On Wednesday 27 January 2021, Gene Watson celebrated Tracy Lawrence’s 53rd birthday.
‘Wishing a happy birthday to a young’un, Tracy Lawrence.
He appreciates real country music and can sing the fire out of a country song.
Do you have a favourite by him?’
Tracy Lawrence was born on Saturday 27 January 1968 in Atlanta, Texas and was raised in Foreman, Arkansas.
Tracy Lawrence began performing at the age of fifteen, and moved to Nashville in 1990 in order to begin his country music career.
In 1991, Tracy Lawrence signed to Atlantic Records Nashville and saw the release, on Tuesday 12 November 1991, of his debut album, ‘Sticks & Stones’ (Atlantic Records Nashville, 1991), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Sticks & Stones’, which was written by Roger Dillon and Elbert West (Saturday 22 July 1967 – Monday 18 May 2015) (No.1 in January 1992)
‘Today’s Lonely Fool’, which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) and Stan Paul Davis (No.3, 1992)
‘Runnin’ Behind’ (written by Mark D. Sanders and Ed Hill) (No.4, 1992)
‘Somebody Paints The Wall’, which was written by Tommy Smith, Charles Browder, Elroy D. Kahanek (Thursday 27 March 1941 – Tuesday 11 March 2014) and Nelson Larkin (1943 – Monday 18 November 2013) (No.8, 1992)
On Tuesday 9 March 1993, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘Alibis’ (Atlantic Records, 1993), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Alibis’ (written by Randy Boudreaux) (No.1 for two weeks in May 1993)
‘Can’t Break It To My Heart’, which was written by Kirk Roth, Tracy Lawrence, Earl Clark and Elbert West (Saturday 22 July 1967 – Monday 18 May 2015) (No.1 in August 1993)
‘My Second Home’, which was written by Tracy Lawrence, Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) and Paul Nelson (No.1 in December 1993)
‘If The Good Die Young’ (written by Paul Nelsonand Craig Wiseman) (No.1 in April 1994)
On Tuesday 20 September 1994, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘I See It Now’ (Atlantic Records, 1994), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘I See It Now’ (written by Larry Boone, Woody Lee and Paul Nelson) (No.2, 1994)
‘As Any Fool Can See’, which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) and Paul Nelson (No.2, 1995)
‘Texas Tornado’ (written by Bobby Braddock) (No.1 in 1995)
‘If The World Had A Front Porch’, which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017), Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson(No.2, 1995)
On Tuesday 23 January 1996, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘Time Marches On’ (Atlantic Records, 1996), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘If You Loved Me’ (written by Paul Nelson and Tom Shapiro) (No.4, 1995)
‘Time Marches On’ (written by Bobby Braddock) (No.1 for three weeks in mid-1996)
‘Stars Over Texas’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) (No.2, 1996)
‘Is That A Tear’, which was written by John Jarrard (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) and Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017)(No.2, 1996)
On Tuesday 18 March 1997, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘The Coast Is Clear’ (Atlantic Records, 1997), which included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Better Man, Better Off’ (written by Stan Paul Davis and Brett Jones) (No.2, 1997)
‘How A Cowgirl Says Goodbye’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) (No.4, 1997)
‘The Coast Is Clear’ (written by Jess Brown and Brett Jones) (No.26, 1997)
‘While You Sleep’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) (No.46, 1998)
‘One Step Ahead of The Storm’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) / this track was released as a single in 1998, but it did not chart
On Tuesday 1 February 2000, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘Lessons Learned’ (Atlantic Records, 2000), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Lessons Learned’ (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Tracy Lawrence) (No.3, 1999)
‘Lonely’ (written by Robin Lee Bruce and Roxie Dean) (No.18, 2000)
‘Unforgiven’ (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Bobby Pinson) (No.35, 2001)
On Tuesday 23 October 2001, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘Tracy Lawrence’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2001), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Life Don’t Have To Be So Hard’ (written by Casey Beathard and Kenny D. West) (No.36, 2001)
‘What A Memory’, which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) and Jeff Bates (No.53, 2002)
On Tuesday 30 March 2004, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘Strong’ (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 2004), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Paint Me A Birmingham’ (written by Gary Duffy and Buck Moore) (No.4, 2003) / this track was also recorded by Ken Mellons, who included it on ‘Sweet’ (Home Records, 2004); Ken Mellons‘ version of the track reached No.54 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2003
‘It’s All How You Look At It’ (written by Rivers Rutherford, Dave Berg and Georgia Middleman) (No.36, 2004)
‘Sawdust On Her Halo’ (written by Monty Criswell and Rick Huckaby) (No.46, 2004)
On Tuesday 18 October 2005, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘Then & Now: The Hits Collection’ (Mercury Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:
‘Used To The Pain’ (written by Mark Nesler and Tony Martin) (No.35, 2005) / this track was new
‘Paint Me A Birmingham’ (written by Gary Duffy and Buck Moore) (No.4, 2003) / this is the original recording
‘If I Don’t Make It Back’ (written by Brett Jones and Bobby Pinson) (No.42, 2006) / this track was new
‘If The World Had A Front Porch’, which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017), Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995
‘Sticks & Stones’, which was written by Roger Dillon and Elbert West (Saturday 22 July 1967 – Monday 18 May 2015) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in January 1992
‘Is That A Tear’, which was written by John Jarrard (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) and Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996
‘Time Marches On’ (written by Bobby Braddock) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for three weeks in mid-1996
‘I See It Now’ (written by Larry Boone, Woody Lee and Paul Nelson) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994
‘How A Cowgirl Says Goodbye’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1997
‘Alibis’ (written by Randy Boudreaux) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for two weeks in May 1993
‘Today’s Lonely Fool’, which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) and Stan Paul Davis / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992
‘Can’t Break It To My Heart’, which was written by Kirk Roth, Tracy Lawrence, Earl Clark and Elbert West (Saturday 22 July 1967 – Monday 18 May 2015) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in August 1993
‘Lessons Learned’ (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Tracy Lawrence) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999
‘Texas Tornado’ (written by Bobby Braddock) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995
‘Stars Over Texas’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996
‘My Second Home’, which was written by Tracy Lawrence, Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 – Sunday 1 October 2017) and Paul Nelson / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in December 1993
‘If The Good Die Young’ (written by Paul Nelson and Craig Wiseman) / this track is a re-recording / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in April 1994
On Tuesday 30 January 2007, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘For The Love’ (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2007), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Find Out Who Your Friends Are’ (written by Casey Beathard and Ed Hill) (No.1 for one week in June 2007)
‘Til I Was A Daddy Too’ (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) (No.57, 2007 / No.32, 2008)
‘You Can’t Hide Redneck’ (written by Casey Beathard and Dan DeMay) (No.56, 2008)
On Tuesday 9 June 2009, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of ‘The Rock’ (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Up To Him’, which was written by Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012) and David Kent (No.47, 2009)
Source
• Gene Watson on Facebook
