Original Gene Watson Fan Site - Gene Watson's Peers: Quote from Norman Wade: September 2006

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 Norman Wade, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 9 September 2006.

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

Norman Wade
This quote was submitted on Saturday 9 September 2006.

'Gene Watson will go down as one of the all-time greats; one of the best voices ever in country music'

Thank you, Norman Wade, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Norman Wade...

Norman Wade was born in Columbus, Georgia on Saturday 2 March 1946.

Little is known of Norman Wade's early years, except that he developed an interest in country music as a child and was particularly attracted to the music of Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953).

As a teenager, Norman Wade spent his boyhood years between his birthplace in Columbus, Georgia and Marianna, Florida and often slipped into the honky tonks of both areas to sing his music before he was even sixteen years old.

In 1959, after learning guitar and singing in local clubs, Norman Wade relocated to Nashville.

Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982), who became Norman Wade's biggest influence, offered him a job that led to his working for Marty Robbins for the next fifteen years, including appearances with him on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

Norman Wade's first recording took place in 1959, but it wasn't until 1978 that he achieved minor success with 'Close Every Honky Tonk'.

Norman Wade: 'Close Every Honky Tonk' (Artic Records, 1978)

In 1978, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Close Every Honky Tonk' (Artic Records, 1978), which was produced by Eddy Fox, and included the following tracks:

'Close Every Honky Tonk' (written by N. Stevenson)
'I'd Rather Be Needed (Than Loved)' (written by E. Watson and N. Stevenson)
'(You Brought) The Cheating Out In Me' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Writing On The Wall' (written by N. Stevenson)
'This Ole Country Boy Gets Right' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Lonely Man Cries' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Half The Man' (written by E. Fox and D. Morris)
'I'll Cry Tomorrow Again' (written by N. Stevenson and B. Jernigan)
'Run, Johnny, Run' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Misery Known As Heartache' (written by J. Fox and J. Wair)

Personnel involved in the recording of Norman Wade's 'Close Every Honky Tonk' (Artic Records, 1978) included the following:

Sound Seventy Singers (backing vocals)
Henry Strzelecki (Tuesday 8 August 1939 - Monday 29 December 2014) (bass)
Eddy Anderson (drums)
Buddy Spiker and Ernie Reed (fiddle)
Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004) (lead guitar)
Earl Ball and Willie Rainsford (piano)
Jack Solomon and Ray Edenton (rhythm guitar)
Don Helms (Monday 28 February 1927 - Monday 11 August 2008) and Harald 'Hal' Rugg (Tuesday 21 July 1936 - Tuesday 9 August 2005) (steel guitar)

The name Norman Wade appeared once on the Billboard country music singles chart, for two weeks in 1979, with a version of Hank Williams' 'I'm A Long Gone Daddy', which peaked at No.97.

Norman Wade: 'Real Country' (Jin Records, 1980)

In 1980, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Real Country' (Jin Records, 1980), which was produced by Eddy Fox, and included the following tracks:

'Love's Ball & Chain', which was written by Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 - Friday 23 November 2012)
'Hank Williams Blues', which was written by Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 - Friday 23 November 2012)
'We're At The Crossroads', which was written by Bil VornDick (Thursday 9 March 1950 - Tuesday 5 July 2022) and Bill Kellaher
'Crazy Heart', which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 - Wednesday 1 December 1954)
'A Sad Country Song' (written by Elie White, Shirl Milete and Warren D. Robb)
'Baby Sister' (written by Shirl Milete)
'Shackles & Chains' (written by J. Davies)
'May You Never Be Alone', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'I'll Be A Bachelor 'Til I Die', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'I May Be Wrong, But You Look Right' (written by Jo-El Sonnier and Timmie Morris)

Norman Wade: 'From Nashville To You' (CMI Records, 1983)

In 1983, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Norman Wade: From Nashville To You' (CMI Records, 1983), which included the following tracks:

'I Need What I Don't Get At Home'
'Monkey On Back'
'Alabama Rose'
'If That Ain't Country'
'Hide & Go Cheat'
'Sarah's Eyes'
'La Louisian'
'She Was Only Foolin' Around'
'One More Broken Heart'
'I Can't Leave The Honky Tonks Alone'

In 1983, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Wadin' Deep In Country' (CMI Records & Tapes, 1983), which included the following tracks:

'Close Every Honky Tonk' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Shackles & Chains' (written by J. Davies)
'Hank Williams Blues', which was written by Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 - Friday 23 November 2012)
'We're At The Crossroads', which was written by Bil VornDick (Thursday 9 March 1950 - Tuesday 5 July 2022) and Bill Kellaher
'Crazy Heart', which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 - Wednesday 1 December 1954)
'I May Be Wrong, But You Look Right' (written by Jo-El Sonnier and Timmie Morris)
'I'd Rather Be Needed (Than Loved)' (written by E. Watson and N. Stevenson)
'This Ole Country Boy Gets Right' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Lonely Man Cries' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Run, Johnny, Run' (written by N. Stevenson)

Norman Wade: 'Back To The Country' (CMI Records, 1983)

In 1983, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Back To The Country' (CMI Records, 1983), which included the following tracks:

'A Sad Country Song' (written by Elie White, Shirl Milete and Warren D. Robb)
'Love's Ball & Chain', which was written by Frank Dycus (Tuesday 5 December 1939 - Friday 23 November 2012)
'Baby Sister' (written by Shirl Milete)
'I'll Be A Bachelor 'Til I Die', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'May You Never Be Alone', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'(You Brought) The Cheating Out In Me' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Writing On The Wall' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Half The Man' (written by E. Fox and D. Morris)
'I'll Cry Tomorrow Again' (written by N. Stevenson and B. Jernigan)
'Misery Known As Heartache' (written by J. Fox and J. Wair)

Norman Wade wrote many songs, and excelled at recording honky tonk tunes. Norman Wade played The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville in his own right and, in 1984, he was honoured with lifetime membership of The Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival in Meridian, Mississippi.

Norman Wade: 'Pure Country' (Ritason Records, 1985)

In 1985, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Pure Country' (Ritason Records, 1985), which included the following tracks:

'Close Every Honky Tonk' (written by N. Stevenson)
'Weakness In A Man' (written by R. Wade)
'She Was Only Fooling Around' (written by B.R. Reynolds)
'Hide & Go Cheat' (written by W. Graves)
'One More Broken Heart' (written by Norman Wade)
'I Can't Leave The Honky Tonks Alone' (written by R. Wade and Shirl Milete)
'If I Was Half The Man' (written by E. Fox and D. Morris)
'One More Bottle From The End' (written by M. Paul and R. Parker)
'I'll Cry Tomorrow' (written by Norman Wade and B. Jernigan)
'May You Never Be Alone Like Me', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'I'm A Long Gone Daddy', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'A House Without Love', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'Two Good Friends' (written by Dean Dillon)
'If That Ain't Country' (written by R. Wade)
'Another Place, Another Time', which was written by Jerry Donald Chesnut (Thursday 7 May 1931 - Saturday 15 December 2018)
'A Part of You I Can't Let Go', which was written by Johnny Elgin (Monday 30 October 1933 - Friday 29 December 2017) and D. Mize
'Ninety Proof Prison' (written by G. Gentry)
'Alabama Rose' (written by B.R. Reynolds)

Personnel involved in the recording of Norman Wade's 'Pure Country' (Ritason Records, 1985) included the following:

Buddy Spicher and Jerry Rivers (fiddle)
Harald 'Hal' Rugg (Tuesday 21 July 1936 - Tuesday 9 August 2005), Don Helms (Monday 28 February 1927 - Monday 11 August 2008) and Weldon Myrick (Monday 10 April 1939 - Monday 2 June 2014) (steel guitar)
Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004) and Jack Eubanks (lead guitar)
Joe Osborne, Billy Adair and Hillous Butrham (bass)
Bunky Keels, Willie Rainsford, Benny Kennerson and Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 - Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Jack Solomon, Bob McNette and Leo Jackson (rhythm guitar)
Dominic Joseph (D.J.) Fontana (Sunday 15 March 1931 - Wednesday 13 June 2018), John Stacy, Eddie Bayers, Hayward Sherman Bishop Jr. (1946 - Wednesday 4 January 2017), Billy Renolds and Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 - Thursday 21 August 2008) (drums)
Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982) and Russell Hicks (Dobro)

Norman Wade: 'Remember Country With Norman Wade' (NCR International, 1986)

In 1986, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Remember Country With Norman Wade' (NCR International, 1986), which was produced by Johnny Elgin (Monday 30 October 1933 - Friday 29 December 2017), and included the following tracks:

'North To Alaska'
'If That Ain't Country' (written by R. Wade)
'Part of You I Can't Let Go', which was written by Johnny Elgin (Monday 30 October 1933 - Friday 29 December 2017) and D. Mize
'God Made You For Me' (written by Norman Wade)
'Me & My Broken Heart', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'Blue House Painted White' (written by S. Burns)
'Shut Up & Drink Your Beer' (written by M. Paul and R. Parker)
'The Memories of Her' (written by Norman Wade)
'Men With Broken Hearts', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'Living With A Memory' (written by N. Wade)

Norman Wade: 'Tennessee Eyes' (Bob Grady Records, 1993)

In 1993, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Tennessee Eyes' (Bob Grady Records, 1993), which was produced by Bob Grady, and included the following tracks:

'Tennessee Eyes' (written by Norman Wade)
'Keepin' It Country' (written by Norman Wade)
'See You While Ago' (written by Norman Wade)
'They're All Over Nashville' (written by Norman Wade)
'Back In The Honky Tonks Again' (written by Norman Wade)
'Deep In The Closet' (written by Norman Wade)
'She's A Honky Tonk Angel' (written by Norman Wade)
'The Echoes of My Mind' (written by Norman Wade)
'I've Gotta Sing My Songs' (written by Bob Grady)
'Baby, I Need Love' (written by Norman Wade)
'King of The Honky Tonks' (written by Norman Wade)

Norman Wade: 'For A Minute There' (Associated Artists Records, 1997)

In 1997, Norman Wade saw the release of 'For A Minute There' (Associated Artists Records, 1997), which included the following tracks:

'For A Minute There' (written by Foster and Rice)
'The Lamp' (written by J.B. Detterline Jr., Dan Mitchell and Joe Henderson)
'I've Got Hank To Thank' (written by E. Carr, J.B. Detterline Jr. and Dan Mitchell)
'Old Lonesome Time' (written by D. Dill)
'I Still Need Her' (written by Norman Wade)
'Crying At 3:00am' (written by Norman Wade)
'La' Louisian' (written by Norman Wade)
'Sarah's Eyes' (written by Shirl Milete)
'I Need What I Don't Get At Home' (written by Shirl Milete)
'Monkey On My Back' (written by Shirl Milete)

Norman Wade: 'Old Time Country Music' (Associated Artists Records, 2002)

In 2002, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Old Time Country Music' (Associated Artists Records, 2003), which included the following tracks:

'Hank Moaned The Blues'
'It Just Doesn't Matter Now'
'Fools Never Learn'
'I Stayed Away Too Long'
'These Arms Can't Hold A Memory'
'Waiting On Friday Night'
'Thanks To Hank'
'You're Free To Go'
'I've Got You To Thank For That'
'I Told A Lie To My Heart'

In 2012, Norman Wade saw the release of 'Cold Hard Country' (ATM Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:

'Cajun Fiddling Joe'
'The Papers'
'Hillbilly Singer In A Rock-A-Billy Band'
'Tomorrow You'll be Gone'
'How Strong Is Love'
'All The World Is Lonely Now'
'I Feel Another Heartbreak'
'The Arms of Someone Else'
'Precious Years'
'When God Comes & Gathers His Jewels'

Norman Wade, like Vernon Oxford, was known for his his ability to sing in the style of Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953), and for his love for the down-home country sound of fiddle and steel guitar meant that he was probably born ten years too late to gain the proper acclaim his ability merited.