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 Trent Willmon, which he submitted to this site on Monday 13 November 2006.

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





Trent Willmon
This quote was submitted on Monday 13 November 2006.

'I have always loved Gene Watson!  What a legend.

He is the Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017) of the tenor section.

  

Countless nights I tried to cover 'Got No Reason Now For Going Home', 'Farewell Party' and 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', dropping the key several steps so I could hit the high notes.

Several years ago when I moved to Nashville, I went to Fan Fair.  There was Gene Watson, the legend from my home state of Texas, backstage.

I got to shake his hand right before he took the stage, and take the stage he did!

He actually stole the show from Diamond Rio and all the other younger contemporary acts that day.

What a legend and a true Texas gentleman!'

Thank you, Trent Willmon, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Trent Willmon...



Trent Willmon is a native of Amarillo, Texas where he was born on Tuesday 6 March 1973.  Trent Willmon grew up on a ranch near Afton, Texas without a television and only one radio station and thus learned to read at a young age.

Trent Willmon spent his first years of high school studying agriculture.

However, Trent Willmon's focus changed when his mother bought him his first guitar when he was sixteen years old.  Trent Willmon then became immersed in the West Texas music scene and began sitting in with local favorites, including The Maines Brothers Band and Jody Nix.

Trent Willmon's musical heritage that he grew up with included music from such west Texas talents as Buddy Holly (Monday 7 September 1936 - Tuesday 3 February 1959), Joe Ely, Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 - Wednesday 13 February 2002), George Strait and Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017).

After two years at South Plains College as an Animal Science major, Trent Willmon left to pursue music, playing with several Texas-based bands, including playing bass for bluegrass legend Karl Shiflett.  While at college, Trent Willmon learned to play the upright bass.

In 1995, Trent Willmon moved to Nashville in order to pursue a song-writing career.  Trent Willmon found work caring for horses at record producer Scott Hendricks's ranch, which was located south of Nashville.  Scott Hendricks helped him make big-city contacts, one of which was song-publishing executive Chris DuBois.

Trent Willmon was the first writer signed to the staff of Sea Gayle Music, an EMI co-publishing company started by Chris Dubois, Frank Rogers and Brad Paisley.

In 1999, Trent Willmon signed a staff writing deal with SeaGayle Music.  One of Trent Millmon's first cuts as a songwriter was 'It Doesn't Mean I Don't Love You', which he co-wrote with Bobby Pinson and Jeremy Spillman.  The track was recorded by the duo McHayes, which included 1990s country singer Wade Hayes and fiddler Mark McClurg, and reached No.41 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2003.

Active since 1998 as a songwriter in Nashville, Trent Willmon signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 2003.



Julie Roberts recorded Trent Willmon's 'Rain On A Tin Roof' (co-written with Chris Stapleton) and included the track on 'Julie Roberts' (Mercury Nashville Records, 2004).



On Tuesday 12 October 2004, Trent Willmon saw the release of his self-titled debut album, 'Trent Willmon' (Columbia Nashville Records, 2004), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'Beer Man' (written by Casey Beathard and Trent Willmon) (No.30, 2004) / the sound of a beer being poured on this track was performed by Frank Rogers and Trent Willmon

'Dixie Rose Deluxe's Honky-Tonk, Feed Store, Gun Shop, Used Car, Beer, Bait, BBQ, Barber Shop, Laundromat' (written by Trent Willmon and Michael P. Heeney) (No.36, 2004)

'Home Sweet Holiday Inn' (written by Chris Stapleton, Jameson Clark and Trent Willmon) (No.49, 2005)

'The Good Life' (written by Trent Willmon and Bobby Pinson) (No.38, 2005)

Trent Willmon's self-titled debut album, 'Trent Willmon' (Columbia Nashville Records, 2004), also included the following tracks:

'She Don't Love Me' (written by Casey Beathard and Jay Knowles)
'Population 81' (written by Chris Stapleton and Liz Hengber)
'Medina Daydreaming' (written by Trent Willmon)
'The Wishing Well' (written by Trent Willmon and Jeremy Spillman)
'All Day Long' (written by Mark Nesler, Trent Willmon and Tony Martin)
'Every Now & Then' (written by Trent Willmon, Bobby Pinson and Jeremy Spillman)
'Here' (written by Jeremy Spillman)

Personnel involved in the recording of Trent Willmon's self-titled debut album, 'Trent Willmon' (Columbia Nashville Records, 2004), included the following:

Tom Bukovac (electric guitar, baritone guitar, hi-strung guitar)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Eric Darken (percussion, jaw harp)
Larry Franklin and Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin)
Wes Hightower, Alison Krauss and Chris Stapleton (background vocals)
Jeff King (electric guitar, baritone guitar, hi-strung guitar)
Tim Lauer (accordion)
B. James Lowry and Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, gut string guitar)
Frank Rogers (electric guitar)

Trent Willmon's self-titled debut album, 'Trent Willmon' (Columbia Nashville Records, 2004), reached No.22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2004.



On Tuesday 13 June 2006, Trent Willmon saw the release of 'A Little More Livin' (Columbia Records, 2006), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'On Again Tonight' (written by Jimmy Melton, Phillip White and Marv Green) (No.27, 2006)

'So Am I' (written by Chris DuBois and Trent Willmon) (No.59, 2006)

Trent Willmon's 'A Little More Livin' (Columbia Records, 2006) also included the following tracks:

'Good One Comin' On' (written by Lee Roy Parnell, David Lee Murphy and Gary Nicholson)
'Sometimes I Miss Ya' (written by Brandon Kinney and Trent Willmon)
'Love Don't Have To Be So Hard' (written by Doug Johnson and Brett James)
'Surprise' (written by Brandon Kinney and Trent Willmon)
'Island' (written by Bart Butler, Dave Turnbull and Trent Willmon)
'Ropin' Pen' (written by Brandon Kinney and Trent Willmon)
'A Night In The Ground' (written by Craig Wiseman and Chris Stapleton)
'Louisiana Rain' (written by Chris Stapleton and Trent Willmon)
'Good Horses To Ride' (written by David Frasier and Trent Willmon)

Personnel involved in the recording of Trent Willmon's 'A Little More Livin' (Columbia Records, 2006) included the following:

Jim 'Moose' Brown (piano)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 - Saturday 24 October 2020) and David Grissom (electric guitar, baritone guitar)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Eric Darken (percussion)
Larry Franklin (fiddle, mandolin)
Kevin 'Swine' Grantt (bass guitar)
Wes Hightower (background vocals)
Kirk 'Jelly Roll' Johnson (harmonica)
Mike Johnson (steel guitar)
Tim Lauer (accordion)
Frank Rogers (baritone guitar)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar, banjo, gut string guitar, bouzouki)
Dennis Wage (B3 organ)

Trent Willmon's 'A Little More Livin' (Columbia Records, 2006) reached No.19 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2006.

Following the release of a single, 'So Am I' (written by Chris DuBois and Trent Willmon), which reached No.59 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2006, Trent Willmon exited Columbia Records' roster.



Eric Church recorded Trent Willmon's 'Before She Does' (co-written with Eric Church and Jeremy Spillman) and included the track on 'Sinners Like Me' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2006).

In 2007, Trent Willmon signed with the independent Compadre Records.



Brad Paisley recorded Trent Willmon's 'Better Than This' (co-written with Chris DuBois and David Lee Murphy) and included the track on '5th Gear' (Arista Nashville Records, 2007).

In early 2008, Trent Willmon made his acting debut in the film 'Palo Pinto Gold', a cowboy film, which also starred Roy Linwood Clark (Saturday 15 April 1933 - Thursday 15 November 2018) and Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017).



On Tuesday 26 February 2008, Trent Willmon saw the release of 'Broken In' (Compadre Records, 2008), which included three tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'Broken In' (written by Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip and Gary Loyd) / this track was released as a single in 2008, but it did not chart

'There Is A God' (written by Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley) / this track was released as a single in 2008, but it did not chart / this track was also recorded by Lee Ann Womack in November 2009, although it was not subsequently featured on any of Lee Ann Womack's albums

'Cold Beer & A Fishing Pole' (written by Casey Beathard and Phil O'Donnell) / this track was released as a single in 2008, but it did not chart

Trent Willmon's 'Broken In' (Compadre Records, 2008) also included the following tracks:

'Dry County' (written by Rodney Clawson and Trent Willmon)
'It Doesn't Mean I Don't Love You' (written by Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Spillman and Trent Willmon)
'The Way I Remember It' (written by Rodney Clawson)
'The Good Ol' Days Are Gone' (written by Brandon Kinney and Trent Willmon)
'How A Cowboy Lives' (written by Bobby Pinson, Jeremy Spillman and Trent Willmon)
'The Truth' (written by Brett James and Ashley Monroe)
'Little Set of Horns' (written by Jeremy Spillman and Trent Willmon)
'Tumbleweed Town' (written by Brandon Kinney and Trent Willmon)
'I'll Love You Anyway' (written by Trent Willmon)

Trent Willmon's 'Broken In' (Compadre Records, 2008) reached No.33 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2008.



Montgomery Gentry recorded Trent Willmon's 'Back When I Knew it All' (co-written with Gary Hannan and Phil O'Donnell) and included the track on 'Back When I Knew it All' (Columbia Records, 2008); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs for one week in July 2008.



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'Driving Home' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Here It Is' (Fun All Wrong Records / Thirty Tigers Records, 2008).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'Habit (Needle In My Arm)' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Here It Is' (Fun All Wrong Records / Thirty Tigers Records, 2008).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'I'm Missing You' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Here It Is' (Fun All Wrong Records / Thirty Tigers Records, 2008).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'Cowboys & Sailors' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Here It Is' (Fun All Wrong Records / Thirty Tigers Records, 2008).



Steel Magnolia recorded Trent Willmon's 'Keep On Lovin' You' (co-written with Chris Stapleton) and included the track on 'Steel Magnolia' (Big Machine Records, 2009); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2009.



Little Big Town recorded Trent Willmon's 'Rain On A Tin Roof' (co-written with Chris Stapleton) and included the track on 'The Reason Why' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2010).



Kevin Fowler recorded Trent Willmon's 'That Girl' (co-written with Kevin Fowler and Clint Ingersoll) and included the track on 'Chippin' Away' (Average Joe's Entertainment, 2011).



Kevin Fowler recorded Trent Willmon's 'Daddies & Daughters' (co-written with Kevin Fowler and Brandon Kinney) and included the track on 'Chippin' Away' (Average Joe's Entertainment, 2011).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'Turn It Up' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Surrender' (Fun All Wrong Records, 2012).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'If You Really Love Me' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Surrender' (Fun All Wrong Records, 2012).



Blake Shelton recorded Trent Willmon's 'Oklahoma Christmas' (co-written with Rob Byus and Jenee Fleenor) and included the track on 'Cheers It's Christmas' (Warner Bros. Nashville Records, 2012); the track featured guest vocals from Reba McEntire.



Randy Houser recorded Trent Willmon's 'The Singer' (co-written with Drew Smith) and included the track on 'How Country Feels' (Stoney Creek Records, 2013).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'Road Show' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Road Show' (Fun All Wrong Records, 2014).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'Where the Gringos Don't Go' (co-written with Jay Clementi and Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Road Show' (Fun All Wrong Records, 2014).



Roger Creager recorded Trent Willmon's 'River Song' (co-written with Roger Creager) and included the track on 'Road Show' (Fun All Wrong Records, 2014).



Madison & Tae (Madison Kay Marlow & Taylor Elizabeth 'Tae' Dye) recorded Trent Willmon's 'After The Storm Blows Through' (co-written with Madison Kay Marlow, Taylor Elizabeth 'Tae' Dye and Aaron Scherz) and included the track on 'Start Here' (Republic Records / Dot Records, 2015).

• Visit Trent Willmon's official site at trentwillmon.com