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 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 Andrea Zonn, which she submitted to this site on Thursday 17 November 2005.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Andrea Zonn who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.





Andrea Zonn
This quote was submitted on Thursday 17 November 2005.

'What a lovely task.

I’ve spent some time thinking about Gene’s music, and reflecting on how he has impacted my own musical journey, and so I offer these thoughts.

My father and I never missed an opportunity to listen to Gene Watson, and we were always delighted at the chance to see him in live performance.

He is the perfect country artist, a voice as smooth and pure as can be, delivering timeless, country classics.

One of my all time favourites!'

Thank you, Andrea Zonn, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Andrea Zonn...



Andrea Zonn, who was born Andrea Erica Zonn, in 1969, was encouraged to explore her musical passions from an early age.

The oldest child in a musical family, Andrea Zonn began to study the violin at the age of five.  Andrea Zonn started playing the fiddle at the age of ten and travelled the contest circuit around the prairies of her native Illinois (Andrea is from the town of Champagne).

Andrea Zonn also plays classical violin, and is fluent in numerous other musical genres.



Andrea Zonn first met Alison Krauss at a fiddle contest at Champaign County Fair when she was ten years old (and Alison was eight).  Andrea Zonn was in the band Union Station as their fiddler and singer, until Alison Krauss joined the band.

In 1983, when she was fourteen years old, Andrea Zonn was accepted as a freshman violin major at University of Illinois.

Two years later, in 1985, Andrea Zonn transferred to Vanderbilt University in Nashville where she won numerous classical violin competitions and was awarded a fellowship to the prestigious Aspen Music Festival.  It was also in 1985 when Andrea Zonn won the National Fiddle Championship in Winfield, Kansas.

Andrea Zonn is a singer / violinist who made the rounds with some of country music's finest musicians, including Pam Tillis, Ronnie Milsap and Lyle Lovett, in the early 1990s.

 

Andrea Zonn's most important and highest-profiled job in Nashville, however, was as Vince Gill's harmony singer and violinist.

Andrea Zonn made major contributions to the success of Vince Gill's albums 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Records, 1991) and 'I Still Believe In You' (MCA Records, 1992).



On Tuesday 5 March 1991, Vince Gill saw the release of 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Nashville Records, 1991), which was produced by Tony Brown, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'Pocket Full of Gold' (written by Brian Allsmiller and Vince Gill) (No.7, 1991)

'Liza Jane', which was written by Vince Gill and Reed Nielsen (1950 - Saturday 15 November 2014) (No.7, 1991)

'Look At Us', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vince Gill (No.4, 1991)

'Take Your Memory With You' (written by Vince Gill) (No.2, 1992)

Vince Gill's 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Nashville Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:

'I Quit', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vince Gill
'The Strings That Tie You Down', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vince Gill
'If I Didn't Have You In My World', which was written by Vince Gill and Jim Weatherly (Wednesday 17 March 1943 - Wednesday 3 February 2021)
'A Little Left Over' (written by Vince Gill)
'What's A Man To Do' (written by Curtis Wright)
'Sparkle' (written by Jim Lauderdale and John Leventhal)

Personnel involved in the recording of Vince Gill's 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Nashville Records, 1991) included the following:

Eddie Bayers and Larrie Londin (Friday 15 October 1943 - Monday 24 August 1992) (drums, percussion)
Barry Beckett, Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 - Sunday 30 January 2022) and Pete Wasner (piano, keyboards)
Richard Bennett, Larry Byrom and Mac McAnally (guitars)
Vince Gill (vocals, guitars, keyboards, synclavier workstation)
John Hughey (Wednesday 27 December 1933 - Sunday 18 November 2007) (steel guitar)
Tony King, Patty Loveless, Herb Pedersen and Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 - Tuesday 25 July 2017) (background vocals)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 - Saturday 4 March 2023) and Willie Weeks (bass guitar)
Andrea Zonn (background vocals, fiddle)

Vince Gill's 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Nashville Records, 1991) reached No.5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1991, and also reached No.37 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart the same year.



On Tuesday 1 September 1992, Vince Gill saw the release of 'I Still Believe In You' (MCA Nashville Records, 1992), which was produced by Tony Brown, and included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'I Still Believe In You' (written by Vince Gill and John Barlow Jarvis) (No.1, 1992)

'Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away' (written by Vince Gill and Pete Wasner) (No.1, 1992)

'No Future In The Past' (written by Vince Gill and Carl Jackson) (No.3, 1993)

'One More Last Chance' (written by Vince Gill and Gary Nicholson) (No.1, 1993)

'Tryin' To Get Over You' (written by Vince Gill) (No.1, 1994)

Vince Gill's 'I Still Believe In You' (MCA Nashville Records, 1992) also included the following tracks:

'Nothing Like A Woman', which was written by Vince Gill and Reed Nielsen (1950 - Saturday 15 November 2014)
'Say Hello' (written by Vince Gill and Pete Wasner)
'Under These Conditions', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vince Gill
'Pretty Words' (written by Vince Gill and Don Schlitz)
'Love Never Broke Anyone's Heart', which was written by Vince Gill and Jim Weatherly (Wednesday 17 March 1943 - Wednesday 3 February 2021)

Personnel involved in the recording of Vince Gill's 'I Still Believe In You' (MCA Nashville Records, 1992) included the following:

Bob Bailey, Kim Fleming, Vicki Hampton, Yvonne Hodges, Alison Krauss, Lou Reed, Dawn Sears (Thursday 7 December 1961 - Thursday 11 December 2014), Harry Stinson and Billy Thomas (background vocals)
Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar)
Vince Gill (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead vocals, background vocals)
John Hughey (Wednesday 27 December 1933 - Sunday 18 November 2007) (steel guitar)
John Barlow Jarvis and Pete Wasner (keyboards)
Delbert McClinton (harmonica)
Steve Nathan (Hammond B-3 organ)
Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 - Tuesday 17 April 2018) (acoustic guitar)
Steuart Smith (electric guitar)
Carlos Vega (drums)
Willie Weeks (bass guitar)
Andrea Zonn (fiddle, background vocals)

Vince Gill's 'I Still Believe In You' (MCA Nashville Records, 1992) reached No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1992, and also reached No.10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1992.



Andrea Zonn also made an invaluable contribution to Bobbie Cryner's self-titled debut album, 'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993), providing harmony vocals on two tracks, 'Daddy Laid The Blues On Me' (written by Bobbie Cryner) and 'Leavin' Houston Blues' (written by Bobbie Cryner).

On Tuesday 24 August 1993, Bobbie Cryner saw the release of her self-titled debut album, 'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993), which was produced by Doug Johnson and Carl Jackson, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'Daddy Laid The Blues On Me' (written by Bobbie Cryner) (No.63, 1993)

'He Feels Guilty' (written by Tommy Polk and Verlon Thompson) (No.68, 1993)

'You Could Steal Me' (written by Bobbie Cryner and Jesse Hunter) (No.72, 1994)

Bobbie Cryner's self-titled debut album, 'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993), also included the following tracks:

'Too Many Tears Too Late', which was written by Carl Jackson and Jim Weatherly (Wednesday 17 March 1943 - Wednesday 3 February 2021)
'I Think It's Over Now' (written by Bobbie Cryner)
'Leavin' Houston Blues' (written by Bobbie Cryner)

'I Don't Care', which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006) / this track was a duet with Dwight Yoakam

'I'm Through Waitin' On You' (written by Bobbie Cryner, Tim Nichols and Zack Turner)
'The One I Love The Most', which was written by Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 - Sunday 23 November 2008), Michael Huffman and Bob Morrison
'The Heart Speaks For Itself' (written by Bobbie Cryner)

Personnel involved in the recording of Bobbie Cryner's self-titled debut album, 'Bobbie Cryner' (Epic Records, 1993), included the following:

Owen Hale (drums, percussion)
Mike Chapman and Dave Pomeroy (bass)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Pete Anderson, Bruce Bouton, Steve Gibson, Carl Jackson and Brent Mason (guitars)
Bruce Bouton (steel guitar)
Bruce Bouton and Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Carl Jackson (mandolin)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 - Friday 2 February 2007) (harmonica)
John Catchings (cello)
Gary Tussing (cello arrangement)
Carl Jackson, Dwight Yoakam and Andrea Zonn (backing vocals)



In 1995, Mercury Records released 'A Picture of Hank: The New Bluegrass Way' (Mercury Records, 1995), a compilation album of Hank Williams' songs, which were performed in a Bluegrass music style; one of the included tracks was 'You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)', which was performed by Andrea Zonn.

'A Picture of Hank: The New Bluegrass Way' (Mercury Records, 1995) also included the following tracks:

'I Can't Get You Off of My Mind' / this track was performed by Claire Lynch

'Your Cheatin' Heart' / this track was performed by Ernie Thacker

'I Don't Care (If Tomorrow Never Comes)' / this track was performed by Terry Eldredge

'Cold, Cold Heart' / this track was performed by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 - Wednesday 30 March 2011)

'Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)?' / this track was performed by Gene Wooten

'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' / this track was performed by Kathy Chiavola

'You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)' / this track was performed by Andrea Zonn

'I Told A Lie To My Heart' / this track was performed by Don Rigsby

'My Heart Would Know' / this track was performed by Ernie Sykes

'(I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle' / this track was performed by Ronnie McCoury

'Jambalaya (On The Bayou)' / this track was performed by Ed Dye



In 2003, Andrea Zonn began concentrating on a solo recording career and saw the release of her debut album, 'Love Goes On' (Compass Records, 2003), the title track of which was written by Ireland's Paul Brady.

Andrea Zonn's debut release, 'Love Goes On' (Compass Records, 2003), was met with critical acclaim, including being named one of 2003's Top 10 new artists in the 'Country Music Critics’ Poll'.

In 2005, with an ardent sense of global awareness, Andrea Zonn co-produced 'Hands Across The Water: A Benefit For The Children of The Tsunami'.  As a response to the Asian tsunami of December 2004, the project featured collaborations between American folk artists and their Celtic counterparts, including John Prine (Thursday 10 October 1946 - Tuesday 7 April 2020), Rodney Crowell, Altan, Vince Gill, Lunasa, Cerys Matthews and Jackson Browne.  All proceeds from record sales were distributed to aid children affected by the devastation.



On Tuesday 8 February 2005, Lee Ann Womack saw the release of 'There's More Where That Came From' (MCA Records Nashville, 2005), which was produced by Greg Droman and Byron Gallimore, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'I May Hate Myself In The Morning' (written by Odie Blackmon) (No.10, 2004) / this track, which featured Lee Ann Womack's ex-husband, Jason Sellers, on background vocals, won 'Single of The Year' at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards in 2004

'He Oughta Know That By Now' (written by Clint Ingersoll and Jeremy Spillman) (No.22, 2005)

'Twenty Years & Two Husbands Ago' (written by Lee Ann Womack, Dean Dillon and Dale Dodson) (No.32, 2005)

Lee Ann Womack's 'There's More Where That Came From' (MCA Records Nashville, 2005) also included the following tracks:

'There's More Where That Came From' (written by Chris Stapleton and Chris DuBois)
'One's A Couple' (written by Billy Lawson, Dale Dodson and John Northrup)
'The Last Time' (written by David Lee, Tony Lane and Chris DuBois)
'Happiness' (written by Kostas)
'When You Get To Me' (written by Bill Luther and Marv Green)
'Painless' (written by Bill Luther, Hillary Lindsey and Luke Laird)
'What I Miss About Heaven' (written by Marcus Hummon and Annie Roboff)
'Waiting For The Sun To Shine' (written by Sonny Throckmorton)
'Stubborn (Psalm 151)' (written by Don Schlitz and Brett James)
'Just Someone I Used To Know', which was written by 'Cowboy' Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 - Thursday 8 August 2013)

Personnel involved in the recording of Lee Ann Womack's 'There's More Where That Came From' (MCA Records Nashville, 2005) included the following:

Shannon Forrest and Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 - Saturday 4 March 2023) and Glenn Worf (bass)
Steve Nathan and Jimmy Nichols (piano, Wurlitzer, organ)
Paul Franklin and Robby Turner (steel guitar)
Tom Bukovac, Mark Casstevens, Rusty Dannmeyer, David Grissom, Troy Lancaster, B. James Lowry, Brent Mason, Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 - Tuesday 17 April 2018) and Bryan Sutton (guitars)
Kirk 'Jelly Roll' Johnson (harmonica)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Stuart Duncan and Aubrey Haynie (mandolin)
Lisa Cochran, Wes Hightower, Luke Laird, Bill Luther, Chris Rodriguez, Jason Sellers, Harry Stinson, Lee Ann Womack and Andrea Zonn (backing vocals)

Lee Ann Womack's 'There's More Where That Came From' (MCA Records Nashville, 2005) reached No.3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2005, and No.12 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2005.

Lee Ann Womack's 'There's More Where That Came From' (MCA Nashville, 2005) was hailed by many people within the country music industry as 'a return to tradition' as it featured songs about drinking and cheating with a distinctive older country twang.  The album won the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for 'Album of The Year' in 2005.

In 2010, Andrea Zonn joined The Troubadour Reunion Tour, supporting James Taylor and Carole King.



In November 2013 and December 2013, Andrea Zonn toured with Trace Adkins in support of his Celtic Christmas album, 'The King's Gift' (Caliburn Records, 2013).



In 2014, Andrea Zonn traveled on tour with James Taylor in support of his two-disc retrospective album, 'The Essential James Taylor' (Columbia Records / Sony Music / Legacy Recordings, 2013).  As a part of this tour, Andrea Zonn was a backup singer and violinist, in addition to being a part of the overall backup band, which was led by Steve Gadd (drummer) and Jimmy Johnson (bass player).

Andrea Zonn was part of the four-voice backup vocals group, which also featured Arnold McCuller, Kate Markowitz and David Lasley.

The voice and fiddle of Andrea Zonn have graced recordings by Vince Gill, Linda Ronstadt, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), T-Bone Burnett, Neil Diamond, Paul Brady, Amy Grant, Mickey Newbury (Sunday 19 May 1940 - Sunday 29 September 2002), Tim O’Brien, Alison Krauss, Sam Bush and Darrell Scott.

Some of the artists Andrea Zonn has toured with include Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Tony Trischka, Trisha Yearwood, Alison Brown, Jerry Douglas and, since 2003, James Taylor.

Andrea Zonn has recorded with anumber of acclaimed artists, including James Taylor, Vince Gill, Mickey Newbury (Sunday 19 May 1940 - Sunday 29 September 2002), Randy Travis, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Susie Luchsinger, George Strait, Amy Grant, Alison Krauss, Alison Brown, Lyle Lovett and Neil Diamond.

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