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 2006, 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 Jimmy Fortune, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 30 March 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Jimmy Fortune who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Jimmy Fortune
This quote was submitted on Thursday 30 March 2006.
‘Gene is one of the greatest country singers of all time.
If you want to know how a country song should be sung, listen to Gene Watson’
Thank you, Jimmy Fortune, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Jimmy Fortune…
Jimmy Fortune, who was born on Friday 11 March 1955 in Williamsburg, Virginia toured, sang and performed with The Statler Brothers for twenty-one years. Jimmy Fortune joined them first as a temporary replacement for Lew DeWitt, after DeWitt heard him singing at a ski resort and recommended him.
Following an audition in Nashville, Jimmy Fortune was contacted by The Statler Brothers and performed his first show with them on Thursday 28 January 1982, in Savannah, Georgia. Due to the debilitating effects of Crohn’s Disease, Lew DeWitt was unable to return to the stage with The Statler Brothers, and Jimmy Fortune was hired as a permanent replacement in August 1982.
Lew DeWitt succumbed to Crohn’s disease on Wednesday 15 August 1990.
Jimmy Fortune spent twenty-one years touring, singing and performing with The Statler Brothers until the other three members of the group retired in 2002. Jimmy Fortune proved himself to be an invaluable addition to the group, as both a tenor singer and as a songwriter.
Jimmy Fortune provided The Statler Brothers with three No.1 country music hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Elizabeth’ (written by Jimmy Fortune) (No.1 for one week in March 1984) / this track was included on The Statler Brothers‘ ‘Today’ (Mercury Records, 1983), an album which also included ‘Promise’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘My Only Love’ (written by Jimmy Fortune) (No.1 for one week in March 1985) / this track was included on The Statler Brothers‘ ‘Atlanta Blue’ (Mercury Records, 1984), an album which also included ‘No Love Lost’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
‘Too Much On My Heart’ (written by Jimmy Fortune) (No.1 for one week in November / December 1985) / this track was included on The Statler Brothers‘ ‘Pardners in Rhyme’ (Mercury Records, 1985)
‘Forever’ (written by Jimmy Fortune) (No.7, 1987) / this track was included on The Statler Brothers‘ ‘Four for The Show’ (Mercury Records, 1986), an album which also included ‘For Cryin’ Out Loud’ (written by John Rimel and Jimmy Fortune)
Gene Watson has a musical connection with The Statler Brothers; Gene Watson recorded ‘Her Heart Or Mine’, which was written by Don Reid and Harold Reid (Monday 21 August 1939 – Friday 24 April 2020) – Don Reid & Harold Reid were the only members of the group who were actually brothers – and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk Crazy‘ (Epic Records, 1986).
The Statler Brothers recorded the original version of ‘Her Heart Or Mind’, which was written by Don Reid and Harold Reid (Monday 21 August 1939 – Friday 24 April 2020) in 1985 and included the track on ‘Pardners In Rhyme’ (Mercury Records, 1985).
‘More Than A Name On The Wall’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel) (No.6, 1989) / this track was included on The Statler Brothers‘ ‘Greatest Hits’ (Mercury Records, 1988)
Jimmy Fortune has performed in all of the states in the United States, in Canadian Provinces and in front of audiences as large as 100,000. Jimmy Fortune was part of The Statler Brothers’ ‘Annual Happy Birthday USA Celebration’ in Staunton, Virginia, for fourteen years.
Jimmy Fortune also sang on many of The Statler Brothers‘ Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum recordings.
Jimmy Fortune’s career included The Nashville Network’s popular ‘The Statler Brothers Show’, which aired for seven seasons and debuted in 1991 as the highest rated show for the network.
Jimmy Fortune was privileged to perform at The White House on two occasions, once for President Ronald Reagan (Monday 6 February 1911 – Saturday 5 June 2004), and once for President George H.W. Bush.
Jimmy Fortune also presented a special gift to actress Elizabeth Taylor (Saturday 27 February 1932 – Wednesday 23 March 2011) by singing his song ‘Elizabeth’ to her for a birthday celebration.
After The Statler Brothers retired on Saturday 26 October 2002, Jimmy Fortune seized the opportunity to launch a solo career to share new music with his fans.
On Tuesday 28 October 2003, Jimmy Fortune saw the release of ‘When One Door Closes’ (Audium Records / Koch Records, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘What Money Can’t Buy’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
‘Elizabeth’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘More Than A Name On A Wall’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
‘Cryin’ Ain’t Gonna Get Me Over You’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
‘Til I Gain Control Again’ (written by Rodney Crowell)
‘Thank God For Mama & Daddy’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘Too Much On My Heart’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘My Only Love’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘When We Were Young’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
‘If You Were Mine’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
‘When One Door Closes’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel)
Robin & Linda Williams recorded Jimmy Fortune’s ‘I’m Just Glad You’re Gone’ (co-written with Robin Williams and Linda Williams) and included the track on ‘Deeper Waters’ (Red House Records, 2004).
On Tuesday 17 August 2004, Jimmy Fortune saw the release of ‘I Believe’ (Fortune Enterprises Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:
‘Take Me There’ (written by William Allbritton and Mark Willett)
‘Be With Me’ (written by Tony Brower)
‘He’s Gettin’ Me Ready’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘I Believe’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
‘Amazing Grace’, which was written by Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (25 July 1899 – Tuesday 14 March 1989)
‘I Wrote It In Red’ (written by Tony Brower)
‘He Touched Me’ (written by William J. Gaither)
‘That’s What I Call Love’ (written by Rebecca Peck)
‘Over The Sunset Mountains’ (written by John W. Peterson)
‘The Lord’s Prayer’ (Public Domain)
‘I’ll Fly Away’, which was written by Albert Edward Brumley (Sunday 29 October 1905 – Tuesday 15 November 1977)
‘How Great Thou Art’, which was written by Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (25 July 1899 – Tuesday 14 March 1989)
‘Country Sunday’ (written by Bart Butler and Tony Ramey)
On Tuesday 21 November 2006, Jimmy Fortune saw the release of ‘Feels Like Christmas’ (Fortune Enterprises Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’
‘Old Toy Trains’
‘It’s Christmas Time Again’
‘Pretty Paper’ (written by Willie Nelson)
‘White Christmas’
‘Christmas Country Style’
‘Silver Bells’
‘O Holy Night’
‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’
‘Silent Night’
In 2007, Jimmy Fortune saw the release of a ‘live’ concert DVD.
On Monday 29 October 2007, Jimmy Fortune & The Statler Brothers were inducted into the Gospel Music Association (GMA) Hall of Fame.
On Sunday 29 June 2008, Jimmy Fortune & The Statler Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Association (CMA) Hall of Fame.
On Tuesday 24 November 2009, Jimmy Fortune saw the release of ‘Windows’ (Fortune Enterprises Records, 2009), which included the following tracks:
‘Virginia Dreams’
‘Beyond Romance’
‘Good Thing’
‘Closer To You’
‘Never Felt This Good’
‘When I Forget’
‘Before They’re Gone’
‘Say Goodbye’
‘Windows’
‘Crying’
‘In God We Trust’
‘On The Other Side’
On Monday 24 September 2012, Jimmy Fortune saw the release of ‘Lessons’ (Fortune Enterprises Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:
‘Lessons’
‘Rain’ (written by Tom Botkin and Kevin Denney)
’68 Chevelle’ (written by Kevin Denney, Tom Botkin and Mike Rogers)
‘With You’ (written by Tom Botkin, Chris Botkin, Jimmy Fortune and Mike Rogers)
‘Something Left To Lose’ (written by Jimmy Fortune, Tom Botkin and Kevin Denney)
‘Where Do I Go From You’ (written by Buddy Hyatt, Don Goodman and Craig Karp)
‘Skyline Drive’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and Jeff Hyde)
‘I Don’t Know How To Love You Anymore’ (written by Jimmy Fortune, Mike Rogers and Zach Runquist)
‘From Here To Phoenix’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and Bobby McKee)
‘At Least I’m Feeling Again’, which was written by Buddy Hyatt, Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016), Keith Anderson and Doak Turner
‘The Family’ (written by Tom Botkin and Kevin Denney)
‘You Know It Ain’t Right’ (written by Jimmy Fortune, Tom Botkin and Mike Rogers)
‘With Me Again’ (written by Jimmy Fortune and Tom Marten)
‘Love The Hate Away’ (written by Jimmy Fortune)
Jimmy Fortune is currently living in Nashville, writing for Melrose Entertainment, and touring.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Kelly Lang‘s ‘100% Chance of Pain’ (co-written with T.G. Sheppard) and included the track on ‘T.G. Sheppard: Duets With The Legends of Country Music’ (Cleopatra / Goldenlane, 2015); the track featured guest vocals from BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) and Jimmy Fortune.
• Visit Jimmy Fortune’s official site at jimmyfortune.com
• The Statler Brothers