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 2011, 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 J Fred Knobloch, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 20 January 2011.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to J Fred Knobloch, who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
J Fred Knobloch
This quote was submitted on Thursday 20 January 2011.
‘In the dictionary, the word ‘essential’ is defined as ‘absolutely necessary; extremely important’.
The word ‘wonderful’ is defined as ‘inspiring delight, pleasure or admiration; extremely good or marvellous’.
The word ‘inspiration’ is defined as ‘being stimulated to do or feel something’.
Gene Watson’s music is essential, wonderful and inspirational.
Gene has always been and will always be a songwriter’s songwriter, a singer’s singer and an inspiration to all of us who chase the muse’
Thank you, J Fred Knobloch, for your support of Gene Watson.
About J Fred Knobloch…
J Fred Knobloch was born on Tuesday 28 April 1953 in Jackson, Mississippi and has been performing since the age of thirteen when he and some friends formed a band to play at school ‘sock hops’.
In 1973, J. Fred Knobloch left school to play music full-time; he began performing solo at night clubs across the south of the United States and landed a few dates as a session guitarist at Malaco Studios in Jackson.
While working for such R&B notables as Dorothy Moore, Eddie Floyd and Anita Ward, J Fred Knobloch met drummer, James Stroud, and pianist, Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007); it was Carson Whitsett, a Mississippi native, who encouraged J Fred Knobloch’s writing and performing.
Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007) played keyboards for Kathy Mattea for more than a decade, and was also a successful songwriter:
Lorrie Morgan recorded Carson Whitsett’s ‘Dear Me’ (co-written with Scott Mateer) and included the track on ‘Leave The Light On’ (RCA Records, 1989); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in July 1989.
John Anderson recorded Carson Whitsett’s ‘Mississippi Moon’, which was co-written with Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018), and included the track on ‘Country ‘Til I Die’ (BNA Records, 1994); the track reached No.15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.
In 1980, it all paid off for J Fred Knobloch with ‘Why Not Me’; co-written with Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007) and produced by James Stroud; the track reached No.1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart in 1980, and No.18 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in 1980.
J. Fred Knobloch’s ‘Why Not Me’ (Scotti Brothers Records, 1980), which was released under the name Fred Knoblock, included the following tracks:
‘Why Not Me’, which was written by J. Fred Knobloch and Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007)
‘Take A Flight Tonight’
‘Let Me Love You’
‘Laugh It Off’
‘Can’t Keep From Crying’
‘Can I Get Wish’
‘A Bigger Fool’
‘Love Isn’t Easy’
‘Still Feel The Same Way’
‘It’s Over’
‘Father’
On the heels of that success, J Fred Knobloch moved to Los Angeles and, over the next two years, enjoyed two Billboard Top 10 country music singles with ‘Killin’ Time’ (a duet with Susan Anton) (No.10, 1980) and a re-make of the Chuck Berry (Monday 18 October 1926 – Saturday 18 March 2017) classic, ‘Memphis’.
But it was not long before the South started calling him home and J Fred Knobloch relocated to Nashville in January 1983.
Since moving to Nashville, Music Row has allowed J Fred Knobloch to make lots of ‘noise with the boys’ as an artist, session musician and songwriter.
In early 1986, in conjunction with two other songwriters, Thom Schuyler and Paul Overstreet, J Fred Knobloch formed the group SKO. Signed to MTM Records, a record label owned by Mary Tyler Moore (Tuesday 29 December 1936 – Wednesday 25 January 2017), they scored immediately with two tracks on the Billboard country music singles chart.
‘You Can’t Stop Love’ reached No.9 in 1987, while ‘Baby’s Got A New Baby’, which was co-written by J. Fred Knobloch with fellow Mississippian, Dan Tyler, was No.1 for one week in March 1987. Both tracks were included on ‘SKO’ (MTM Records, 1986).
J Fred Knobloch’s list of cuts include ones by artists including Faith Hill, George Strait, Delbert McClinton, Etta James (Tuesday 25 January 1938 – Friday 20 January 2012), Ray Charles (Tuesday 23 September 1930 – Thursday 10 June 2004), The Wilkinsons, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, Trisha Yearwood, Larry Stewart, Neal McCoy, Confederate Railroad, Sawyer Brown, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020).
J. Fred Knobloch has also composed for television and movies with songs appearing on ‘Melrose Place’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, as well as the feature films ‘Next of Kin’ and ‘In Country’.
Married for the first time in 1989 to Kathryn Evans, the Knoblochs have two children, James David and Julia Louise, and live happily in Nashville ’til ever after comes….
Within the genre of country music, J Fred Knobloch is an extraordinarily gifted and talented song-writer.
BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘The Whole World’s In Love When You’re Lonely’ (co-written with Dan Tyler) and included the track on ‘Shining’ (Columbia Records, 1984); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
Ray Charles (Tuesday 23 September 1930 – Thursday 10 June 2004) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘I Had It All’ and included the track on ‘Do I Ever Cross Your Mind’ (Columbia Records, 1984).
Sawyer Brown recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Used To Blue’ (co-written with Bill LaBounty) and included the track on ‘Sawyer Brown’ (Capitol Records, 1985); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.
Tom Wopat recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Not Enough Love’ (co-written with C. Farren) and included the track on ‘Don’t Look Back’ (Capitol Records, 1988).
Marie Osmond recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘I Know The Feeling’ (co-written with Dan Tyler) and included the track on ‘I Only Wanted You’ (Capitol Records, 1986 / Curb Records, 1990).
Marie Osmond recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘We’re Gonna Need A Love Song’ (co-written with Wood Newton) and included the track on ‘I Only Wanted You’ (Capitol Records, 1986 / Curb Records, 1990).
The Everly Brothers – Don Everly (Monday 1 February 1937 – Saturday 21 August 2021) and Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 – Friday 3 January 2014) – recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Julianne’ (co-written with Pat Alger) and included the track on ‘Some Hearts’ (Mercury Records, 1988).
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Turn of The Century’ and included the track on ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume 2’ (MCA Records, 1989).
In 1989, Gregg Allman & Lori Yates recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Brother To Brother’; the track was included on the various artists original soundtrack of the movie, ‘Next of Kin’ (Columbia Records, 1989), which starred Patrick (Wayne) Swayze (Monday 18 August 1952 – Monday 14 September 2009).
The Sanders recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘You Fit Right Into My Heart’ (co-written with Thom Schuyler and Paul Overstreet) and included the track on ‘Into Every Life’ (Airborne Records, 1989).
In 1990, Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘A Little More Love’; the track was included on ‘USA For Africa’ (Polygram Records, 1990), a various artists compilation.
Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Tied To The Tracks’ (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on ‘Walkin’ In The Sun’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Somebody’s Doing Me Right’ (co-written with Paul Overstreet and Dan Tyler) and included the track on ‘Unconditional Love’ (Capitol Nashville Records, 1991).
In the early 1980s, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Somebody’s Doin’ Me Right’; the track was subsequently included on ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991), and reached No.15 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in January 1992.
Delbert McClinton recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Blues As Blues Can Get’ and included the track on ‘Never Been Rocked Enough’ (Curb Records, 1992).
Delbert McClinton recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Why Me’ (co-written with Delbert McClinton) and included the track on ‘Never Been Rocked Enough’ (Curb Records, 1992).
Matthews, Wright & King (Raymond Matthews, Woody Wright and Tony King) recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Plain Jane’ (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on ‘Dream Seekers’ (Columbia Records, 1993).
Chely Wright recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Woman In The Moon’ (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on ‘Woman In The Moon’ (Polydor Records, 1994).
Confederate Railroad recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Three Verses’ and included the track on ‘Notorious’ (Atlantic Records, 1994).
Lorrie Morgan recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Back In Your Arms Again’, which was co-written with Paul Davis (Wednesday 21 April 1948 – Tuesday 22 April 2008), and included the track on ‘Greatest Hits’ (BNA Records, 1995); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart in 1995.
Neal McCoy recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Plain Jane’ (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on ‘You Gotta Love That’ (Atlantic Records, 1995).
Rosanne Cash recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘A Lover Is Forever’ and included the track on ‘Retrospective’ (Columbia Records, 1995).
John Anderson recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘The Band Plays On’ (co-written with Gary Scruggs) and included the track on ‘Paradise’ (BNA Records, 1996).
Trisha Yearwood recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘A Lover Is Forever’ and included the track on ‘Everybody Knows’ (MCA Records, 1996).
Larry Stewart recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Always A Woman’ (co-written with Steve O’Brien) and included the track on ‘Why Can’t You’ (Sony Records, 1996); the track reached No.70 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Baillie & The Boys recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘While The Forgettin’s Good’ and included the track on ‘Lovin Every Minute’ (Intersound Records, 1996).
River Road recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘She Gets To Me’ and included the track on ‘River Road’ (Capitol Nashville Records, 1997).
Beverly Ellis recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Home In Your Arms’ (co-written with John Crocker) and included the track on ‘A Diamond Won’t Cut It’ (Slipdisc Records, 1999).
On Tuesday 12 September 2000, J Fred Knobloch & Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson saw the release of ‘Live At The Bluebird Cafe’ (American Originals, 2000), which was recorded ‘live’ on Thursday 27 April 2000, and included the following tracks:
‘Mistaken Identity’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and J Fred Knobloch
‘Can I Come Back’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Darden Smith)
‘Feel Better In The Mornin’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Gene Nelson)
‘King of Fools’ (written by Barry Alfonso and J Fred Knobloch)
‘Stay Away From The Blues’ (written by J Fred Knobloch)
‘First Thing Every Mornin’ (written by Steve Booker and J Fred Knobloch)
‘Three Verses’ (written by J Fred Knobloch)
‘Feels Like Mississippi’ (written by J Fred Knobloch)
‘A Lover Is Forever’, which was written by Steve Goodman (Sunday 25 July 1948 – Thursday 20 September 1984) and J Fred Knobloch
‘Which Side of the Glass’ (written by Dana Hunt and J Fred Knobloch)
‘You Know How Women Are’ (written by Dave Duncan and J Fred Knobloch)
‘Memphis Mornin’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Darden Smith)
‘Cold Feet’ (written by J Fred Knobloch and Dan Tyler)
Faith Hill recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘If My Heart Had Wings’ (co-written with Annie Roboff) and included the track on ‘Breathe’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1999); the track reached No.1 on the Gavin Chart in January 2001, No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2001, and No.2 on the Radio & Records Country Chart in 2001.
George Strait recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Meanwhile’ and included the track on ‘Always Never The Same’ (MCA Records, 1999).
Claudia Church recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘It’s All Your Fault’ and included the track on ‘Claudia Church’ (Warner Bros. Records / Reprise Records, 1999).
George Strait recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘Which Side of The Glass’ (co-written with Dana Hunt) and included the track on ‘George Strait’ (MCA Records, 2000); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2000, No.4 on The Gavin Chart in 2000, and No.4 on the R&R Chart in 2000.
The Wilkinsons recorded J Fred Knobloch’s ‘One of Us Is In Love’ and included the track on ‘Here & Now’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2000).
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