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 during 2010, 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 Monty Holmes, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 18 March 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Monty Holmes who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Dirk Johnson, Gene Watson and Monty Holmes backstage at Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Tuesday 25 August 2009
Monty Holmes
This quote was submitted on Thursday 18 March 2010.
'To be considered a 'peer' of Gene Watson is truly an honour!
I've been a huge fan since day one and I think Gene should have been inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame long ago!
He's what country music is all about!'
Thank you, Monty Holmes, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Monty Holmes...
Monty Holmes is a Texan singer / songwriter whose love of traditional country music was instilled in him as a child.
Growing up in Lubbock, Texas where he was born on Tuesday 9 August 1960, Monty Holmes' grandfather, who played fiddle, guitar and piano, exposed him to his record collection and artists like Jimmie Rodgers (8 September 1897 - Friday 26 May 1933).
As a young adult, Monty Holmes formed a band and moved to Austin, Texas where he recorded the song 'In The Arms of a Beautiful Woman' and earned himself a regional hit.
From there, it was on to Nashville and work as a staff songwriter and singer on demo recordings. Through his demo work, Monty Holmes quickly gained a reputation for his voice.
In 1989, Monty Holmes saw the release, as a non-album single, of 'A Way To Survive', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010); the track reached No.82 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989.
Monty Holmes penned several songs for George Strait, including 'I Know That She Still Loves Me' (co-written with Aaron Barker) (No.5 in March 1996), and 'When Did You Stop Loving Me' (co-written with Donny Kees) (No.6, 1993), as well as 'What I Do The Best' (co-written with Michael Huffman and Donny Kees) for John Michael Montgomery (an album track in 1996), and 'Never Again, Again' (co-written with Barbie Isham) for Lee Ann Womack (No.23, 1997).
Tony Toliver recorded Monty Holmes' 'Bar Stool Fool' (co-written with Tony Toliver) and included the track on 'Tony Toliver' (Curb Records, 1991).
George Strait recorded Monty Holmes' 'All of Me (Loves All of You)', which was co-written with Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 - Thursday 11 February 2016) and L. David Lewis, and included the track on 'Holding My Own' (MCA Records, 1992).
George Strait recorded Monty Holmes' 'When Did You Stop Loving Me' (co-written with Donny Kees) and included the track on (the soundtrack album) 'Pure Country' (MCA Records, 1992); the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
James Bonamy recorded Monty Holmes' 'Dog On A Toolbox' (co-written with Gerry House) and included the track on 'What I Live To Do' (Epic Records, 1996).
George Strait recorded Monty Holmes' 'I Know She Still Loves Me' (co-written with Aaron Barker) and included the track on 'Strait Out of The Box' (MCA Records, 1995); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in March 1996.
John Michael Montgomery recorded Monty Holmes' 'What I Do The Best' (co-written with Michael Huffman and Donny Kees) and included the track on 'What I Do The Best' (Atlantic Records, 1996).
Royal Wade Kimes recorded Monty Holmes' 'Leave My Mama Out of This' (co-written with Kent Blazy and Royal Wade Kimes) and included the track on 'Another Man's Sky' (Asylum Records, 1996); the track topped out in the 40s of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Lee Ann Womack recorded Monty Holmes' 'Never Again, Again' (co-written with Barbie Isham) and included the track on 'Lee Ann Womack' (Decca Records, 1997); the track reached No.23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1997.
Clay Walker recorded Monty Holmes' 'I Need A Margarita' (co-written with Dana Hunt Oglesby and Tony Mullins) and included the track on 'Rumor Has It' (Giant Records, 1997).
Neal McCoy recorded Monty Holmes' 'Basic Goodbye' (co-written with Devan O'Day) and included the track on 'Be Good At It' (Atlantic Records, 1997).
In 1998, Monty Holmes signed a recording deal as an artist with upstart label Bang II Records, and saw the release, on Tuesday 8 June 1998, of his debut album, 'All I Ever Wanted' (Bang II Records, 1998), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
'Why'd You Start Lookin' So Good', which was written by Paul Davis (Wednesday 21 April 1948 - Tuesday 22 April 2008) (No.43, 1998)
'Alone', which was written by Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb, CBE (Thursday 22 December 1949 - Sunday 12 January 2003) and Robin Gibb, CBE (Thursday 22 December 1949 - Sunday 20 May 2012) (No.53, 1998)
'Leave My Mama Out of This' (written by Kent Blazy and Monty Holmes) (No.59, 1998)
Monty Holmes debut album, 'All I Ever Wanted' (Bang II Records, 1998), also included the following tracks:
'Man's Best Friend' (written by Monty Holmes and Gerry House)
'What I Do The Best' (written by Monty Holmes and Donny Kees)
'Love You Right Out of This' (written by Monty Holmes)
'Enough To Lie' (written by Monty Holmes and Tony Toliver)
'Jolie', which was written by Paul Davis (Wednesday 21 April 1948 - Tuesday 22 April 2008), Skip Ewing and Paul Overstreet
'All I Ever Wanted' (written by Monty Holmes and Gerry House)
'Basic Goodbye' (written by Monty Holmes)
'You're Not All Here Tonight' (written by Monty Holmes and Terry McBride)
'Lost In The Shuffle' (written by Monty Holmes and Barbie Isham)
'While You Were Gone' (written by Monty Holmes and Donny Kees)
When Bang II Records folded, Monty Holmes joined forces with a group of seasoned road and studio players, including drummer Jeff Hale, bass player Charlie Harrison and guitarist Billy Hillman in the honky tonk outfit The Pythons; the group released the album 'Real Thing' in 2002 to positive reviews.
Gene Watson recorded Monty Holmes' 'This Circus That You Call A Rodeo' (co-written with Eddy Raven and Michael Huffman) and included the track on 'From The Heart' (RMG Records, 2001).
Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 - Friday 16 October 2020) recorded Monty Holmes' 'Leave My Mama Out of This' (co-written with Kent Blazy and Royal Wade Kimes) and included the track on 'Honky Tonic' (BGM Records, 2004).
George Strait recorded Monty Holmes' 'Oh, What A Perfect Day' (co-written with Buddy Brock and Jeff Silvey) and included the track on 'Somewhere Down In Texas' (MCA Records, 2005).
George Strait recorded Monty Holmes' 'Troubadour' (co-written with Leslie Satcher) and included the track on 'Troubadour' (MCA Records, 2008); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2008.
George Strait recorded Monty Holmes' 'House of Cash' (co-written with Leslie Satcher) and included the track on 'Troubadour' (MCA Records, 2008); the track featured guest vocals from Patty Loveless.
Gene Watson recorded Monty Holmes' 'Staying Together' (co-written with Jerry Salley) and included the track on 'A Taste of the Truth' (Shanachie Records, 2009); the track was a duet with Rhonda Vincent.
Official video for Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent's 'Staying Together' (written by Monty Holmes and Jerry Salley)
Dirk Johnson, Gene Watson and Monty Holmes backstage at Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Tuesday 25 August 2009
Monty Holmes and Sunny Sweeney
Sunny Sweeney recorded Monty Holmes' 'Drink Myself Single' (co-written with Sunny Sweeney) and included the track on 'Concrete' (Republic Nashville Records, 2011); the track reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2011.
Jon Pardi recorded Monty Holmes' 'Missin' You Crazy' (co-written with Bart Butler) and included the track on 'Write You A Song' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2014); the track reached No.25 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart in 2012, and No.29 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2012.
Connie Smith recorded Monty Holmes' 'Three Sides' (co-written with Connie Smith) and included the track on 'The Cry of The Heart' (Fat Possum Records, 2021).
Sunny Sweeney recorded Monty Holmes' 'Wasting One On You' (co-written with Sunny Sweeney and Buddy Owens) and included the track on 'Married Alone' (Aunt Daddy Records / Thirty Tigers Records, 2022).
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