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 2022, 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 Jan Buckingham, which she submitted to this site on Friday 22 April 2022.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jan Buckingham who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jan Buckingham
This quote was submitted on Friday 22 April 2022.
‘Gene Watson has one of the greatest country music voices of all time.
I’m a big fan’
Thank you, Jan Buckingham, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jan Buckingham…
Jan Buckingham is a musical stylist, whose vision has sculpted hits for Pam Tillis, Whitney Houston (Friday 9 August 1963 – Saturday 11 February 2012), George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Melissa Manchester, along with many others.
Jan Buckingham is an active performer, actress and twice Grammy-nominated songwriter (‘Don’t Mind The Thorns’ for Lee Greenwood, and ‘Cleopatra, Queen of Denial’ for Pam Tillis).
Jan Buckingham has written for television (‘Hollywood Wives’), and film (‘My Cousin Vinnie’) and owns 14 active publishing companies, administering copyrights worldwide.
David Frizzell & Shelly West recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Three Blind Hearts’ (co-written with Steve Dorff and Milton Brown) and included the track on ‘Carryin’ On The Family Names’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1981).
Janie Fricke recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Love Have Mercy’ (co-written with Wood Newton) and included the track on ‘It Ain’t Easy’ (Columbia Records, 1982).
Janie Fricke recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘I’ve Had All The Love I Can Stand’ (co-written with Shawna Harrington) and included the track on ‘Love Lies’ (Columbia Records, 1983).
Michael Johnson (Tuesday 8 August 1944 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘We Can Live On Love (Baby, You’re Just Like Me)’ and included the track on ‘Lifetime Guarantee’ (EMI America Records, 1983); the album was re-released by Magic Records in 1999.
Melissa Manchester recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Nice Girls’, which was co-written with Mark Grey and Steve Buckingham, and included the track on ‘Greatest Hits’ (Arista Records, 1983); the track reached No.41 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1983. An extended version of the track was included on the 2007 CD re-issue of Melissa Manchester’s self-titled album, ‘Melissa Manchester’ (Arista Records, 1979).
Gary Morris recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Between Two Fires’ (co-written with JD Martin) and included the track on ‘Faded Blue’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1984); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘A Slow Burning Fire’ (co-written with Valerie Smith) and included the track on ‘Ladies Choice’ (Epic Records, 1984); the track was a duet with Terri Gibbs.
Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 – Wednesday 4 September 1991) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Let Love Come Looking For You’ and included the track on ‘Just Dottie’ (Permian Records, 1984); this album was re-released, as ‘Just Dottie Again’, by First Generation Records in 2000.
Van Stephenson (Wednesday 4 November 1953 – Sunday 8 April 2001) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Modern Day Delilah’ (co-written with Van Stephenson) and included the track on ‘Righteous Anger’ (MCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.22 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1984.
Van Stephenson (Wednesday 4 November 1953 – Sunday 8 April 2001) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘What The Big Girls Do’ (co-written with Van Stephenson and Steve Buckingham) and included the track on ‘Righteous Anger’ (MCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1984.
Van Stephenson (Wednesday 4 November 1953 – Sunday 8 April 2001) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘I Know Who You Are (& I Know What You Did)’ (co-written with Van Stephenson) and included the track on ‘Righteous Anger’ (MCA Records, 1984).
Van Stephenson (Wednesday 4 November 1953 – Sunday 8 April 2001) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘You’ve Been Lied To Before’ (co-written with Van Stephenson) and included the track on ‘Righteous Anger’ (MCA Records, 1984).
Mark Eugene Gray (Friday 24 October 1952 – Friday 2 December 2016) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Til You & Your Lover Are Lovers’ and included the track on ‘Magic’ (Columbia Records, 1984).
Mark Eugene Gray (Friday 24 October 1952 – Friday 2 December 2016) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Fire From A Friend’ and included the track on ‘Magic’ (Columbia Records, 1984).
Crystal Gayle & Gary Morris recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘What If We Fall In Love’ and included the track on ‘What If We Fall In Love’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).
Lee Greenwood recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘I Don’t Mind The Thorns (If You’re The Rose)’ (co-written with Linda Young) and included the track on ‘Streamline’ (MCA Records, 1985); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in December 1985.
In 1986, Johnny Lee & Lane Brody saw the release, on Warner Bros. Records, of ‘I Could Get Used To This’ (written by Jan Buckingham and Bruce Miller), a non-album single, which reached No.50 on the Billboard country music singles chart, in 1986.
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘A Slow Burning Fire’ (co-written with Vicki Smith) and included the track on ‘Higher Ground’ (Epic Records, 1987); the track featured background harmonies from Dennis Wilson, Harry Stinson, John Wesley Ryles and Ricky Van Shelton.
Crystal Gayle recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Tennessee Nights’ (co-written with Shawna Harrington) and included the track on ‘Nobody’s Angel’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the track reached No.44 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
In 1988, Stella Parton recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘I Don’t Miss You Like I Used To’ (co-written with Curtis Stone) for Airborne Records; the track, which reached No.74 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, was subsequently included on ‘Always Tomorrow’ (Raptor Records, 1989).
Wild Rose – Pamela Gadd (lead vocals, background vocals, banjo), Kathy Mac (bass guitar, vocals), Pam Perry (lead vocals, harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin), Nancy Given (drums, vocals) and Wanda Vick (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, Dobro, steel guitar) – recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Teach Me To Say Goodbye’ (co-written with Pam Perry) and included the track on ‘Breaking New Ground’ (Capitol Records, 1988).
Girls Next Door (Doris King, Cindy Nixon, Diane Williams and Tammy Stephens) recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Last Goodbye’ and included the track on ‘How ‘Bout Us’ (Atlantic Records, 1989).
Barbara Mandrell recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Feed The Fire’ (co-written with Ava Aldridge) and included the track on ‘No Nonsense’ (Capitol Records, 1990); the track was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991, but it did not chart.
Wild Rose – Pamela Gadd (lead vocals, background vocals, banjo), Kathy Mac (bass guitar, vocals), Pam Perry (lead vocals, harmony vocals, guitar, mandolin), Nancy Given (drums, vocals) and Wanda Vick (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, Dobro, steel guitar) – recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘I’ll Always Love You’ and included the track on ‘Listen To Your Heart’ (Capitol Records, 1991).
Inger Nordström & Her Rhinestone Band recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Down To My Last Goodbye’ (co-written with Michael Joyce) and included the track on ‘Cimarron County’ (Star Music, 1991).
Inger Nordström & Her Rhinestone Band recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Tryin’ To Start A Fire’ (co-written with Michael Joyce) and included the track on ‘Cimarron County’ (Star Music, 1991).
Inger Nordström & Her Rhinestone Band recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Who’ll Be The First To Fall’ (co-written with Michael Joyce) and included the track on ‘Cimarron County’ (Star Music, 1991).
Matthews, Wright & King – Raymond Matthews (vocals, guitar), Woody Wright (bass, vocals) and guitarist/vocalist Tony King (guitar, vocals) – recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Everytime She Says Yes’ (co-written with Jeff Silbar) and included the track on ‘Power of Love’ (Columbia Records, 1992).
Pam Tillis recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Blue Rose Is’ (co-written with Pam Tillis and Bob DiPiero) and included the track on ‘Put Yourself In My Place’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1991); the track reached No.21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992, and No.24 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1992.
Pam Tillis recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Cleopatra, Queen of Denial’ (co-written with Pam Tillis and Bob DiPiero) and included the track on ‘Homeward Looking Angel’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1992); the track, which reached No.11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993, and No.16 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1993, was subsequently included on Pam Tillis’ ‘Greatest Hits’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1997), Pam Tillis’ ‘Super Hits’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1999) and Pam Tillis’ ‘All American Country’ (BMG Special Products, 2003).
Pam Tillis recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘How Gone Is Goodbye’ (co-written with Pam Tillis and Bob DiPiero) and included the track on ‘Homeward Looking Angel’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1992).
On Tuesday 1 February 1994, Pam Tillis saw the release of ‘Pam Tillis Collection’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1994); one of the included tracks was Jan Buckingham’s ‘Tennessee Nights’ (co-written with Shawna Harrington), which was originally recorded by Pam Tillis, as a non-album single, for Warner Bros. Records in 1985.
Bryan White recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘This Town’ (co-written with Greg Barnhill) and included the track on his self-titled debut album, ‘Bryan White’ (Asylum Records, 1994).
Ricky Lynn Gregg recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘A Lady Like You’ and included the track on ‘Get A Little Closer’ (Liberty Records, 1994).
Juice Newton recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘They Never Made It To Memphis’ (co-written with Karen Staley) and included the track on ‘American Girl’ (Renaissance Records, 1999); the track was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999, but it did not chart.
Pam Tillis re-recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Blue Rose Is’ (co-written with Pam Tillis and Bob DiPiero) and included the track on ‘Recollection’ (Stellar Cat Records, 2012), a retrospective album, which featured re-recorded singles from Pam Tillis’ time at Arista Records; the original version of this track, which was included on Pam Tillis’ ‘Put Yourself In My Place’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1991), reached No.21 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992, and No.24 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1992.
Pam Tillis re-recorded Jan Buckingham’s ‘Cleopatra, Queen of Denial’ (co-written with Pam Tillis and Bob DiPiero) and included the track on ‘Recollection’ (Stellar Cat Records, 2012), a retrospective album, which featured re-recorded singles from Pam Tillis’ time at Arista Records; the original version of this track, which was included on Pam Tillis’ ‘Homeward Looking Angel’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1992), reached No.11 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993, and No.16 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1993.
• Visit Jan Buckingham’s official site at janbuckingham.com