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 Ernie Rowell, which he submitted to this site on Monday 6 June 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Ernie Rowell who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Ernie Rowell
This quote was submitted on Monday 6 June 2006.
‘Gene Watson is, without a doubt, one of the best country singers ever.
Gene’s voice is impeccably true with a style all his own. When he sings, engineers don’t have to worry about tuning notes like most do today. He delivers it right without the props.
I’ve had a few cuts in my years in Nashville, but none have thrilled me more than my Gene Watson cuts.
There’s a new breed of country writers and singers in Nashville today and I’m glad to say a lot of them are Gene Watson fans.
It should be that way!’
Thank you, Ernie Rowell, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Ernie Rowell…
Ernie Rowell was born on Wednesday 3 May 1950 in Auburn, Alabama and grew up in nearby Loachapoka.
After graduating from high school, Ernie Rowell attended Auburn University. Upon gaining his college degree, Ernie Rowell moved to Nashville, where he hoped to pursue a career within the country music business.
Ernie Rowell has had the privilege of working with many country music superstars, including George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) and Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017).
Ernie Rowell spent a total of eleven years with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) and Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), performing for audiences all over the United States, the provinces of Canada and several other countries.
Ernie Rowell has enjoyed some secular chart success on his own and, as a songwriter, his compositions have been recorded by George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020), Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), Ricky Van Shelton, Johnny Paycheck (Tuesday 31 May 1938 – Wednesday 19 February 2003) and Gene Watson, among others.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘I Wanta Sing’ (co-written with George Jones and Earl Montgomery) and included the track on ‘I Wanta Sing’ (Epic Records, 1977).
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘You’ve Got The Best of Me Again’ (co-written with Bob House) and included the track on ‘I Wanta Sing’ (Epic Records, 1977).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Buried Treasures’ (co-written with Charlie Philips) and included the track on ‘Love Or Something Like It’ (United Artists Records, 1978); the album was re-issued by Edsel Records in 2009.
Moe Bandy recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘I Just Can’t Leave Those Honky Tonks Alone’ (co-written with Virgil Warner) and included the track on ‘The Champ’ (Columbia Records, 1980).
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘What She Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Her’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘This Dream’s on Me‘ (MCA Records, 1982); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982, and No.3 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982.
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky & Forget’ (co-written with Bob House) and included the track on ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983); this track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, and No.6 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983.
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘You Put Out An Old Flame Last Night’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983).
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘I Guess You Had To Be There’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey and Matt Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984).
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Independence Day’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Almost Like You Never Went Away’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘New Patches’ (MCA Records, 1984).
Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Small Change’ (co-written with Raleigh Squires) and included the track on ‘New Patches’ (MCA Records, 1984).
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Everything I Used To Do’ and included the track on ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986); the track reached No.29 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986, and No.27 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1986.
Donna Ulisse recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Guess Who’s Back In Town’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Trouble At The Door’ (Atlantic Records, 1991).
Tony Toliver recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘She Was All Over Him’ (co-written with Tony Toliver and Herky Williams) and included the track on ‘Tony Toliver’ (Curb Records, 1991).
Ricky Van Shelton recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Foolish Pride’, which was co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017), and included the track on ‘Fried Green Tomatoes’ (Audium Records, 2000).
On Friday 30 March 2001, Ernie Rowell saw the release of ‘In His Will’ (Music Mill Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘Family Man’
‘Safe At Home’
‘The Longer I Live’
‘Witness Protection Program’
‘Let The Lord Lead’
‘Here I Am’
‘A Helping Hand’
‘Aging Gracefully’
‘Cross Examination’
‘Where Did The Time Go’
In 2003, Ernie Rowell saw the release of ‘Favorites’ (Freedom Entertainment, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’
‘In The Garden’
‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’
‘How Great Thou Art’
‘I Want To Be Like Andy’
‘Peace In The Valley’
‘What A Friend We Have In Jesus’
‘Why Me, Lord’
‘The Bible Tells Me So’
‘Wings of A Dove’
‘Standing On The Promises’
‘Precious Memories’
Leona Williams recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘You Put Out An Old Flame Last Night’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘New Patches’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2008).
Red Jenkins (Tuesday 11 November 1947 – Sunday 26 December 2021) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘What She Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Her’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Hank & Jack’ (Red Hot Songs Records, 2011).
Joe Paul Nichols recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘I Miss My Mind The Most’ (co-written with R. Kirkland) and included the track on ‘Friends In High Places’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2011); the track was a duet with Curtis Potter (Thursday 18 April 1940 – Saturday 23 January 2016).
Mike Manuel recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘If She Only Knew’ and included the track on ‘Pieces of My Heart’ (Mission Country, 2011).
Tony Booth, Darrell McCall & Curtis Potter (Thursday 18 April 1940 – Saturday 23 January 2016) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Lucky Me’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘The Survivors II’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2012).
Myra Rolen recorded ‘You Put Out An Old Flame Last Night’ (written by Dave Lindsey and Ernie Rowell) and included the track on ‘Hold That Thought’ (Pretty World Records, 2014).
Moe Bandy recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘Lucky Me’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Lucky Me’ (Moe Bandy Music, 2016).
Blue Creek Band (Ernie Rowell, Damon Gray, Dave Lindsey, Charlie Whitten, Drew Covington and Johnny Barber) recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘What She Don’t Know Won’t Hurt Her’ (co-written with Dave Lindsey) and included the track on ‘Real Country II’ (Blue Creek Band Music, 2020).
Gene Watson recorded Ernie Rowell’s ‘If She Only Knew’ and included the track on ‘Outside The Box‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2022).
• Visit Ernie Rowell’s official site at ernierowell.com