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 2013, 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 Kenny Dale, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 21 March 2013.

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





Kenny Dale
This quote was submitted on Thursday 21 March 2013.

'Gene Watson is the most under-rated country artist of our generation.

He is truly a Hall of Famer!

All one has to do is listen'

Thank you, Kenny Dale, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Kenny Dale...



Kenny Dale was born Kenneth Dale Eoff on Wednesday 3 October 1951 in Artesia, New Mexico.

Kenny Dale didn't turn to country music until he was in his twenties.

Kenny Dale was a regular performer at Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke's Club in Houston, Texas performing on the local club circuit with his band, Love Country.

Kenny Dale was active as an American country music artist in the 1970s, when he recorded two albums for Capitol Records and charted several country music hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart.

However, with the release of his debut single, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013), Kenny Dale made up for lost time.  The track was released by Capitol Records on Saturday 5 March 1977 and became a major country music hit single, reaching No.11 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977, and established Kenny Dale as a promising young country music voice.



In August 1977, Kenny Dale saw the release of his debut album, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year' (Capitol Records, 1977), which was produced by A.V. Mittelstedt, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Bluest Heartache of The Year', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.11, 1977) / this track also reached No.23 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1977

'Shame, Shame On Me (I Had Planned To Be Your Man)' / this track also reached No.11 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1977

Kenny Dale's debut album, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year' (Capitol Records, 1977), also included the following tracks:

'Crazy'
'This Is A Sad Song' (written by A.V. Mittelstedt and Meitzen)
'Tomorrow'
'Tell Houston Hello'
'Misty' (written by E. Garner and J. Burke)
'Release Me (& Let Me Love Again)', which was written by Edward Monroe 'Eddie' Miller (Wednesday 10 December 1919 - Monday 11 April 1977) and W.S. Stevenson (1900 - 1978)
'Love Walked In Again' (written by A.V. Mittelstedt and Meitzen)
'American Trilogy', which was written by Mickey Newbury (Sunday 19 May 1940 - Sunday 29 September 2002)

Kenny Dale's debut album, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year' (Capitol Records, 1977), reached No.29 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1977.



In March 1978, Kenny Dale saw the release of 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Red Hot Memory', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.17, 1978)

'The Loser' (written by Darrell McCall and Lamar Morris) (No.28, 1978)

'Two Hearts Tangled In Love', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.18, 1978) / this track also reached No.31 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1978

Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978) also included the following tracks:

'For Love' (written by Theresa Beaty)
'Sweet Dreams'
'We Could Be Dancin'
'I Don't Feel Like Livin' Today'
'Some Kind of Wonderful'
'Let's Make Love' (written by Jan Owens)
'Second Hand Lovin' Hands'

Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978) reached No.45 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1978.



In 1979, Kenny Dale saw the release of 'Only Love Can Break A Heart' (Capitol Records, 1979), which was produced by Bob Montgomery (Wednesday 12 May 1937 - Thursday 4 December 2014), and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Down To Earth Woman' (written by Steve Pippin and J. Slate) (No.16, 1979) / this track also reached No.60 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979

'Only Love Can Break A Heart', which was written by Hal David (Wednesday 25 May 1921 - Saturday 1 September 2012) and Burt Bacharach (No.7, 1979) / this track, which was Kenny Dale's biggest hit single, also reached No.20 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979

Gene Pitney (Monday 17 February 1941 - Wednesday 5 April 2006) recorded 'Only Love Can Break A Heart', which was written by Hal David (Wednesday 25 May 1921 - Saturday 1 September 2012) and Burt Bacharach, and included the track on 'Only Love Can Break A Heart' (Collectibles Records, 1963); Gene Pitney's version of the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in August 1962

'Sharing' (written by Steve Pippin and J. Slate) (No.15, 1979) / this track also reached No.38 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979

'Let Me In' (written by Steve Pippin, J. Slate and Keith) (No.23, 1980) / this track also reached No.50 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1980

Kenny Dale's 'Only Love Can Break A Heart' (Capitol Records, 1979) also included the following tracks:

'Rainbow Man' (written by Steve Pippin and J. Slate)
'She Don't Cry' (written by Eddy Raven)
'Child of The Wind' (written by Steve Pippin)
'There Are Women (Then There's My Woman)' (written by S. Lorber, J. Silbar and Jobe)
'Cowboy in The Rain', which was written by Wayne Carson (Monday 31 May 1943 - Monday 20 July 2015)
'Misty Blue', which was written by Bob Montgomery (Wednesday 12 May 1937 - Thursday 4 December 2014)



In 1981, Kenny Dale saw the release of 'When It's Just You & Me' (Capitol Records, 1981), which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Thank You, Ever-Loving' (No.33, 1980) / this track also reached No.56 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1980

'When It's Just You & Me', which was written by Kenny O'Dell (born Kenneth Gist Jr.) (Wednesday 21 June 1944 - Monday 27 March 2018) (No.31, 1981)

Kenny Dale's 'When It's Just You & Me' (Capitol Records, 1981) also included the following tracks:

'You Are That Woman', which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 - Friday 22 December 2006) and D. Devaney
'I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again', which was written by Rafe Van Hoy, Don Cook and Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016)
'Alabama Eyes' (written by Mickey Buckins)
'For The Life of Me' (written by J. Silbar and S. Lorber)
'Here Your Memory Comes Again'
'The Right Combination'
'If The World Should Ever Run Out of Love'
'Wish We Were Heroes'

In the years between 1982 and 1986, Kenny Dale enjoyed a number of minor hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart (these tracks were released as singles only and did not appear on any album):

'Moanin' The Blues', which was written by J.D. Meister, Jennifer Meister and Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.65, 1982) / this track was released on Funderburg Records

'Two Will Be One' (written by Kenny Dale) (No.85, 1984) / this track was released on Republic Records

'Take It Slow' (written by B. Mounds and M. Bellow) (No.86, 1984) / this track was released on Republic Records

'Look What Love Did To Me' (No.83, 1985) / this track was released on Saba Records

'I'm Going Crazy' (written by Bobby Pruett) (No.63, 1986) / this track was released on BGM Records



In 1985, Kenny Dale saw the release of 'Breakin' Hearts & Bendin' Strings' (Saba Records, 1985), which was produced by A.V. Mittelstedt and Jon Arledge, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Take It Slow'
'Two Hearts' (written by Keith Stegall and Stewart Harris)
'Breakin' Hearts & Bendin' Strings' (written by E. Moore and B. Pearce)
'I'm In Over My Heart' (written by Stewart Harris and Roger Murrah)
'Look What Love Did To Me' (written by Kenny Dale)
'We're Acting Just Like Lovers', which was written by Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 - Thursday 13 June 1996)
'Hard On A Loser' (written by Don Scott Hare)
'Two Will Be One' (written by Kenny Dale)
'One Night Texas Lover' (written by Kenny Dale)
'You've Always Been A Star In My Eye' (written by Kenny Dale)

In the late 1980s, Kenny Dale retired from the country music business and took up residence in Nashville.



In 1987, Kenny Dale saw the release, as a vinyl LP, of 'The Versatility of Kenny Dale' (Axbar Records, 1987), which included the following tracks:

'Perfect Angel' (written by Kenny Dale and John James)
'I'm Getting Better At Forgetting' (written by Kenny Dale and John James)
'You Have My Heart' (written by Kenny Dale)
'Daylight' (written by Kenny Dale)
'Share All My Memories' (written by Kenny Dale)
'Two Will Be One' (written by Kenny Dale)
'When Will I Be Five' (written by Kenny Dale)
'These Lonely Hallways' (written by Rusty Cofield and Dennae Cofield)
'John James' (written by Kenny Dale)
'You Are Love' (written by Kenny Dale)

Kenny Dale's 'The Versatility of Kenny Dale' (Axbar Records, 1987) was re-issued, on CD, by CD Baby, on Tuesday 15 June 2004.



In 2000, Kenny Dale saw the release of 'The Very Best of Kenny Dale' (EMI Records New Zealand, 2000), which included the following tracks:

'Bluest Heartache of The Year', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.11, 1977) / this track also reached No.23 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1977

'The Loser' (written by Darrell McCall and Lamar Morris) (No.28, 1978)

'Shame, Shame On Me (I Had Planned To Be Your Man)', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) / this track also reached No.11 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1977

'We Could Be Dancin' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978)

'Two Hearts Tangled In Love', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.18, 1978) / this track also reached No.31 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1978

'Sweet Dreams' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978)

'When It's Just You & Me' (No.31, 1981)

'Second Hand Lovin' Hands' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978)

'Red Hot Memory', which was written by Warren Wilson 'Rocky' Wimberly Jr. (Sunday 14 December 1947 - Wednesday 17 April 2013) (No.17, 1978)

'Crazy' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's debut album, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year' (Capitol Records, 1977)

'Thank You, Ever-Loving' (No.33, 1980) / this track also reached No.56 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1980

'Release Me (& Let Me Love Again)', which was written by Edward Monroe 'Eddie' Miller (Wednesday 10 December 1919 - Monday 11 April 1977) and W.S. Stevenson (1900 - 1978) / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's debut album, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year' (Capitol Records, 1977)

'Love Walked In Again' (written by A.V. Mittelstedt and Meitzen) / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's debut album, 'Bluest Heartache of The Year' (Capitol Records, 1977)

'Misty Blue' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'Only Love Can Break A Heart' (Capitol Records, 1979)

'Some Kind of Wonderful' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978)

'Only Love Can Break A Heart', which was written by Hal David (Wednesday 25 May 1921 - Saturday 1 September 2012) and Burt Bacharach (No.7, 1979) / this track, which was Kenny Dale's biggest hit single, also reached No.20 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979

'Sharing' (written by Steve Pippin and J. Slate) (No.15, 1979) / this track also reached No.38 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979

'Down To Earth Woman' (written by Steve Pippin and J. Slate) (No.16, 1979) / this track also reached No.60 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1979

'Alabama Eyes' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'When It's Just You & Me' (Capitol Records, 1981)

'For Love' / this track was originally an album track from Kenny Dale's 'Red Hot Memory' (Capitol Records, 1978)

Kenny Dale's 'The Very Best of Kenny Dale' (EMI Records New Zealand, 2000) was released by EMI Records New Zealand, where Kenny was apparently one of the most popular of American country music vocalists in the 1970s and early 1980s.

At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote', in March 2013, Kenny Dale was working as a school bus driver in Texas and was residing in San Antonio, Texas.



On Sunday 12 July 2020, Kenny Dale entered hospital due to breathing complications.

Kenny Dale died from Covid-19 around 6:30am on Wednesday 15 July 2020, and was survived by his wife, Judy, and his three daughters.





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