coe, Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020), Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) / this track was also recorded by David Allan Coe, who included it on ‘Once Upon A Rhyme’ (Columbia Records, 1975); David Allan Coe’s version of the track reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975
‘What’ll You Do About Me’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006) (No.16, 1995) / this track was also recorded by McGuffey Lane, who included it on ‘Day By Day’ (Atlantic Records, 1984) / this track was also recorded by Steve Earle, as a non-album single, which reached No.76 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984 / this track was also recorded by Randy Travis, who included it on ‘Always & Forever’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1987) / this track was also recorded by The Forester Sisters, who included it on ‘I Got A Date’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1992); The Forester Sisters’ version of the track reached No.74 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992
Doug Supernaw’s ‘Deep Thoughts From A Shallow Mind’ (BNA Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
‘Here’s To Lying’ (written by Doug Supernaw, Justin White, Allen Huff, Don Crider and Kenny King)
‘Twistin’ Tops’ (written by Doug Supernaw and Rick Robertson)
‘Mesquite Cowboy Mind’ (written by Doug Supernaw and Justin White)
‘He Went To Paris’, which was written by Jimmy Buffett (Wednesday 25 December 1946 – Friday 1 September 2023)
‘Shut ‘Er Down’ (written by Doug Supernaw and Justin White)
‘After The Storm’ (written by Doug Supernaw, Allen Huff and Justin White)
‘Wishin’ Her Well’ (written by Doug Supernaw and Justin White)
Personnel involved in the recording of Doug Supernaw’s ‘Deep Thoughts From a Shallow Mind’ (BNA Records, 1994) included the following:
Doug Supernaw (lead vocals, background vocals)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
Glen Duncan (fiddle)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Carl Marsh (keyboards)
Steve Nathan (organ, synthesizer)
Matt Rollings (piano)
Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Michael Black, Dennis Wilson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Shortly after the release of ‘Deep Thoughts From A Shallow Mind’ (BNA Records, 1994), Doug Supernaw exited the roster at BNA Records.
In 1995, Doug Supernaw signed a recording contract with Giant Records, and saw the release, on Tuesday 24 October 1995, of ‘You Still Got Me’ (Giant Records, 1995), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Not Enough Hours In The Night’, which was written by Aaron Barker, Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and Ron Harbin (No.3, 1995)
‘She Never Looks Back’, which was written by Jim Lauderdale and Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 – Friday 23 November 2012) (No.51, 1996)
‘You Still Got Me’ (written by Doug Supernaw and Kenny King) (No.53, 1996)
Doug Supernaw’s ‘You Still Got Me’ (Giant Records, 1995) also included the following tracks:
‘Country Conscience’ (written by Roger Murrah, Keith Stegall and Michael White)
‘Daddy Made The Dollars (Mamma Made The Sense)’ (written by Gene Robbins, Bobby Taylor and John Ramey)
‘Roots & Wings’ (written by Skip Ewing and Bill Anderson)
‘We’re All Here’ (written by Doug Supernaw, Kenny King, Allen Huff, Justin White IV and Don Crider)
‘A Fire In The Rain’ (written by Rick Giles and Amanda Hunt Taylor)
‘Time Off From Good Behaviour’ (written by Roger Springer, Tony Martin and Reese Wilson)
‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray
‘What In The World’ (written by Doug Supernaw, Kenny King, Allen Huff, Don Crider, Justin White, Joe DeLeon and Tim Buckley)
James Bonamy recorded ‘Roots & Wings’ (written by Skip Ewing and Bill Anderson) and included the track on ‘Roots & Wings’ (Epic Records, 1997).
Gene Watson recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Memories to Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985).
On Monday 9 May 2011 (United Kingdom & Ireland) and Tuesday 17 May 2011 (worldwide), Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories to Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986), as a special ‘2-on-1‘ CD set (HUX124).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Next To You’ (Epic Records, 1989).
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded ‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray, and included the track on ‘Ain’t It The Truth’ (Giant Records, 1998).
Personnel involved in the recording of Doug Supernaw’s ‘You Still Got Me’ (Giant Records, 1995) included the following:
Paul Leim (drums)
Brent Mason and Dann Huff (electric guitar)
Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) and Skip Ewing (acoustic guitar)
Mitch Humphries and Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Carl Marsh (electric keyboard)
Glenn Worf and David Hungate (bass guitar)
Paul Franklin and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Stuart Duncan and Glen Duncan (fiddle)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) (percussion)
Doug Supernaw, Curtis Young and Curtis Wright (background vocals)
Nashville String Machine (strings)
Although its first single, ‘Not Enough Hours In The Night’, reached a peak of No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, neither of the other singles released from Doug Supernaw’s third major label album, ‘You Still Got Me’ (Giant Records, 1995), reached the Billboard country music Top 40.
As a consequence, Doug Supernaw left Giant Records not long afterward.
On Monday 19 August 1996, The Beach Boys saw the release of ‘Stars & Stripes, Volume 1’ (River North Records, 1996), their twenty-eighth studio album, which was produced by Joe Thomas and Brian Wilson, and was a collaborative album with various country music artists.
Despite its ‘Volume 1′ sub-title, the album was The Beach Boys’ only venture into the genre of country music / pop music and was the last studio album to feature founding member Carl Wilson (Saturday 21 December 1946 – Friday 6 February 1998).
Doug Supernaw’s contribution to The Beach Boys’ ‘Stars & Stripes, Volume 1’ (River North Records, 1996), was ‘Long Tall Texan’, which was written by Henry Strzelecki (Tuesday 8 August 1939 – Monday 29 December 2014); the track reached No.69 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
On Tuesday 18 November 1997, Doug Supernaw saw the release of his first compilation album, ‘The Encore Collection’ (Sony BMG Special Products, 1997), which included the following tracks:
‘Honky Tonkin’ Fool’ (written by Aaron Barker) (No.50, 1993)
‘You Never Even Called Me By My Name’, which was written by Steve Goodman (Sunday 25 July 1948 – Thursday 20 September 1984) and John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 – Tuesday 7 April 2020) (No.60, 1994) / this track featured guest vocals from David Allan Coe, Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020), Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Reno’ (written by Tim Buckley, Doug Supernaw, Joe Deleon, Kenny King, Allen Huff, Justin White and Don Crider) (No.4, 1993)
‘You’re Gonna Bring Back Cheatin’ Songs’ (written by Tom Shapiro and Chris Waters)
‘Red & Rio Grande’ (written by Lonnie Atkinson and Doug Supernaw) (No.23, 1994)
‘What’ll You Do About Me’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006) (No.16, 1995)
‘I Don’t Call Him Daddy’, which was written by Reed Nielsen (1950 – Saturday 15 November 2014) (No.1 for one week in December 1993)
‘I Would Have Loved You All Night Long’, which was written by Glenn W. Martin (Thursday 30 June 1932 – Sunday 12 May 2019)
‘After The Storm’ (written by Doug Supernaw, Allen Huff and Justin White)
‘Here’s To Lying’ (written by Doug Supernaw, Justin White, Allen Huff, Don Crider and Kenny King)
In 1999, Doug Supernaw’s third, and final, recording contract was signed with the small, independent record label, Tack Records, where he saw the release, on Tuesday 31 August 1999, of ‘Fadin’ Renegade’ (Tack Records, 1999).
Two tracks were released from Doug Supernaw’s ‘Fadin’ Renegade’ (Tack Records, 1999) as singles, ‘Fadin’ Renegade’ and ’21-17′, but both failed to enter the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, although the latter song’s music video gained popularity on Country Music Television (CMT) and Great American Country (GAC).
One of the tracks included on Doug Supernaw’s ‘Fadin’ Renegade’ (Tack Records, 1999) was ‘Nothing Sure Looked Good On You’ (written by Jim Rushing).
Gene Watson recorded ‘Nothing Sure Looked Good On You’ (written by Jim Rushing) and included the track on ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
On Monday 26 January 2009, Hux Records released Gene Watson‘s ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Reflections‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), as a special ‘2-on-1‘ CD set (HUX101).
B&G Music Press Release, 2017
‘After an almost twenty year hiatus, Doug Supernaw returned to the country music scene with a new release of re-recorded ‘Greatest Hits’ (B&G Records, 2017), a release which included two new songs.
The new arrangement of ‘Reno’ (written by Tim Buckley, Doug Supernaw, Joe Deleon, Kenny King, Allen Huff, Justin White and Don Crider) has a soulful feel to an old favourite, while ‘I Don’t Call Him Daddy’, which was written by Reed Nielsen (1950 – Saturday 15 November 2014), reminds us of the struggles, and heartache, of parents and children of divorce.
In January 2017, Doug Supernaw returned to the studio to record all of the songs on ‘Greatest Hits’ (B&G Records, 2017), including two of many which he penned during his break.
‘Here’s My Heart’ (written by Doug Supernaw) is about a man that has been through the worst parts of love, only to finally find ‘the one’, while ‘The Company I Keep’ (written by Doug Supernaw) is reflective of days gone by of traditional country artists.
Proving that he is a survivor, Doug Supernaw’s trials and tribulations have only served to strengthen him, and rekindle that desire to put out quality country music and perform for his adoring fans.
Doug Supernaw’s Billboard Top 40 hit singles included ‘I Don’t Call Him Daddy’ (No.1 for one week in December 1993), ‘Not Enough Hours In The Night’ (No.3, 1995), ‘Reno’ (No.4, 1993), ‘What’ll You Do About Me’ (No.16, 1995), and ‘Red & Rio Grande’ (No.23, 1994), all of which are on ‘Greatest Hits’ (B&G Records, 2017).
In addition to those hit singles, Doug Supernaw’s fans are sure to love ‘Long Tall Texan’, ‘Fadin’ Renegade’, ‘She Never Looks Back’ and ‘State Fair’.
Released on B&G Records, ‘Doug Supernaw – Greatest Hits’ (B&G Records, 2017) is sure to re-introduce Doug’s fans, and introduce new ones’.
Doug Supernaw’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (B&G Records, 2017) included the following tracks:
‘The Company I Keep’ (written by Doug Supernaw) / this track was a new recording
‘I Don’t Call Him Daddy’, which was written by Reed Nielsen (1950 – Saturday 15 November 2014) / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in December 1993
‘Long Tall Texan’, which was written by Henry Strzelecki (Tuesday 8 August 1939 – Monday 29 December 2014) / this track was previously included on The Beach Boys’ ‘Stars & Stripes, Volume 1’ (River North Records, 1996)
‘Red & Rio Grande’ (written by Lonnie Atkinson and Doug Supernaw) / the original version of this track reached No.23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994
‘Reno’ (written by Tim Buckley, Doug Supernaw, Joe Deleon, Kenny King, Allen Huff, Justin White and Don Crider) / the original version of this track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993
‘What’ll You Do About Me’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006) / the original version of this track reached No.16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995
‘Here’s My Heart’ (written by Doug Supernaw) / this track was a new recording
‘State Fair’ (written by Mickey Cates) / the original version of this track reached No.55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994
‘Not Enough Hours in The Night’, which was written by Aaron Barker, Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and Ron Harbin / the original version of this track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995
‘Fadin’ Renegade’ (written by Sam Cooke) / the original version of this track was released as a single in 1999, but it failed to chart
‘She Never Looks Back’, which was written by Jim Lauderdale and Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 – Friday 23 November 2012) / the original version of this track reached No.51 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996
On Saturday 2 February 2019, the following official statement was issued, on behalf of Doug Supernaw and his family, with regard to Doug’s health:
‘After struggling with a prolonged cough, Doug was admitted to the hospital on Friday 25 January 2019, where it was determined he was suffering from pneumonia. Additional tests found fluid on his heart and lungs which put his heart in an A-Fib condition. Additional tests also found a suspicious mass in his right lung.
It was then determined that it was in Doug’s best interest that he be transferred to another Houston area hospital. It was at this hospital that his medical team confirmed several masses in his lungs, lymph nodes, bones, and bladder. The official diagnosis, as of now, is advanced, stage-4, lung and bladder cancer.
At this time, Doug remains in the hospital, awaiting more testing, while determining a treatment path.
We would like to thank Doug’s amazing medical team for working so diligently in both the care, and treatment, of our beloved Doug. We would also like thank both our friends, and amazing fan base, for the so many heart-felt prayers during this difficult time.
We appreciate that you will continue to respect Doug and Doug’s family’s privacy during these trying times. We will continue to provide updates as necessary. Thank you all so much and please keep the prayers coming!
Respectfully,
Team Doug Supernaw’
Sean Brady at the Original Gene Watson Fan Site would like to express a word of thanks to Cissy Allen Supernaw for granting permission to post the above update, and to wish Doug Supernaw all the very best at this time.
On Sunday 18 October 2020, Cissy Supernaw posted on Facebook that her husband, Doug Supernaw, had been placed in home hospice care and that the cancer had spread to his brain and spine.
On Friday 13 November 2020, it was announced that Doug Supernaw had passed away.
Doug Supernaw
Monday 26 September 1960 – Friday 13 November 2020
• Visit Doug Supernnaw’s official site at dougsupernaw.com
• Like Doug Supernaw on Facebook