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 Tony Arata, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 19 October 2006.

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





Tony Arata
This quote was submitted on Thursday 19 October 2006.

'Gene Watson's voice is country music.

It is one of the best ever put to tape and I have always been a fan.

The fact that he sings as well as he does never stopped me from attempting to sing 'Got No Reason Now For Going Home', which was written by Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 - Tuesday 3 July 2001), every night with my old band back in Savannah, Georgia.  I didn't do it justice but I just loved the record so much.

 

I have worked with a gentleman by the name of Matt Lindsey for almost twenty years and he, too, is a fan and in fact wrote 'I Guess You Had To Be There' (co-written by Matt's brother Dave Lindsey and Ernie Rowell) for Gene some years ago.

You're a good man, Gene.  Keep doing what you do'

Thank you, Tony Arata, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Tony Arata...



Tony Arata was born Anthony Michael Arata in Savannah, Georgia on Thursday 10 October 1957 and was raised on nearby Tybee Island.

Tony Arata is noted for his personal, poetic lyrics.

Tony Arata began writing songs while he was in high school and played in regional country music and rock bands while majoring in journalism at Georgia Southern University.

Tony Arata was discovered in an Atlanta nightclub by a representative of Noble Vision Records.

As a result, Noble Vision Records' Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's first hit as a writer, 1983's 'The Man In The Mirror'.



Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's 'Pretend' and included the track on 'The Man In The Mirror' (Noble Vision Records, 1983).



Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's 'Stand By The Road' and included the track on 'The Man In The Mirror' (Noble Vision Records, 1983).



Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's 'The Man In The Mirror' and included the track on 'The Man In The Mirror' (Noble Vision Records, 1983).

Tony Arata also recorded his own album for Noble Vision Records.  Comprising entirely self-composed material, the disc was picked up for national distribution by MCA Records.  Tony Arata also placed two singles on the Billboard country music singles chart as a recording artist.



Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's 'You Were Gone (Before You Said Goodbye)' and included the track on 'Past The Point of No Return' (MCA Records, 1985).



Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's 'I'll Be Your Fool Tonight' and included the track on 'Past The Point of No Return' (MCA Records, 1985).



Jim Glaser (Wednesday 16 December 1936 - Saturday 6 April 2019) recorded Tony Arata's 'Don't Let Her See Me Fall' and included the track on 'Everybody Knows I'm Yours' (Noble Vision Records, 1983).

In 1986, Tony Arata and his wife Jaymi moved to Nashville where his unique, soulful style began to get the attention of various people, including Allen Reynolds and Garth Brooks.

Tony Arata subsequently signed with Dennis Morgan's publishing company.



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'The Dance' and included the track on 'Garth Brooks' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1989); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for two weeks in July 1990; the track won 'Song of The Year' at the Academy of Country Music (ACM), and received both a Country Music Association (CMA) Award and a Grammy Award nomination, as well as most-performed song in Radio & Records magazine.

Garth Brooks' recording of Tony Arata's 'The Dance' also reached the following chart positions:

Canada, Country Tracks RPM Chart: No.1
Europe, Eurochart Hot 100: No.89
Ireland, Irish Singles Chart: No.3
United Kingdom, UK Singles Chart: No.36
United States, Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart: No.1

Garth Brooks' self-titled debut album, 'Garth Brooks' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1989) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990, and No.13 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1990.



David Slater recorded Tony Arata's 'One of My Reasons Why' and included the track on 'Be With Me' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1989).



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'Same Old Story' and included the track on 'No Fences' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1990).



Suzy Bogguss recorded Tony Arata's 'Part of Me' and included the track on 'Aces' (Liberty Records, 1991).



Ronna Reeves recorded Tony Arata's 'Same Old Story' and included the track on 'Only The Heart' (Mercury Records, 1991).



Jo-El Sonnier recorded Tony Arata's 'Someday I Will Lead The Parade' (co-written with Scott Miller) and included the track on 'Hello Happiness Again' (Liberty Records, 1991).



Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 - Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Tony Arata's 'Slower' and included the track on 'Walking The Wire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1992).



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'Face To Face' and included the track on 'The Chase' (Liberty Records, 1992).



Emmylou Harris recorded Tony Arata's 'I Hear A Call' and included the track on 'Cowgirl's Prayer' (Elektra Records, 1993).



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'Kickin' & Screamin' and included the track on 'In Pieces' (Liberty Records, 1993).



Clay Walker recorded Tony Arata's 'Dreaming With My Eyes Open' and included the track on 'Clay Walker' (Giant Records, 1993); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in August / September 1994.

 

Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'I'm Holding My Own' and included the track on 'On The Road' (Arista Records, 1993); the track, which reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 1994, was subsequently included on 'Hits & Highways Ahead' (Arista Nashville Records, 1999).



Tanya Tucker recorded Tony Arata's 'Satisfied Mind' and included the track on 'Tanya Tucker: The Box Set' (Capitol Records, 1994); the track was a previously unreleased track, which was included on 'Disc 1' of a 4-CD box set.



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'A Handful of Dust' and included the track on 'When Fallen Angels Fly' (Epic Records, 1994).



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'Here I Am' and included the track on 'When Fallen Angels Fly' (Epic Records, 1994); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 1995.



Patricia Conroy recorded Tony Arata's 'What Else Can I Do' (co-written with Scott Miller) and included the track on 'You Can't Resist' (Warner Music Canada, 1994); the track reached No.1 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1995.



Trisha Yearwood recorded Tony Arata's 'Fairytale' and included the track on 'Thinkin' About You' (MCA Records, 1995).



Helen Darling recorded Tony Arata's 'Black & White & Blue' and included the track on 'Helen Darling' (Decca Records, 1995).



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'The Change' (co-written with Wayne Tester) and included the track on 'Fresh Horses' (Capitol Nashville Records, 1995); the track reached No.19 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'Everybody's Equal In The Eyes of Love' and included the track on 'The Trouble With The Truth' (Epic Records, 1996).



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'Someday I Will Lead The Parade' (co-written with Scott Miller) and included the track on 'The Trouble With The Truth' (Epic Records, 1996).



Sylvia recorded Tony Arata's 'I've Been Down Too Long' and included the track on 'The Real Story' (Red Pony Records, 1996).



Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 - Monday 23 November 2020) recorded Tony Arata's 'Satisfied Mind' and included the track on 'The Hits' (MCG / Curb Records, 1996).

Personnel involved in Hal Ketchum's recording of Tony Arata's 'Satisfied Mind' included the following:

Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar)
Russ Pahl (acoustic guitar)
Milton Sledge (drums)
Pete Wasner (piano)
Bobby Wood (organ)
Bob Wray (bass guitar)
The Nashville String Machine (strings) / arrangements by Charles Cochran (Saturday 29 February 1936 - Thursday 7 June 2007)



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'Long Stretch of Lonesome' (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on 'Long Stretch of Lonesome' (Epic Records, 1997).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'You Can't Get There From Here' and included the track on 'Every Night's A Saturday Night' (Career Records, 1997); the track reached No.39 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1997.



Suzy Bogguss recorded Tony Arata's 'I Wish Hearts Would Break' and included the track on 'Nobody Love, Nobody Gets Hurt' (Capitol Records, 1998).



Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Tony Arata's 'A Handful of Dust' and included the track on 'I Turn The Page' (Giant Records, 1998).



Patricia Conroy recorded Tony Arata's 'Don't You Forget (Who You're Talkin' To)' and included the track on 'Wild As The Wind' (Sunset Records, 1998).



Randy Travis recorded Tony Arata's 'Satisfied Mind' and included the track on 'You & Me Alone' (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 1998).



Ruby Lovett recorded Tony Arata's 'I Don't Want To Go Out Wondering' (co-written with Emory Gordy Jr.) and included the track on 'Ruby Lovett' (Curb Records, 1998).



Suzy Bogguss recorded Tony Arata's 'Love Is Stronger' and included the track on 'Suzy Bogguss' (Platinum Records, 1999).



Suzy Bogguss recorded Tony Arata's 'Love Every Time' and included the track on 'Suzy Bogguss' (Platinum Records, 1999).



Philip Claypool recorded Tony Arata's 'Nothing But Love' and included the track on 'Perfect World' (Curb Records, 1999).



Reba McEntire recorded Tony Arata's 'This Is My Prayer For You' (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on 'The Secret of Giving: A Christmas Collection' (MCA Records, 1999).



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'That's the Way I Remember It' (co-written with Tommy Sims) and included the track on 'Garth Brooks in...The Life of Chris Gaines' (Capitol Records, 1999).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'Right Where It Hurts' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Tell The Truth' (Vanguard Records, 2001).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'Tell The Truth' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Tell The Truth' (Vanguard Records, 2001).



Garth Brooks recorded Tony Arata's 'Why Ain't I Running' (co-written with Kent Blazy and Garth Brooks) and included the track on 'Scarecrow' (Liberty Records, 2001); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2003.



Mountain Heart recorded Tony Arata's 'Man In The Mirror' and included the track on 'Force of Nature' (Skaggs Family Records, 2004).



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'Old Soul' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Dreamin' My Dreams' (Epic Records, 2005).



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'Nobody Here By That Name' (co-written with Pete Wasner) and included the track on 'Dreamin' My Dreams' (Epic Records, 2005).



Bonnie Raitt recorded Tony Arata's 'So Close' (co-written with George Marinelli and Pete Wasner) and included the track on 'Souls Alike' (Epic Records, 2005).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'Something Out of Nothing' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Universal South Records, 2006).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'Old Soul' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Universal South Records, 2006).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'Daddies & Daughters' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Universal South Records, 2006); this track featured guest vocals from Allison Parnell.



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'Breaking The Chain' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Universal South Records, 2006).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'The Hunger' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Universal South Records, 2006).



Lee Roy Parnell recorded Tony Arata's 'That's All There Is' (co-written with Lee Roy Parnell) and included the track on 'Back To The Well' (Universal South Records, 2006).



Trisha Yearwood recorded Tony Arata's 'Sing You Back To Me' (co-written with Gene Nelson) and included the track on 'Heaven, Heartache & The Power of Love' (Big Machine Records, 2007).



Ty England recorded Tony Arata's 'Love Is Stronger' and included the track on 'Alive & Well & Livin' The Dream' (Triple T Records, 2007).



Ty England recorded Tony Arata's 'Nothing But Love' and included the track on 'Alive & Well & Livin' The Dream' (Triple T Records, 2007).



Patty Loveless recorded Tony Arata's 'A Handful of Dust' and included the track on 'Mountain Soul II' (Saguaro Records, 2009).



Mindy McCready (Sunday 30 November 1975 - Sunday 17 February 2013) recorded Tony Arata's 'The Dance' and included the track on 'I'm Still Here' (Iconic Records / Linus Entertainment, 2010).



Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Tony Arata's 'The Answer' (co-written with Steve Wariner) and included the track on 'Reflections' (Sugar Hill Records, 2014).

During his Nashville songwriting career, Tony Arata also worked as an editor for business trade publications.

• Visit Tony Arata's official site at tonyarata.com