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 2016, 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 Keith Greentree (BBC East – Radio), which he submitted to this site on Sunday 2 October 2016.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Keith Greentree (BBC East – Radio) who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Keith Greentree (BBC East – Radio)
This quote was submitted on Sunday 2 October 2016.
‘Meeting and talking to Gene Watson on his visit to Norfolk in the United Kingdom a couple of years ago was a total pleasure.
His personality was as easy and likeable as the songs that he sang’
Thank you, Keith Greentree (BBC East – Radio), for your support of Gene Watson.
About Keith Greentree (BBC East – Radio)…
Keith Greentree (BBC East – Radio) was born on Friday 27 December 1940, on the south coast of England, when radio was the only on-air entertainment.
School provided little interest to Keith Greentree and he couldn’t wait to leave and join The Merchant Navy.
Keith Greentree’s love of music and radio began to flourish when he bought a short wave radio and spent his off duty time searching the dial for American music stations while traveling around the world.
Music was becoming important in Keith Greentree’s life, so he came ashore and began working for a high street radio and television retail company.
At that time, the radio pirates were setting up and Keith Greentree became fascinated by the new radio sound with the so called disc jockeys making the whole listening experience exciting.
Keith Greentree had also learned to play the drums and was playing in various types of bands along the south coast of England in holiday camps and at weddings and parties.
Keith Greentree was also to meet Margaret. They married and started a family, so the idea of going out to sea on a boat as a pirate disc jockey was out of the question.
It was in 1970, with a young family, when Keith Greentree and Margaret moved to Norfolk with the idea of starting a business. In the early days of living in Norfolk, Keith Greentree supplemented his income by playing all genres of music in various types of bands, but there was one style of music which he really enjoyed – country music!
Keith Greentree played in a number of country music bands over the years, two of the best known in the area were Wichita and Spiral.
When BBC Radio Norfolk launched, at 5:55pm on Thursday 11 September 1980, it was the first BBC local radio station in East Anglia, and Keith Greentree was keen to become involved.
In 1983, Keith Greentree was offered a show called ‘Weekend’, which was broadcast at 6:00pm on a Friday evening, and played music and listed local events.
Keith Greentree left the BBC for a couple of years to become the afternoon disc jockey on a commercial radio station and presented its country music show every Sunday. Having got that out of his system, Keith Greentree rejoined the BBC.
At the time of the acquisition of the Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, Keith Greentree was the regular presenter on ‘Rodeo Norfolk’, bringing his own style and enthusiasm for country music, to the airwaves of BBC Radio Norfolk, every Saturday morning between 9:00am and 12:00pm.
On Sunday 29 October 2023, Keith Greentree presented BBC Radio Norfolk’s ‘The Big Country Show’ for the final time, between 2:00pm and 4:00pm.
• Visit Keith Greentree / ‘Rodeo Norfolk’ Profile