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 Joni Harms, which she submitted to this site on Tuesday 7 November 2006.

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





Joni Harms
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 7 November 2006.

'Sean, I just want to thank you for inviting me to send a quote on the wonderful Gene Watson.

He certainly is one of the great voices in country music.

His unique sound and style will live on forever.

I enjoy his music as much today as ever'

Thank you, Joni Harms, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Joni Harms...



Joni Harms was born on Thursday 5 November 1959 in Canby, Oregon and was raised on the family ranch which she still calls home and which was homesteaded by her great, great grandfather in 1872; this has been an inspiration for many of her songs.

From an early age, Joni Harms was interested in the country & western music of artists, including Patsy Montana (Friday 30 October 1908 - Friday 3 May 1996) and Dale Evans (Thursday 31 October 1912 - Wednesday 7 February 2001).

Growing up, Joni Harms learned to sing and write songs by listening to Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016) and George Strait.

Joni Harms combined an interest in singing with the life of a cowgirl.

While in high school, Joni Harms won a talent contest sponsored by Future Farmers of America and soon began taking trips to Nashville in search of a recording contract.

'I personally can’t live without Western music', says Joni Harms.  'I like a lot of today’s country music, but the truth of the matter is that I’m very serious about keeping the western side of country music alive.

The majority of my songs include lyrics of the west, because I love to write about things I’ve experienced.  Rodeo, cowboys and the ranch way of living shows through a lot in my music'



In 1985, Joni Harms saw the release of 'Thoughts of You' (JHM Records, 1985), which included the following tracks:

'Comin' Home'
'That's Why He Sent Me You'
'No More Like You'
'Thoughts of You'
'You're My Blanket'
'Rocky Top'
'Spring Will Come Again'
'You'
'You've Stole My Heart Away'
'Coat of Many Colors' (written by Dolly Parton)
'I Love 'Em All'
'Let's Sail Away'



In 1986, Joni Harms saw the release of 'I Want To Sing For You' (JHM Records, 1986), which included the following tracks:

'I Want To Sing For You'
'Gotta Make A New Start'
'My Daddy's Arms'
'This Is The Day'
'Choose Your Love'
'Come Spend The Rest of Your Life With Me'
'It's Been Years'
'Mr. Right'
'Memories of You'
'Remember What It's All About'

In 1989, Joni Harms signed to record executive Jimmy Bowen's Universal Records, a co-venture with MCA Records, and reached the Billboard country music Top 40 singles chart in April 1989 with 'I Need A Wife' (No.34, 1989).

The follow-up single, 'The Only Thing Bluer Than His Eyes', reached No.54 on the Billboard country music singles chart in June 1989.

Between 1990 and 2011, Joni Harms saw the release of eleven studio albums, plus her album 'Oregon To Ireland' (2014), which was recorded 'live' with The Sheerin Family Band, who are based in Moate, County Westmeath in Ireland, and was released in 2014.



In 1990, Jimmy Bowen took Joni Harms with him when he moved to Capitol Records.

On Monday 30 July 1990, Joni Harms saw the release of her debut album, 'Hometown Girl' (Capitol Records, 1990); the album did not chart on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart, but included the following tracks:

'Tear It Up'
'If You Were Me'
'You Don't Need To Knock'
'What Kind of Line Does A Woman Use'
'I Used To Be You'
'Only Thing Bluer Than His Eyes'
'You're The Heart of It All'
'I Need A Wife'
'There's No Heart So Strong'
'Hometown Girl'

During the 1990s, Joni Harms maintained her musical career while marrying, raising two children and continuing to live and work on her family ranch in Oregon.



In 1995, Joni Harms saw the release of 'Whatever It Takes' (JHM Records, 1995), which included the following tracks:

'All In The Jeans'
'Love's Gonna Tell On You'
'To Believe In Love'
'Stayin' Power'
'Music To My Ears'
'Love Is Spoken Here'
'No More Tears'
'Gate Is Open'
'Whatever It Takes'
'Two Faces In A Texas Moon'



In 1996, Joni Harms saw the release of 'Christmas In The Country' (JHM Records, 1996), which included the following tracks:

'Going Home'
'White Whiskers'
'Little Gray Donkey'
'I'll Be Wearing Your Ring'
'Christmas In The Country'
'King of Kings'
'Cowboy Christmas'
'Gift'
'You Can Have A Merry Christmas'
'Remember What It's All About'



By 1998, Joni Harms was signed to Warner Bros. Records and saw the release of 'Cowgirl Dreams' (Warner Bros. Records, 1998), which garnered enthusiastic reviews and included the following tracks:

'Belle Starr'
'Two Steppin' Texas Blue'
'When I Get Over You'
'Old Fashioned Girl'
'Blue Montana Moon'
'Swing'
'That's The Way I Feel About You'
'Woman Knows'
'Catalog Dreams'
'Long Hard Ride'



Following the closure of Warner Western Records, Joni Harms saw the release of 'Are We There Yet' (Harms Way Music, 1999), a children's album, which included the following tracks:

'Friends' (written by Joni Harms)
'Stan & Bert'
'Why'
'Ol' Red'
'Tie My Shoe'
'Music In The Barn'
'Old Midnight'
'Are We There Yet'
'Germs'
'Talk Things Over'
'With The Lord'
'Olivia's Lullaby'

Joni Harms also wrote and published a children's book, 'Stan & Bert'.  A second children's book, 'The Little Grey Donkey', appeared in late 2001.



It was also in 2001 when Joni Harms saw the release, in October 2001, of a new country music album; 'After All' (Real West Records, 2001) was released on Joni Harms' Real West Productions label through the independent record company Paras Recordings, and included the following tracks:

'I've Got A Weakness For Cowboys' (written by Joni Harms and Vip Vipperman)
'He's More Than Your Eyes Can See' (written by Joni Harms and Wood Newton)
'Every Cowgirl's Dream', which was written by Joni Harms and Kim Chadwick Tribble (passed away on Wednesday 25 August 2021)
'After All' (written by Joni Harms and Barbie Isham)
'Keep On Dreamin' (written by Joni Harms and Buck Moore)
'West Texas Waltz' (written by Joni Harms and Jim Varsos)
'Ay Yi Yi Yi' (written by Joni Harms and Jim Varsos)
'Millie' (written by Joni Harms and Wood Newton)
'A Cowboy Wedding' (written by Joni Harms and Jim Varsos)
'It'll Happen When It's Time' (written by Joni Harms and Bob Morrison)
'Cowboy Coffee' (written by Joni Harms and Jim Varsos)
'Sunday-Go-To-Meeting Clothes' (written by Joni Harms and Wood Newton)
'I Want To Sing For You' (written by Joni Harms)

In 2002, Joni Harms received an 'Entertainer of The Year' Award from The Academy of Western Artists Awards.



Sonny Marshall recorded Joni Harms' 'Two-Stepping Texas Blue' (co-written with Pat McManus) and included the track on 'Sonny Marshall' (BSW Records, 2002).

In 2003, Joni Harms was named 'Female Vocalist of The Year' and accepted the award for 'Song of The Year' from The Western Music Association.



In March 2004, Joni Harms saw the release of 'Let's Put The Western Back In The Country' (Wildcatter Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:

'Let's Put The Western Back In The Country' (written by Joni Harms and Wood Newton)
'I've Got A Feelin' For You' (written by Joni Harms)
'Murphy's Law', which was written by Joni Harms and Mentor Williams (Tuesday 11 June 1946 - Wednesday 16 November 2016)
'Coyote Cafe', which was written by Joni Harms and Kim Chadwick Tribble (passed away on Wednesday 25 August 2021)
'Little Bit of Love' (written by Joni Harms, George McCorkle and D. Scott Miller)
'Cowboy Up' (written by Joni Harms and Wood Newton)
'Louisiana Hot Sauce', which was written by Joni Harms and Kim Tribble (passed away on Wednesday 25 August 2021)
'Love Never Hurt Nobody' (written by Buddy Blackman, Joni Harms and George McCorkle)
'Oregon Trail' (written by Woody Guthrie, Joni Harms and Wood Newton)
'The Wind' (written by Joni Harms, Wood Newton and Cat Stevens)
'Shape of My Heart' (written by Joni Harms, Dominic Miller and Sting)
'We Work It Out' (written by Joni Harms and Barbie Isham)
'I Still Do' (written by Joni Harms and John Ramey)



In 2005, Joni Harms saw the release of 'That's Faith' (Cormack Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:

'Oh, How I Love Jesus'
'Joseph Built The Cradle'
'Far Side of Jordan'
'I'd Rather Have Jesus'
'That's Faith'
'Place Where I Worship'
'God's Coloring Book'
'Never Alone'
'Just A Closer Walk With Thee'
'Lord, You Lead & I Will Follow'
'Jesus Loves Me'
'Where I'd Like To Wait'
'Send One Up'
'She's Still Prayin' For Me'



In 2011, Joni Harms saw the release of 'Harm's Way' (Harms Way Music, 2011), which included the following tracks:

'Here Comes The Country'
'Saddle Blanket'
'If You Have A Heart'
'Out On This Old Farm'
'Love Won't Get No Where'
'Cupid's Arrow'
'Buddy & Me'
'Coyote Yodel'
'Daddy's Boots'
'Cowboy's Prayer'
'Jealousy'
'Western Star'
'Harms Way'



Karen Lynne recorded Joni Harms' 'Friends' and included the track on 'Heart Songs, Laugh Lines' (Shoestring Records, 2011).



On Monday 28 January 2013, Joni Harms traveled to Ireland and performed at Cooney’s Hotel in Ballymahon, County Longford with The Sheerin Family (Paul on steel guitar, Dessie on bass, Danny on vocals & acoustic guitar, Kieran on piano, Tom on fiddle, Simon on drums and Carmel on vocals & acoustic guitar).

In July 2013, Joni Harms again traveled to Ireland to record an album with The Sheerin Family Band, 'From Oregan To Ireland' (Harms Way Music, 2014).

Joni Harms had been planning for years to record a 'live' album and, when she met The Sheerin Family Band, she knew that these were the guys she wanted to record with.



Joni Harms' 'From Oregan To Ireland' (Harms Way Music, 2014), featuring The Sheerin Family Band, included the following tracks:

'After All'
'He's More Than Your Eye's Can See'
'Old Fashioned Girl'
'Buddy & Me'
'That's Faith'
'The Only Thing Bluer' Than His Eyes'
'I Need A Wife'
'Blue Montana Moon'
'Two Steppin' Texas Blue'
'Harms Way'
'We Work It Out'
'Here Comes The Country'
'Louisiana Hot Sauce'
'West Texas Waltz'
'Joseph Built The Cradle'
'Catalog Dreams'
'Weakness For Cowboys'
'Cowboy Up'
'Love Won't Get Nowhere If We Don't Start Somewhere'
'From Oregon To Ireland'
'I Want To Sing For You'
'Lets Put The Western Back in The Country'

On Sunday 5 October 2014 and Monday 6 October 2014, Joni Harms played two shows in The Tuar Ard Theatre, in Moate, County Westmeath, Ireland.

Joni Harms continues to build audiences through appearances on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and has also made an appearance at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

Joni Harms is well known in Europe, United Kingdom and Australia, where she has enjoyed many successful years touring and several chart-topping hit singles.  Joni Harms also writes or co-writes most of her own material, and for many other artists as well.

• Visit Joni Harms' official site at joniharms.com