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 during 2019, 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 Ed Keeley, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 27 February 2019.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Ed Keeley who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sean Brady would also like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Sarah Brosmer at Lytle Management in Brentwood, TN, without whom this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’ from Ed Keeley would not have been possible.
Ed Keeley
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 27 February 2019.
‘Gene Watson was one of my favorite artists to work with at Capitol Records.
He was a genuinely good person, always down-to-earth and, of course, had that excellent voice’
Thank you, Ed Keeley, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Ed Keeley…
Ed Keeley was a former National Promotion Director for Capitol Records in Nashville, and wrote the liner notes for two of Gene Watson’s albums, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975) and ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976).
Gene Watson’s debut single for Resco Records was ‘Bad Water’ (written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday and Randy Myers), which was a song previously recorded by The Raeletts (Ethel – Darlene – McCrea, Margie Hendricks, Patricia Lyles and Gwendoly Berry), who were Ray Charles’ backing singers.
The Raeletts recorded ‘Bad Water’ (written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday and Randy Myers) in 1971, and saw the track included on ‘Ray Charles Presents The Raeletts…Yesterday…Today…Tomorrow’ (Tangerine Records, 1972).
‘Bad Water’ (written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday and Randy Myers), which Gene Watson loved, was his first chart single on the Billboard country music singles chart in the United States; the track made its debut on the Billboard country music singles chart on Saturday 25 January 1975, but it only reached a lowly position of No.87.
‘Bad Water’, which was written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday (Tuesday 24 July 1934 – Sunday 15 February 1987) and Randy Myers, may have achieved a low Billboard country music chart position for Gene Watson, but more importantly, it came to the attention of Ed Keeley, who was a promotional executive at Capitol Records in 1975.
Ed Keeley was so impressed with the fact that an independent single had managed to make its way into the Billboard (national) country music singles chart. Ed Keeley liked the song and was so impressed with Gene Watson’s performance of it that he flew to Houston in Texas and immediately negotiated a recording contract with Russ Reeder.
The outcome for Gene Watson was that he had procured a five-year recording contract with Capitol Records, a major league record company, and the outcome for the country music industry was that it now had a new country music star.
Promotional photo for Capitol Records in 1975
Gene Watson had already recorded ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’, which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003), for Resco Records, and it was already in circulation, when he signed his recording contract with Capitol Records.
‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’, which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003), had been recorded by several others, including Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 – Thursday 11 June 2015), and became a regional hit.
The other artists who had recorded the song had all changed the lyrics around, because it was felt that the song was too risqué, for 1974, to gain vital radio airplay.
However, following discussions with Russ Reeder, Gene Watson decided to record the song exactly the way that it had been written. ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’, which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003), would turn out to be one of Gene Watson’s best loved tunes.
‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’ was also recorded by Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002).
Waylon Jenning’s version of ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’ was never released as a single, but his recording of the song can be found on the 6-CD box set ‘Journey: Six Strings’ (Bear Family Records, 1999); this box set also included Waylon Jennings’ version of ‘Farewell Party’, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007), but his version of the song was never released as a single.
Gene Watson later recorded Waylon Jenning’s little known composition ‘John’s Back In Town’; this latter track was co-written by Waylon Jennings, along with legendary songwriter and country music disc jockey Bill Mack (Saturday 4 June 1932 – Friday 31 July 2020).
Waylon Jennings’ version of ‘John’s Back In Town’ was included on the 6-CD box set ‘Journey: Destiny’s Child’ (Bear Family Records, 1999); this box set features Waylon Jennings’ recordings made between 1958 and 1968.
Gene Watson’s Resco Records-issued single of ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’ became extremely popular throughout a wide area of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
However, by the time Capitol Records re-issued the song on their own label, it had already become a major hit in those market areas and was beginning to descend the charts.
Ultimately, this fact thwarted the song from going to the top of the charts, but ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’ did reach No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart and was also pronounced the No.4 song in America for the entire year of 1975.
All of a sudden Gene Watson had a glorified country music career!
In August 1975, Gene Watson saw the release of his first major label album, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), which was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster (1930 – Thursday 22 February 2007), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Bad Water’, which was written by Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday (Tuesday 24 July 1934 – Sunday 15 February 1987) and Randy Myers (No.87, 1975)
‘Love In The Hot Afternoon’, which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003) (No.3, 1975) / this track also reached No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975
‘Where Love Begins’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) (No.5, 1975) / this track also reached No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1975
‘You Could Know As Much About A Stranger’ (written by Nadine Bryant) (No.10, 1976) / this track also reached No.42 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1976
Gene Watson’s first major label album, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), also included the following tracks:
‘Through The Eyes of Love’, which was written by Cowboy Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 – Thursday 8 August 2013) and Milton ‘Mitt’ Addington (1924 – 1979)
‘Long Enough To Care’ (written by Bobby Sykes)
‘Harvest Time’ (written by Bill Emerson, Lewis Moore and Carrol Dunham)
‘This Just Ain’t No Good Day For Leaving’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2021) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘For The First Time’ (written by Jessi Colter)
‘This Is My Year For Mexico’, which was written by Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003)
Album Sleeve Notes
The album sleeve notes for Gene Watson’s first major label album, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), were provided by Ed Keeley, who was then the National Country Field Manager at Capitol Records:
‘Gene Watson is a home-grown Texan whose background is pure country, and whose future is simply Superstardom.
He has played music ‘ever since I can remember’ and, like the Country greats before him, has juggled working days with nightly gigs in pursuit of that ‘star in the sky’.
A family man with a deep passion for life, he has solidified his sound on his home turf by working the road with Country greats The Wilburn Brothers, cutting discs for local labels, moving on to territorial stardom, emerging with several hit records in the Houston area and, finally, a regular gig at the Dynasty Club in that city.
His association with the people he has met along the way have repeatedly distinguished themselves in long lasting friendships and mutual respect.
His initial road experience with The Wilburn Brothers – Doyle Wilburn (Monday 7 July 1930 – Saturday 16 October 1982) and Teddy Wilburn (Monday 30 November 1931 – Monday 24 November 2003) – has never been forgotten by them.
And when he approached Russ Reeder, then General Manager of the Record Service Company in Houston, in 1966, he began a lasting friendship and business relationship that has seen them through Gene’s recording debut in 1969 on Wide World Records, subsequent recordings on Reeder’s Resco label in 1972, and finally today in 1975 this fine album for Capitol Records.
After hearing ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon’ for the first time, I immediately recognised the talent that was there and wanted to have this gifted artist on Capitol. When Gene and Russ proved more than eager, the association was happily established, adding myself and the whole of the Capitol family to that list of friendships that have coloured Gene’s career.
This first album of Gene’s on Capitol speaks for itself. It is one of the finest presentations I have heard in my years in the music business and, thankfully, it is only a beginning for Gene and his inevitable climb to Superstardom.
We at Capitol Records owe a debt of gratitude to radio stations KENR, KIKK and KNUS (this latter radio station was listed, in error, as KNUS, when it should have been listed as KNUZ) in Houston for their part in exposing the talents of Gene Watson, to Russ Reeder for his guidance and care in developing those talents and, of course, to Gene Watson himself, whose very talents we speak of.
Welcome to Capitol Records, Gene Watson, a fine artist, showman and of course…a friend’.
Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson’s first major label album, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), included the following:
Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017), Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) and Charlie McCoy (rhythm guitar)
Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977), Pete Wade (Sunday 16 December 1934 – Tuesday 27 August 2024) and Dale Sellers (lead guitar)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar)
Lloyd Green (Dobro)
Charlie McCoy (harmonica)
Charlie McCoy and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (marimba)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Joe Allen, Henry Strzelecki (Tuesday 8 August 1939 – Monday 29 December 2014) and Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) (bass)
Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021), Jimmy Isabel and Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) (drums)
Jerry Tuttle (horn)
The Nashville Edition (voices)
Gene Watson’s first major label album, ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), reached No.5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1975.
On Tuesday 3 December 2002, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Love In The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
In May 1976, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976), which was produced by Russ Reeder and Bob Webster (1930 – Thursday 22 February 2007), and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Because You Believed in Me’, which was written by Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999), Shorty Hall (Walter Harrison Hall) (Tuesday 5 April 1927 – Thursday 21 March 2002) and Gene Vowell (No.20, 1976)
‘Her Body Couldn’t Keep You (Off My Mind)’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016) (No.52, 1976)
Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) also included the following tracks:
‘If I’m A Fool For Leaving’, which was written by Skip Graves and Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015)
‘Bitter They Are, Harder They Fall’ (written by Larry Gatlin)
‘When My World Left Town’ (written by Tom Ghent and R. Paul)
‘Sorry Willie’, which was written by Roger Miller (Thursday 2 January 1936 – Sunday 25 October 1992)
‘How Good A Bad Woman Feels’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
‘I Fell Apart’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
‘Hey, Louella’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
‘And Then You Came Along’, which was written by Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016)
Album Sleeve Notes
The album sleeve notes for Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976), were provided by Ed Keeley, who was then the National Country Field Manager at Capitol Records:
‘Gene Watson sings songs that explore the intimate side of love and life, songs that capture both the feelings of pleasure and joy as well as heartache and sorrow, songs that make the listener laugh and cry because they tug at the heartstrings.
Gene Watson vocally dramatises the feeling of holding the right person in your arms…or not holding the person…or sometimes holding the wrong person. When Gene Watson sings a song, a great many of the listeners invariably nod their heads in agreement as the lyrics strike a responsive chord.
‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) is a highly appropriate title for Gene Watson’s second Capitol album. The record is Gene’s way of thanking everyone for believing in him. This album will undoubtedly assure everyone’s continued faith in Gene’.
Personnel involved in the recording of Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) included the following:
Tommy Allsup (Tuesday 24 November 1931 – Wednesday 11 January 2017) (rhythm guitar, bass guitar)
Leon Rhodes (Thursday 10 March 1932 – Saturday 9 December 2017) (rhythm guitar, lead guitar)
Lloyd Green (steel guitar)
Buddy Spicher (fiddle)
Joe Allen (bass)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Jimmy Colvard (1943 – 1977) and Pete Wade (Sunday 16 December 1934 – Tuesday 27 August 2024) (lead guitar)
Jimmy Isbell, Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 – Thursday 21 August 2008) and Kenny Malone (Thursday 4 August 1938 – Thursday 26 August 2021) (drums)
Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976) reached No.24 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1976.
On Monday 26 September 2005, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Because You Believed in Me‘ (Capitol Records, 1976), along with Gene watson’s ‘Beautiful Country‘ (Capitol Records, 1977), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
In 1991, Ed Keeley joined Intersound Records, as a country music manager; Intersound Records was based in Atlanta, Georgia.