Joe Eddie Gough
Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009
An Appreciation
Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009
(photo taken in Kentucky on Saturday 15 December 2007)
Joe Eddie Gough was born Joseph Edwin Gough Jr. in Galveston, Texas on Friday 27 January 1939, and graduated from Lamar High School in Houston and attended Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Joe Eddie Gough served in the United States Army in the Army Security Agency.
In June 1978, Joe Eddie Gough joined the ranks of Gene Watson’s Farewell Party Band. Prior to Joe Eddie Gough joining The Farewell Party Band, the band were a four piece band with Gene playing an Ovation, while he performed.
When Joe Eddie Gough joined The Farewell Party Band, it was a huge improvement to their sound as he played such great, rhythmic and country piano. Joe Eddie Gough was a big fan of Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) and could play Pig’s cool left-hand style really well.
Besides working the road gigs, Joe Eddie Gough was a member of The Farewell Party Band when they started to appear on Gene Watson’s albums. Joe Eddie Gough worked with Gene Watson for over thirty years.
Gene Watson recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘After The Party’ and included the track on ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979).
Gene Watson recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘Beautiful You’ and included the track on ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979).
On Tuesday 27 January 2009, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Reflections‘ (Capitol Records, 1978), as a special 2-for-1 CD set.
Gene Watson recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘I’m Telling Me A Lie’ (co-written with Rick Winston) and included the track on ‘Between This Time & The Next Time‘ (MCA Records, 1981).
As a member of Gene Watson’s highly acclaimed Farewell Party Band, Joe Eddie Gough played piano on ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983), ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984), ‘Little by Little‘ (MCA Records, 1984), ‘Memories to Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985) and ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986).
Joe Eddie Gough was the writer of the highly acclaimed, ‘Cold Brown Bottle’, which was recorded by Joe Slick in the 1970s.
Walt Jr. & The Country Division recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘Cold Brown Bottle’; the track was produced by Justin Tubb (Tuesday 20 August 1935 – Saturday 24 January 1998) and was recorded for TNB Records in Nashville.
In 1980, Tony Booth recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘Cold Brown Bottle’; the track, which was released as a non-album single, was produced by Gene Watson and Russ Reeder for RDS Records, a record label, which was based in Houston, Texas.
Hank Stone recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘Cold Brown Bottle’ and included the track on ‘In A Texas Honky Tonk’ (TCM Records, 2000).
Tony Booth recorded Joe Eddie Gough’s ‘Cold Brown Bottle’ and included the track on ‘Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2008), an album which was released in March 2008.
Joe Eddie Gough
The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Friday 11 April 2008
On the morning of Friday 14 August 2009, Joe Eddie Gough passed away.
The funeral service for Joe Eddie Gough was conducted at 10.00am Central on Monday 17 August 2009, in the Chapel of Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer in Houston, Texas.
The following obituary is reproduced here courtesy of The Houston Chronicle:
‘Joseph Edwin Gough Jr., who was 70 years old, passed away in the early hours of Friday 14 August 2009 after a courageous battle with colon cancer.
Known in the music industry as Joe Eddie Gough, he was an exceptionally talented piano & keyboard player for country singer Gene Watson for thirty years and travelled the world playing for thousands of fans.
Joe was also a talented songwriter & wrote many songs, including the hit ‘Cold Brown Bottle’ & the popular songs ‘Beautiful You’ & ‘After The Party’.
Joe Eddie was born in Galveston, Texas on Friday 27 January 1939 & was preceded in death by his parents Joseph & Sadie Gough of Houston, Texas.
Joe Eddie is survived by his beloved sister & brother-in-law, Frances & Bruce Cameron of Houston; his beloved children, Joseph C. Locust of Tucson, Arizona, Clinton Bender Gough of Cypress, Joseph Eddie Gough of San Antonio, Kelly Michael Gough of College Station & Sadie Gough Kersting of Plano; his grandchildren Kendall, Clinton Jr., Kyle, Garrett, Brent, Evan, Jordan & Parker; and his beloved nephews & niece, Bruce Cameron Jr., Douglas Cameron, Craig Cameron & Frances Franz.
Joe Eddie graduated from Lamar High School in Houston & attended Trinity University in San Antonio. He served in the United States Army in the Army Security Agency. Joe was an independent, kind & fun loving soul, who created excitement & laughter for those around him’.
Source
The Houston Chronicle
On Sunday 16 August 2009, the following piece was posted on The Steel Guitar Forum by Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson:
‘Sadly, I was informed yesterday morning while out on the road that Joe Eddie had passed away after his battle with cancer. It was Tony Booth who also toured with Gene back in the 1980s who called me with this very sad information. I don’t know the particulars at this time regarding arrangements & the like.
Here’s a little Joe Eddie Gough history…
He came to work with us with Gene in June 1978. Prior to Joe joining the band, we were a four piece band plus Gene playing an Ovation while he performed. When Joe joined the band, it was a huge improvement to our sound as he played such great, rhythmic & country piano. He was a big fan of Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins and could play Pig’s cool left-hand style really well.
Besides working the road gigs, Joe was a member of the band when we started cutting Gene’s records. Some of Gene’s hits on which Joe played include but are not limited to, ‘Got No Reason Now For Going Home’, ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky’ and ‘Memories To Burn’. Joe had worked for Gene for over 30 years and that’s really cool in itself.
Over the past year, Joe was unable to return to the road due to the cancer, although I believe it was his desire to get back out there.
I have many funny and fond memories of Joe. We did many things together as a band back then as we spent just so much time out on the road. I’m proud to say he was my friend of over 30 years too. I’ll sure miss him.
May the Lord bless and keep Joe Eddie in his loving embrace. We’ll miss ya ‘Grandma’.
Sincerely,
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson
Source
The Steel Guitar Forum
On Monday 9 May 2011, England’s Hux Records released Gene Watson’s ‘Memories to Burn‘ (MCA Records, 1985), along with Gene Watson’s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (MCA Records, 1986), in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as a special 2-for-1 CD set; the 2-for-1 CD set was released worldwide on Tuesday 17 May 2011.
Lamar High School in Houston, Texas
(photo taken in 1957 by Tom Tomlinson from Conroe, Texas)
Source
Sarah Brosmer, Lytle Management, Brentwood, TN