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 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 James Dean Hicks, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 10 January 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to James Dean Hicks who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
James Dean Hicks
This quote was submitted on Sunday 10 January 2010.
‘Gene Watson is one of the voices of country music with a sweet, smooth, velvety tone that draws a listener’s ear and holds them to every word.
I have always loved his artistry and am flattered as a writer to have him interpret some of my songs’
Thank you, James Dean Hicks, for your support of Gene Watson.
About James Dean Hicks…
James Dean Hicks, at the age of ten, began making the trip from his home on a farm near Bardstown, Kentucky to the big-city streets of Nashville. It was there where James Dean Hicks appeared regularly on ‘WSM Midnight Jamboree’ with The Grand Ole Opry greats, including Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) and Hank Snow (Saturday 9 May 1914 – Monday 20 December 1999).
James Dean Hicks always wanted to sing and write songs. He used to sit on his swing on the farm and make up songs. James Dean Hicks’ Dad gave him a guitar and he learned to play by ear and from a chord book.
By the time he was thirteen years old, James Dean Hicks had opened concerts for Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993), Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) and Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998).
Between the ages of ten and sixteen, James Dean Hicks performed regularly at weekend jamborees.
James Dean Hicks then decided he was missing out on a regular childhood, so he laid his music performance career aside to enjoy a normal teenage life. James Dean Hicks then really got into the rock music sounds of Journey, AC/DC and Bob Seger.
After earning a music degree in college, the next logical step for James Dean Hicks was to move to Nashville to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a professional artist / songwriter. Staff writing helped James Dean Hicks learn his craft and helped him to learn the basics and how to knock the rough edges off.
There are, however, no rough edges in James Dean Hicks’ music. His voice is as smooth as the fine Kentucky bourbon distilled in his hometown.
The songs of James Dean Hicks recall the purity of sound and emotion found in the best recordings of Dan Fogelberg (Monday 13 August 1951 – Sunday 16 December 2007), the down-home simplicity of Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), and the creative edge of Don Henley.
James Dean Hicks’ compositions have been recorded by a diverse group of artists, including The Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993), Confederate Railroad, Sammy Kershaw, Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Bryan White, Crystal Gayle, Charlie Daniels (Wednesday 28 October 1936 – Monday 6 July 2020), Linda Davis, John Michael Montgomery, Neal McCoy, Collin Raye, Lorrie Morgan and Skip Ewing.
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘It Takes A Little Rain (To Make Love Grow)’ (co-written with Roger Murrah and Steve Dean) and included the track on ‘Where The Fast Lane Ends’ (MCA Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May / June 1987.
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘This Crazy Love’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Where The Fast Lane Ends’ (MCA Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1987.
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Goodbye Time’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Still In Your Dreams’ (MCA Records, 1988); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Gene Watson recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘I Picked A San Antone Rose’, which was co-written with Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 – Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track as the ‘B’ side of ‘Don’t Waste It On The Blues’ (written by Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver), which reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
‘Don’t Waste It On The Blues’ (written by Sandy Ramos and Jerry Vandiver) was included on Gene Watson‘s ‘Back in the Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988), but ‘I Picked A San Antone Rose’, which was written by James Dean Hicks and Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 – Friday 20 November 2015) was not included.
David Wills recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Line On Love’ (co-written with David Wills and Rick West) and included the track on ‘Line On Love’ (Gateway Entertainment, 1988).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Nobody Can Fill Your Shoes’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘House On Old Lonesome Road’ (MCA Records, 1989).
Ray Benson & Asleep At The Wheel recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Keepin’ Me Up Nights’ (co-written with Byron Hill) and included the track on ‘Keepin’ Me Up Nights’ (Arista Records, 1989).
Linda Davis recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Knowin’ We’ll Never Know’ (co-written with Jim Rushing) and included the track on ‘In A Different Light’ (Liberty Records, 1991).
Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 – Thursday 13 June 1996) recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘I Picked A San Antone Rose’, which was co-written with Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 – Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track on ‘Keith Palmer’ (Epic Records, 1991).
Charlie Daniels (Wednesday 28 October 1936 – Monday 6 July 2020) recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘What My Baby Sees In Me’ (co-written with Jerry Laseter and Mark Springer) and included the track on ‘Renegade’ (Epic Records, 1991).
John Michael Montgomery recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Line On Love’ (co-written with David Wills and Rick West) and included the track on ‘Life’s A Dance’ (Atlantic Records, 1992).
Confederate Railroad recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Jesus & Mama’, which was co-written with Danny ‘Bear’ Mayo (Monday 2 October 1950 – Saturday 2 October 1999), and included the track on ‘Confederate Railroad’ (Atlantic Records, 1992); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
Crystal Gayle recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘The Least That I Can Do’ (co-written with Allen Holmes and Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Three Good Reasons’ (Liberty Records, 1992).
Aaron Barker recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘God Still Lives In Tennessee’, which was co-written with Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022) and Danny ‘Bear’ Mayo (Monday 2 October 1950 – Saturday 2 October 1999), and included the track on ‘The Taste of Freedom’ (Atlantic Records, 1992).
Roger Ballard recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘That’s The Bad Thing About A Memory’ (co-written with Tom Collins and Jerry Laseter) and included the track on ‘A Little Piece of Heaven’ (Atlantic Records, 1993).
Sammy Kershaw recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘National Working Woman’s Holiday’ (co-written with Roger Murrah and Pat Terry) and included the track on ‘Feelin’ Good Train’ (Mercury Records, 1994); the track, which reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994, was subsequently included on Sammy Kershaw‘s ‘Ultimate Collection’ (Hump Head Country, 2008).
Collin Raye recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘A Bible & A Bus Ticket Home’ (co-written with Craig Wiseman) and included the track on ‘Extremes’ (Epic Records, 1994).
Neal McCoy recorded recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Why Now’, which was co-written with John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024), and included the track on ‘No Doubt About It’ (Atlantic Records, 1994).
Larry Stewart recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘It’s How Deep’, which was co-written with John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024), and included the track on ‘Heart Like A Hurricane’ (Columbia Records, 1994).
Larry Stewart recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Mama Needs Someone To Hold Her’ (co-written with Marc Beeson) and included the track on ‘Heart Like A Hurricane’ (Columbia Records, 1994).
Kenny Chesney recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Grandpa Told Me So’ (co-written with Mark Alan Springer) and included the track on ‘All I Need To Know’ (BNA Records, 1995); the track reached No.23 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.
Confederate Railroad recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Sounds of Home’ (co-written with Mark Alan Springer and Jerry Laseter) and included the track on ‘Where & When’ (Atlantic Records, 1995).
Skip Ewing recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘The Hole’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘Until I Found You’ (Word Records, 1997).
Bryan White recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘What Did I Do (To Deserve You)’ (co-written with Jamie Houston and Andy Goldmark) and included the track on ‘The Right Place’ (Asylum Records, 1997).
Greg Holland recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Mama Needs Someone To Hold Her’ (co-written with Marc Beeson) and included the track on ‘Exception To The Rule’ (Elektra Records, 1997).
Hank Thompson (Thursday 3 September 1925 – Tuesday 6 November 2007) recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘I Picked A San Antonio Rose’, which was co-written with Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 – Friday 20 November 2015), and included the track on ‘Hank Thompson & Friends’ (Curb Records, 1997); the track featured guest vocals from Bekka Bramlett.
Smokie recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘When It’s The Right Time’ (co-written with Taylor Rhodes) and included the track on ‘Wild Horses – The Nashville Album’ (CMC International Records, 1998).
Randy Travis recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘The Hole’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘You & You Alone’ (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 1998); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1998.
Confederate Railroad recorded recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘A Bible & A Bus Ticket Home’ (co-written with Craig Wiseman) and included the track on ‘Keep On Rocking’ (Atlantic Records, 1998).
Bryan White recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘That Good’ (co-written with Andy Goldmark and Jamie Houston) and included the track on ‘How Lucky I Am’ (Asylum Records, 1999).
Bryan White recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘God Gave Me You’ (co-written with Andy Goldmark and Jamie Houston) and included the track on ‘How Lucky I Am’ (Asylum Records, 1999); the track reached No.40 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999.
Claudia Church recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Small Town Girl’ (co-written with Claudia Church) and included the track on ‘Claudia Church’ (Reprise Records / Warner Bros. Records, 1999).
Byron Hill recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘That’s What Love Will Make You Do’ (co-written with Byron Hill) and included the track on his debut, self-financed album, ‘Gravity…& Other Things That Keep You Down To Earth’ (BHP Music, 1999).
Jessica Simpson recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Sweet Kisses’ (co-written with Andy Goldmark and Jamie Houston) and included the track on ‘Sweet Kisses’ (Columbia Records, 1999).
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘I Wish That I Could Say That’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘There You Go Again’ (Dreamcatcher Records, 2000).
Wynonna recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Heaven Help Me’ (co-written with Chuck Cannon) and included the track on ‘What The World Needs Now Is Love’ (Asylum Records / Curb Records, 2003).
Reba McEntire recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘It Just Has To Be This Way’ (co-written with Liz Hengber and Anthony L. Smith) and included the track on ‘Room To Breathe’ (MCA Nashville Records, 2003); this track featured guest vocals from Vince Gill.
Blaine Larsen recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘If Merle Would Sing My Song’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘In My High School’ (Giantslayer Records, 2004); this track was dedicated to Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
Confederate Railroad recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Jesus & Mama’, which was co-written with Danny ‘Bear’ Mayo (Monday 2 October 1950 – Saturday 2 October 1999), and included the track on ‘Confederate Railroad’ (Atlantic Nashville Records, 2004); the track reached No.4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 2005.
Blake Shelton recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Goodbye Time’ (co-written with Roger Murrah) and included the track on ‘Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill’ (Warner Bros. Records, 2004); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2005.
Blaine Larsen recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘If Merle Would Sing My Song’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘Off To Join The World’ (BNA Records / Giantslayer Records, 2005); the track featured guest vocals from Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
Gene Watson recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘What Was I Thinking’ (co-written with Skip Ewing) and included the track on ‘In a Perfect World‘ (Shanachie Records, 2007).
Little Texas recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘So Long’ (co-written with Anthony L. Smith and Liz Hengber) and included the track on ‘Missing Years’ (Montage Music Group, 2007).
Jon Wolfe recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘If She’s Looking For Love’ (co-written with Jon Wolfe) and included the track on ‘It All Happened In A Honky Tonk’ (Fool Hearted Productions, 2010).
Brother Clyde recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Son of A Gun’ (co-written with Jamie Houston) and included the track on ‘Brother Clyde’ (Fontana Records / Buena Vista Records, 2010); Brother Clyde was an alternative rock musical super-group, which was formed in 2009 by Billy Ray Cyrus, and initially included Billy Ray Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele, John Waite and Phil Vassar.
Joe Nichols recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, which was co-written with Jon Wolfe and Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 – Sunday 21 October 2012), and included the track on ‘It’s All Good’ (Showdog / Universal Music, 2011); the track featured guest vocals from Alison Krauss & Dan Tyminski of Union Station.
David Wills recorded James Dean Hicks’ ‘Line On Love’ (co-written with David Wills and Rick West) and included the track on ‘The Singer, The Songwriter’ (Tugaloo Records, 2022).
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