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 2012, 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 Curtis Wright, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 9 September 2012.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Curtis Wright who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Curtis Wright
This quote was submitted on Sunday 9 September 2012.
'If there's a better country singer than Gene Watson, I never heard him.
I once saw Gene open for Ricky Skaggs in Salem, VA.
Gene was not allowed to sell merchandise, but he sat at a table and signed everything anyone brought to him. Even Ricky's stuff. That is Gene Watson!
It is my distinct pleasure to praise the singin'est rascal there is!'
Thank you, Curtis Wright, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Curtis Wright...
Curtis Wright was born Curtis Blaine Wright on Monday 6 June 1955 in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.
In January 1987, Curtis Wright moved to Nashville and, within eighteen months, he had secured a position as a member of the road band of Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), playing guitar and bass and singing harmony.
Patty Loveless recorded Curtis Wright's 'You Save Me' and included the track on 'If My Heart Had Windows' (MCA Records, 1988).
On Tuesday 19 June 1989, Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) saw the release of 'Alone' (Columbia Records, 1989), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart (all tracks featured Curtis Wright on harmony vocals):
'I'm Still Crazy', which was written by Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), Steve Gosdin and Buddy Cannon (No.1 for one week in September 1989)
'That Just About Does It', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) (No.4, 1989)
'Right In The Wrong Direction', which was written by Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), Mack Vickery (Wednesday 8 June 1938 - Tuesday 21 December 2004) and Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010) (No.10, 1989)
Vern Gosdin's 'Alone' (Columbia Records, 1989) also included the following tracks:
'Take Me Home To Alabama', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010), Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) and Mack Vickery (Wednesday 8 June 1938 - Tuesday 21 December 2004)
'Paradise '83', which was written by Mike Baker, Buddy Cannon and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009)
'Do Me A Favor', which was written by Buddy Cannon, Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010) and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009)
'Tanqueray', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010), Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009), Jim Vest and Mack Vickery (Wednesday 8 June 1938 - Tuesday 21 December 2004)
'Alone', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004)
'I'm Only Going Crazy', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009)
'You're Not By Yourself', which was written by Buddy Cannon, Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010) and Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009)
Personnel involved in the recording of Vern Gosdin's 'Alone' (Columbia Records, 1989) included the following:
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) (lead vocals)
Bill Hullett and Tim Menzies (acoustic guitar)
Roy Huskey Jr. (Monday 17 December 1956 - Saturday 6 September 1997) (upright bass)
Jerry Kroon (drums)
Ron Oates (keyboards)
Tom Robb and Bob Wray (bass guitar)
Billy Sanford and Mike Severs (electric guitar)
Jim Vest (steel guitar)
Vern Gosdin's 'Alone' (Columbia Records, 1989) reached No.11 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989.
In December 1989, Curtis Wright quit Vern Gosdin's band, the same month when he earned a No.1 Billboard country music hit single as a songwriter, which was written during his first year in Nashville.
The Sanders recorded Curtis Wright's 'Who Needs You' and included the track on 'Into Every Life' (Airborne Records, 1989).
John Anderson recorded Curtis Wright's 'Who's Lovin' My Baby' and included the track on 'Too Tough To Tame' (Universal Records, 1989); the track reached No.66 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1989.
Ronnie Milsap recorded Curtis Wright's 'A Woman In Love' (co-written with Doug Millett) and included the track on 'Stranger Things Have Happened' (RCA Records, 1989); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in December 1989 / January 1990.
Steve Wariner recorded Curtis Wright's 'There For Awhile' (co-written with Anna Lisa Graham) and included the track on 'Laredo' (MCA Records, 1990); the track reached No.17 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.
In 1990, Curtis Wright made his debut on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart with the release of a non-album single, 'She's Got A Man On Her Mind', which reached No.38 in 1990; the single was released on Liberty Records, a branch of Capitol Records.
Vince Gill recorded Curtis Wright's 'What's A Man To Do' and included the track on 'Pocket Full of Gold' (MCA Records, 1990).
Shenandoah, featuring lead vocals from Marty Raybon, recorded Curtis Wright's 'Next To You, Next To Me' (co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall) and included the track on 'Extra Mile' (Columbia Records, 1990); the track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for three weeks in August / September 1990.
Other tracks on Shenandoah's 'Extra Mile' (Columbia Records, 1990) included the following:
'Ghost In This House' (written by Hugh Prestwood) (No.5 in December 1990)
'She Makes The Coming Home (Worth The Being Gone)' (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid)
'Puttin' New Roots Down' (written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell)
Shenandoah, featuring lead vocals from Marty Raybon, recorded Curtis Wright's 'Rock My Baby' (co-written with Bill Spencer and Phil Whitley) and included the track on 'Long Time Coming' (RCA Records, 1992); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
Shenandoah's 'Long Time Coming' (RCA Records, 1992), which was produced by Robert Byrne and Keith Stegall, also included 'Leavin's Been A Long Time Coming', which was written by Charlie Craig (Friday 30 September 1938 - Friday 1 July 2011), Stowe Dailey and Mike McGuire; the track reached No.15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
On Tuesday 14 July 1992, Curtis Wright saw the release of his self-titled debut album, 'Curtis Wright' (Liberty Records, 1992), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
'Hometown Radio' (written by Vernon Rust) (No.59, 1992)
'If I Could Stop Lovin' You' (written by Curtis Wright, Billy Spencer and Robert Ellis Orrall) (No.53, 1993)
Curtis Wright's self-titled debut album, 'Curtis Wright' (Liberty Records, 1992), also included the following tracks:
'What's It To You' (written by Curtis Wright and Robert Ellis Orrall)
'Phonographic Memory' (written by Curtis Wright, Robert Ellis Orrall and Doug Millett)
'If I Ever Love Again' (written by Curtis Wright and Billy Spencer)
'I Can't Stand To Watch My Old Flame Burn' (written by Curtis Wright and Thomas Jeff Knight)
'I Don't Know How Love Starts' (written by Curtis Wright, Thomas Jeff Knight and Rich Alves)
'If You Don't Love Me' (written by Curtis Wright)
'Talk To Me, Heart' (written by Curtis Wright)
'I Tripped Over Your Memory' (written by Curtis Wright, Curt Ryle and Mike Baker)
Personnel involved in the recording of Curtis Wright's self-titled debut album, 'Curtis Wright' (Liberty Records, 1992), included the following:
Mike Baker (acoustic guitar)
Bill Cook and Roger McVay (bass guitar)
Larry Franklin and Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Steve Gibson and Chris Leuzinger (electric guitar)
Vince Gill, Jana King and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Randy McCormick and Gary Prim (piano)
Tony Piro and James Stroud (drums)
Brent Rowan (electric guitar, acoustic guitar)
Curt Ryle (acoustic guitar, steel guitar)
Curtis Wright (vocals, acoustic guitar)
Clay Walker recorded Curtis Wright's 'What's It To You' (co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall) 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 October 1993.
Clay Walker recorded Curtis Wright's 'I Don't Know How Love Starts' (co-written with Rich Alves and T.J. Knight) and included the track on 'Clay Walker' (Giant Records, 1993).
Shenandoah, featuring lead vocals from Marty Raybon, recorded Curtis Wright's 'You Can Say That' (co-written with Mike McGuire) and included the track on 'In The Vicinity of The Heart' (Liberty Records, 1994).
By 1994, Curtis Wright and frequent songwriting partner Robert Ellis Orrall, had formed a duo, Orrall & Wright, who also recorded one major label album.
On Tuesday 19 July 1994, Robert Ellis Orrall & Curtis Wright saw the release of 'Orrall & Wright' (Giant Records, 1994), which was produced by Lynn Meyer Peterzell (Monday 10 January 1955 - Thursday 8 September 1994), Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
'She Loves Me Like She Means It' (written by Angelo Petraglia, Robert Ellis Orrall and Billy Spencer) (No.47, 1994)
'If You Could Say What I'm Thinking' (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright) (No.70, 1994)
'What Do You Want From Me' (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright) / this track was released as a single in 1995, but it did not chart
Robert Ellis Orrall & Curtis Wright's 'Orrall & Wright' (Giant Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
'The Last Time I Loved Like That' (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright)
'I'm Outta Here' (written by Thomas Jeff Knight and Curtis Wright)
'Fall Reaching' (written by Josh Leo and Robert Ellis Orrall)
'Go West Young Man' (written by Robert Ellis Orrall, Curtis Wright and Billy Spencer)
'You Saved Me' (written by Curtis Wright)
'Pound, Pound, Pound' (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Dale Jarvis)
'I'll Tell You When I Get There' (written by Angelo Petraglia, Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright)
Personnel involved in the recording of Robert Ellis Orrall & Curtis Wright's 'Orrall & Wright' (Giant Records, 1994) included the following:
Orrall & Wright
Robert Ellis Orrall (vocals, keyboards)
Curtis Wright (vocals, electric guitar)
Additional musicians
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Mike Brignardello (bass guitar)
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
Bill Cuomo (keyboards)
Dan Dugmore and Sonny Garrish (steel guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Dann Huff (electric guitar)
After the departure of their former lead singer Brent Lamb (who, in turn, replaced Marty Raybon) in the late 1990s, Shenandoah chose Curtis Wright as their third lead singer.
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 - Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Curtis Wright's 'Too Much Fun' (co-written with Thomas Jeff Knight) and included the track on 'Daryle Singletary' (Giant Records, 1995); the track, which reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in early 1996, was also included on Daryle Singletary's 'Now & Again' (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2000.
Don Cox recorded Curtis Wright's 'I Never Met A Woman I Didn't Like' (co-written with Lonnie Wilson) and included the track on 'Each One's A Winner' (Step One Records, 1996).
Don Cox recorded Curtis Wright's 'It's My Lucky Day' (co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall and Billy Spence) and included the track on 'Each One's A Winner' (Step One Records, 1996).
In 2000, Curtis Wright left Shenandoah to join Pure Prairie League, and Jimmy Yeary succeeded him.
In 2006, Curtis Wright joined Reba McEntire's band.
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 - Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Curtis Wright's 'Background Noise' (co-written with Marc Beeson and Jim Collins) and included the track on 'Rockin' In The Country' (E1 Music, 2009).
Rascal Flatts recorded Curtis Wright's 'Next To You, Next To Me' (co-written with Robert Ellis Orrall) and included the track on the 'Deluxe Edition' of 'Changed' (Big Machine Records, 2012).
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson Peer's Quote, in September 2012, Curtis Wright was a member of Cimmaron, a band based in Roanoke, Virginia.
Lonesome River Band recorded Curtis Wright's 'Waitng On My Heart To Break' (co-written with Brandon Rickman) and included the track on 'Bridging The Tradition' (Mountain Home Music Company, 2016).
Lonesome River Band recorded Curtis Wright's 'Lonesome Bone' and included the track on 'Mayhayley's House' (Mountain Home Music Company, 2017).
