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 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 John Gardner, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 2 March 2010.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to John Gardner who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
John Gardner
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 2 March 2010.
‘In 1975, I was the drummer for a house band in Columbia, South Carolina.
We started backing up new country artists passing through the area.
As luck would have it, Gene Watson passed through with his first single, ‘Love in the Hot Afternoon‘, which was written by Kent Westberry and Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 – Saturday 22 November 2003) (No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975). He certainly won’t remember me of that time period, but I surely remember him.
I’ve had the great fortune to work with Gene several times on The Grand Ole Opry and have recorded several tracks for him over the years.
His gift of singing dazzled me then and dazzles me to this day.
Gene Watson is a true country singer’
Thank you, John Gardner, for your support of Gene Watson.
About John Gardner…
John Gardner‘s hometown is Johnson City, Tennessee and he has been recording in Nashville for the best part of twenty-five years.
This period of time covers a multitude of song-writing demos and independent albums.
John Gardner has also enjoyed a good run of playing drums on many mainstream country music albums by a number of acclaimed artists, including Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), Lee Roy Parnell, Michelle Wright, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014), Kimmie Rhodes, Willie Nelson, Josh Turner, Gene Watson, The Chicks, One Flew South, John Kay, Phoebe Snow, Al Kooper and Rory Block.
John Gardner has also toured with Earl Scruggs (Sunday 6 January 1924 – Wednesday 28 March 2012), The Chicks, James Taylor, Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017), Reba McEntire, Kimmie Rhodes, and Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020).
John Gardner was also a member of The Grand Ole Opry staff band for several years.
John Gardner played drums on Lee Roy Parnell‘s self-titled debut album, ‘Lee Roy Parnell’ (Arista Records, 1990), which was released on Tuesday 10 April 1990, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Crocodile Tears’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Leroy Preston) (No.59, 1990)
‘Oughta Be A Law’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Dan Penn) (No.54, 1990)
‘Family Tree’ (written by Steve Durocher and Jeannie Smith) (No.73, 1990)
John Gardner played drums on Michelle Wright‘s self-titled album, ‘Michelle Wright’ (Savannah Records, 1990), which was released on Tuesday 17 July 1990, and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘New Kind of Love’ (written by Steve Bogard and Rick Giles) (No.32, 1990) / the track also reached No.4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in September 1990
John Gardner played drums and percussion on Don Williams‘ ‘True Love’ (RCA Records, 1990), which was released on Tuesday 7 August 1990, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Back In My Younger Days’ (written by Danny Flowers) (No.2, 1990)
‘True Love’ (written by Pat Alger) (No.4, 1991)
‘Lord, Have Mercy On A Country Boy’ (written by Bob McDill) (No.7, 1991)
John Gardner played drums on Tim O’Brien’s ‘Odd Man In’ (Rounder Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘Fell In Love (& I Can’t Get Out)’ (written by Jan Dowling and Mike Dowling)
‘One Way Street’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Circles Around You’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Handsome Molly’ (traditional)
‘Lonely At The Bottom’ (written by Jan Dowling and Mike Dowling)
‘Like I Used To Do’ (written by Pat Alger and Tim O’Brien)
‘Lone Tree Standing’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Love On Hold’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Flora, The Lily of The West’ (traditional)
‘Hold To A Dream’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘That’s What I Like About You’ (written by John Hadley, Kevin Welch and Wally Wilson)
‘Every Tear Has A Reason Why’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Hungry Eyes’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Romance Is A Slow Dance’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
John Gardner played drums on Tim O’Brien’s ‘When No One’s Around’ (Sugarhill Records, 1997), which included the following tracks:
‘Kick Me When I’m Down’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Tim O’Brien)
‘River of Blood’ (written by Scott Nygaard, Mollie O’Brien and Tim O’Brien)
‘One Drop of Rain’, which was written by Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 – Monday 23 November 2020) and Tim O’Brien
‘When You Come Back Down’ (written by Tim O’Brien and Danny O’Keefe)
‘Out On The Rolling Sea’ (arranged by Tim O’Brien / traditional)
‘I Like The Way You Cook’ (written by John Cowan and Tim O’Brien)
‘How Come I Ain’t Dead’ (written by Shawn Camp and Tim O’Brien)
‘Love & Laughter’ (written by Randy Handley and Tim O’Brien)
‘Love Is Pleasing’ (traditional)
‘Think About Last Night’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘Don’t Be Surprised (Mary & Joseph On Christmas Eve)’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘First Days of Fall’ (written by Tim O’Brien)
‘When There’s No One Around’ (written by Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott)
John Gardner played drums and percussion on Jerry Douglas’ ‘Restless On The Farm’ (Sugarhill Records, 1998), which was released on Tuesday 19 May 1998, and included the following tracks:
‘Things In Life’ (written by Don Stover)
‘Turkish Taffee’ (written by Jerry Douglas)
‘Passing The Bar’ (written by Jerry Douglas)
‘Don’t Take Your Guns To Town’, which was written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003)
‘A Tribute To Peader O’Donnell’ (written by Dónal Lunny)
‘Takarasaka’ (written by Jerry Douglas)
‘Follow On’ (written by Paul Brady)
‘Like It Is’ (written by Erroll Garner)
‘The Ride’ (written by Jerry Douglas and Bela Fleck)
‘TV Doctor’ (written by Johnny Winter)
‘For Those Who’ve Gone Clear’ (written by Jerry Douglas)
Guest musicians on Jerry Douglas’ ‘Restless On The Farm’ (Sugarhill Records, 1998) included Maura O’Connell, Steve Earle, Béla Fleck, Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien.
John Gardner played drums on Jesse Winchester’s ‘Gentleman of Leisure’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1999), which was released on Tuesday 22 June 1999, and included the following tracks:
‘Club Manhattan’
‘Sweet Little Shoe’
‘That’s What Makes You Strong’
‘No Pride At All’
‘Gentleman of Leisure’
‘Wander My Way Home’
‘Evil Angel’
‘Just Cause I’m In Love With You’
‘Just Like New’
‘You Tickle Me’
‘Freewheeler’
‘Sweet Loving Daddy’
‘I Wave Bye Bye’
‘Wander My Way Home’ (reprise)
Personnel involved in the recording of Jesse Winchester’s ‘Gentleman of Leisure’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1999), which was produced by Jerry Douglas, included the following:
Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014) (vocals, keyboard, guitar)
Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar)
Byron House (bass)
John Gardner (drums)
Jerry Douglas (lap steel, Weissenborn guitar, Dobro, vocals)
Mike Henderson (electric guitar)
Pat Bergeson (harmonica)
John Cowan and Jonell Mosser (vocals)
Vince Gill (vocals on ‘Just Cause I’m In Love With You’)
Steve Cropper (electric guitar on ‘Club Manhattan’ and ‘Just Like New’)
The Fairfield Four (vocals on ‘Wander My Way Home’)
John Gardner played drums and percussion on Kimmie Rhodes’ ‘Rich From The Journey’ (Sunbird Records, 2000), which was released on Tuesday 28 March 2000, and included the following tracks:
‘Rich From The Journey’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Thank You For Another Day’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Shine All Your Light’ (written by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Big Ol’ Train’ (written by Bob Regan and Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Espiritu Santo Bay’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘I’m So Amazed’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘There Is A Place’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Yellow Sand’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘God’s Acre’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘The Wonderful Sound’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘This Is The Gift’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Bells of Joy’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
John Gardner played drums and percussion on Kimmie Rhodes’ ‘Love Me Like A Song’ (Sunbird Records, 2002), which was released in June 2002, and included the following tracks:
‘Darkness Lifting’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘I Have Everything’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes and Kevin Savigar)
‘Only Love Can Save Me Now’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Love Me Like A Song’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kimmie Rhodes) / this track featured guest vocals from Willie Nelson
‘Send Me The Sun’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes) / this track featured guest vocals from Beth Nielsen Chapman and Emmylou Harris
‘Midnight Song’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Play Me A Memory’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Kimmie Rhodes and Benmont Tench)
‘Louis’ World’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘We’ve Done This Before’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kimmie Rhodes) / this track featured guest vocals from Willie Nelson
‘Witness To The Crime’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Love & Happiness For You’ (written by Emmylou Harris and Kimmie Rhodes) / this track featured guest vocals from Emmylou Harris
‘November December’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘The One To Walk You Home’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Kimmie Rhodes and Benmont Tench) / this track featured guest vocals from Benmont Tench
John Gardner played drums on Kimmie Rhodes & Willie Nelson’s ‘Picture In A Frame’ (Sunbird Records, 2003), which was released in 2003, and included the following tracks:
‘Picture In A Frame’ (written by Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits)
‘Valentine’ (written by Willie Nelson)
‘Just One Love’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Til I Gain Control Again’ (written by Rodney Crowell)
‘Love Me Like A Song’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kimmie Rhodes)
‘I Just Drove By’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Contrabandistas’ (written by Joe Gracey and B.E. Smith)
‘It Always Will Be’ (written by Willie Nelson)
‘We’ve Done This Before’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Rhinestone Highway’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
John Gardner played drums and percussion on Kimmie Rhodes’ ‘Windblown’ (Sunbird Records, 2005), which was released in 2005, and included the following tracks:
‘Windblown’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Oh, Padre’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Lost In You Again’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘That’s My Heart’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Desert Train’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Laredo Cantina’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Little Angelina’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘El Diablo Gallo’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Angelino’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
‘Clear Blue Sky’ (written by Kimmie Rhodes)
John Gardner played drums on ‘What Was I Thinking’ (written by Skip Ewing and James Dean Hicks), ‘Together Again’, which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), ‘This Side of The Door’ (written by Tim Menzies and Shawn Camp) and ‘Like I Wasn’t Even There’ (written by Wes Hightower, Tim Menzies and Monty Criswell), all of which were included on Gene Watson‘s ‘In a Perfect World‘ (Shanachie Records, 2007).
John Gardner also played drums and percussion on ‘I Buried Our Love’ (written by Tim Menzies and Tony Haselden), a track which was included on Gene Watson‘s ‘In a Perfect World‘ (Shanachie Records, 2007).
John Gardner played drums on Josh Turner‘s ‘Everything Is Fine’ (MCA Nashville, 2007), which was released on Tuesday 30 October 2007, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Firecracker’ (written by Shawn Camp, Pat McLaughlin and Josh Turner) (No.2, 2007)
‘Another Try’ (written by Chris Stapleton and Jeremy Spillman) (No.15, 2008) / this track featured guest vocals from Trisha Yearwood
‘Everything Is Fine’ (written by Josh Turner) (No.20, 2008)
Josh Turner‘s ‘Everything Is Fine’ (MCA Nashville, 2007), which was released on Tuesday 30 October 2007, debuted at No.5 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, selling about 84,000 copies in its first week. On Monday 3 December 2007, the album was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
John Gardner played drums on Chuck Cannon‘s ‘Love & Money’ (Nashville Underground Records, 2008).
• Visit the Paiste profile of John Gardner