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 2013, 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 Larry Booth, which he submitted to this site on Friday 31 May 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Larry Booth who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sean Brady would also like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Rebeka Rutledge for the use of a feature on Larry Booth, ‘Legends Don’t Live Forever’, which was published on Friday 10 May 2013, in ‘Stephens County’s Only Daily Newspaper’, Duncan Banner, which is based in Duncan, Oklahoma.
Larry Booth
This quote was submitted on Friday 31 May 2013.
‘I worked with Gene for twelve years and can honestly say that I was always one of his biggest fans.
The guy has an unbelievable voice and it was the best twelve years of my musical life!
It was a pleasure to have him as a boss and as a friend’
Thank you, Larry Booth, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Larry Booth…
Larry Booth is an award-winning bass player who was born on Monday 18 August 1947 and, at the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, in May 2013, was residing in Duncan, Oklahoma with his wife Robin and their children.
Originally from Florida, Larry Booth lived for a number of years in Los Angeles, California and played in the bands of Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) and Gene Watson.
On four occasions in the 1970s, Larry Booth won a ‘Best Bass Player’ Award from the Academy of Country Music (ACM).
While growing up, Larry Booth and his brother, Tony Booth, played and sang with their parents in church.
Larry Booth’s mother married a steel guitar player after his father died and the brothers’ interest in music grew.
A native of Tampa, Florida where he was born on Sunday 7 February 1943, Tony Booth won a contest in New Port Richey, Florida for playing guitar when he was fourteen years old.
After high school, Tony Booth attended the University of New Mexico with the intention of becoming a schoolteacher, but he decided to give music a try and began his music career with the Mel Savage Band and later began touring with Jimmy Snyder.
Tony Booth‘s first single was ‘Wishful Thinking’ (which was backed with ‘I Think I Can’).
Tony Booth‘s first album was ‘Country 67’ (Universal City Records, 1967), which was released under the stage name of ‘Johnny Booth’; the album did not yield a chart position, so Tony Booth formed a band called Modern Country in 1968, and performed for a time in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Los Angeles, California.
The Modern Country Band, which renamed itself The Tony Booth Band, became the house band at Los Angeles’ Palomino Club and included members Jay Dee Maness, who went on to become a member of Desert Rose Band, and Larry Booth (Tony Booth‘s younger brother).
After being in the house band for The Palomino Club in North Hollywood and for Disneyland, Larry Booth could boast having played with numerous big names.
Larry Booth can recall being somewhat star struck over two artists in particular: Tex Ritter (Thursday 12 January 1905 – Wednesday 2 January 1974) because, when Larry Booth was in the staff band at Disneyland, during rehearsals, Tex Ritter told Larry stories about being in the old western movies and Larry felt like a little kid sitting there listening to him, and Roy Acuff (Tuesday 15 September 1903 – Monday 23 November 1992) because Larry Booth’s grandmother had been such a big fan.
In 1971, Stoney Edwards (Tuesday 24 December 1929 – Saturday 5 April 1997) saw the release, on Capitol Records, of a non-album single, ‘The Cute Little Waitress’ (written by Stoney Edwards) (Capitol Records, 1971) (No.73, 1971), the ‘b’ side of which was ‘Please Bring A Bottle’, which was written by Larry Booth.
In October 1972, Tony Booth saw the release of ‘Lonesome 7-7203’ (Capitol Records, 1972), which included ‘Just A Man’ (written by Tony Booth and Larry Booth); the title track of the album reached No.16 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972 and, as a result, Tony Booth was nominated for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) ‘Male Vocalist of The Year’ Award in 1973.
In 1973, Larry Booth joined Mel Tillis’ band, The Statesiders, and later, in the early 1980s, he joined up with Gene Watson, with whom he worked with for twelve years as a member of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band.
In August 1980, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘No One Will Ever Know‘ (Capitol Records, 1980); one of the included tracks was ‘One Too Many Times’, which was written by Tony Booth.
In 1970, Tony Booth recorded ‘One Too Many Times’ as the ‘B’ side of his single ‘Irma Jackson’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), and reached No.67 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1970.
In October 1981, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Old Loves Never Die‘ (MCA Records, 1981), which included ‘Lonely Me’ (written by Larry Booth), the ‘B’ side of another track on the album, ‘Fourteen Carat Mind’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Larry Lee Favorite (1939 – Saturday 26 May 2001) (MCA Records 51183); this latter track was Gene Watson‘s only No.1 hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart (No.1 for one week – Saturday 9 January 1982 to Saturday 16 January 1982).
Gene Watson‘s ‘Old Loves Never Die‘ (MCA Records, 1981) also included ‘Speak Softly (You’re Talking To My Heart)’ (written by Steve Spurgin and J.D. Mendenhall), which reached No.8 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
On Friday 1 October 1982, Tony Booth joined Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band; he played bass guitar and sang backup vocals on many of Gene Watson‘s mid-1980s album releases.
Tony Booth remained a member of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band for twelve years, between 1982 and 1994.
In March 1983, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983), which was his first album to exclusively feature members of The Farewell Party Band.
Gene Watson‘s ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983) included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘You’re Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without’ (written by Bo Roberts and Allen Frizzell) (No.2, 1983)
‘Sometimes I Get Lucky & Forget’, which was written by Ernie Rowell and Bobby Lee House (Friday 11 February 1949 – Thursday 25 November 2004) (No.9, 1983)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983) has the distinction of being the first Gene Watson album to feature members of his highly acclaimed Farewell Party Band on record, thus affording listeners the opportunity to hear this authentic group of musicians for the first time, in a studio setting, recreating a concert sound.
The Farewell Party Band line-up at this time included the following members:
Larry Booth (bass)
Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009) (piano)
Doug Boggs (drums)
Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018), Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (Sunday 2 September 1945 – Wednesday 18 July 2012) (guitar)
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson (steel guitar)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983) was produced by Russ Reeder and Gene Watson for G-J Productions and was recorded at Pete’s Place, Nashville (Recording & Mixing Engineer: Al Pachucci); the album, which reached No.16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1983, also included the following tracks:
‘Speak Well of Me’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010)
‘In Love All Alone’ (written by Jesse Shofner and Randy Hatch)
‘She Sure Makes Leaving Seem Easy’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton)
‘You Waltzed Yourself Right Into My Life’ (written by Ron Moore)
‘You Put Out An Old Flame Last Night’ (written by Dave Lindsey and Ernie Rowell)
‘You’re Just Another Beer Drinkin’ Song’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
‘Thinking ‘Bout Leaving’ (written by Randy Albright, Mark D. Sanders and Butch Paulson)
‘If I Were You, I’d Fall In Love With Me’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Warren D. Robb
In 1984, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984), the title of which accurately described the various themes that run through the songs contained on the album, which included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985:
‘Got No Reason Now For Going Home’, which was written by Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001) (No.7, 1985)
‘One Hell of A Heartache’, which was written by Keith Palmer (Sunday 23 June 1957 – Thursday 13 June 1996) and Janet White Demmans (No.10, 1985)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984) had the distinction of being the second Gene Watson album to feature members of his highly acclaimed Farewell Party Band on record, thus affording listeners the opportunity to hear this authentic group of musicians, in a studio setting, recreating a concert sound.
Gene Watson‘s ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984) was produced by Russ Reeder and Gene Watson for G-J Productions, Inc. and was recorded at Sound Emporium, Studio A, Nashville (Recording and Mixing Engineer: Jim Williamson); the album, which reached No.21 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984, also included the following tracks:
‘I Guess You Had To Be There’ (written by Dave Lindsey, Matt Lindsey and Ernie Rowell)
‘Wino’s Prayer’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and L. Kirby
‘Texas Saturday Night’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
‘A Memory Away’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
‘Independence Day’ (written by Dave Lindsey and Ernie Rowell)
‘Sailing Home To Me’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Danny Morrison (Sunday 22 April 1945 – Tuesday 14 February 2012)
‘I Must Be Somebody Else’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘That’s When You Know It’s Over’ (written by Bob O’Donnell and Billy Troy)
At the time of the release of Gene Watson‘s ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984), the line-up of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band included the following members:
Larry Booth (Tony Booth‘s younger brother) (bass, tic tac bass)
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson and Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018) (steel guitar)
Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (Sunday 2 September 1945 – Wednesday 18 July 2012) (acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar)
Doug Boggs (drums)
Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 19 August 2009) (piano-organ)
Additional musicians involved in the recording of Gene Watson‘s ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984) included Buddy Spicher and Lisa Silver on fiddle.
It was also in 1984 when Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Little By Little‘ (MCA Records, 1984), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Drinkin’ My Way Back Home’, which was written by Don Scaife, Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010) and Phil Thomas (1944 – Saturday 5 January 2019) (No.10, 1984)
‘Forever Again’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) (No.10, 1984)
‘Little By Little’, which was written by Danny Morrison (Sunday 22 April 1945 – Tuesday 14 February 2012) and Larry Keith (No.10, 1984)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Little By Little‘ (MCA Records, 1984) has the distinction of being the third Gene Watson album to feature members of his highly acclaimed Farewell Party Band on record, thus affording listeners the opportunity to hear this authentic group of musicians for the third time, in a studio setting, recreating a concert sound.
Gene Watson‘s ‘Little By Little‘ (MCA Records, 1984) was produced by Russ Reeder and Gene Watson for G-J Productions and was recorded at Pete’s Place, Nashville (Recording and Mixing Engineer: Al Pachucci); the album, which reached No.35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984, also included the following tracks:
‘My Memories Of You’, which was written by Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018) and Larry Booth (Tony Booth‘s younger brother)
‘The Chesapeake Bay’, which was written by Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010) and Jerry Hays
‘Leavin’s Been Comin’ For A Long, Long Time’, which was written by Joe Allen, Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Sonny Throckmorton
‘The Ballad of Richard Lindsey’ (written by Billy Troy and Bob O’Donnell)
‘With Any Luck At All’ (written by Dave Lindsey)
‘Growing Apart’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
‘She Has No Memory of Me’, which was written by Billy Troy and Randy Lynn Scruggs (Monday 3 August 1953 – Tuesday 17 April 2018)
At the time of the release of Gene Watson‘s ‘Little By Little‘ (MCA Records, 1984), the line-up of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band included the following members:
Larry Booth (Tony Booth‘s younger brother) (bass)
Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009) (piano)
Doug Boggs (drums)
Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018) and Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (Sunday 2 September 1945 – Wednesday 18 July 2012) (guitar)
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson (steel guitar)
Tony Booth (tic tac bass)
Additional musicians involved in the recording of Gene Watson‘s ‘Little By Little‘ (MCA Records, 1984) included Buddy Spicher and Lisa Silver on fiddle.
In July 1985, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985), which was his debut album for Epic Records, following very successful recording periods with Capitol Records (1975 – 1980) and MCA Records (1980 – 1985).
Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985), which was co-produced by Gene Watson, along with Farewell Party Band stalwart Larry Booth (Tony Booth‘s younger brother), included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Cold Summer Day In Georgia’, which was written by Dennis Knutson (1949 – Saturday 1 September 2018) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999) (No.24, 1985)
‘Memories To Burn’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) (No.5, 1986)
‘Carmen’ (written by Steve Spurgin) (No.32, 1986)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985) was produced by Gene Watson and Larry Booth, and was recorded at Hilltop Studios, Madison, Tennessee; the album was mixed by Gene Watson and Larry Booth (Recording Engineer: Randy Best).
Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985) was mastered by M.C. Rather at Custom Mastering in Nashville; the album, which reached No.35 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1985, also included the following tracks:
‘The Note’, which was written by Buck Moore (Wednesday 3 January 1934 – Tuesday 10 September 2013) and Michelle Ray
‘If I Painted A Picture’ (written by L. Williams and C. Browder)
‘I Want My Rib Back’, which was written by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Fred Koller
‘Stranger In Our House Tonight’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
‘The New York Times’, which was written by Obie Burnett McClinton (Thursday 25 April 1940 – Wednesday 25 September 1987)
‘Speak of The Devil’ (written by J. Ewtah)
‘Get Along Little Doggie’, which was written by Mark La Forme and Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 – Saturday 12 October 2019)
At the time of the release of Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985), the line-up of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band included the following members:
Tony Booth (bass)
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson (steel guitar)
Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018) (lead guitar)
Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (Sunday 2 September 1945 – Wednesday 18 July 2012) (lead guitar, rhythm guitar)
Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) (rhythm guitar)
Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009) (piano)
Doug Boggs (drums)
An additional musician involved in the recording of Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985) was Hubert ‘Hoots’ Hester (Monday 13 August 1951 – Tuesday 30 August 2016) on fiddle, with background vocals provided by Beckie Foster, Joy Gardner and Leona Williams.
On Saturday 28 June 1986, Gene Watson saw the release of ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986), which was co-produced by Gene Watson, along with Farewell Party Band stalwart Larry Booth, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music charts:
‘Bottle of Tears’ (written by Joe Allen, Jimmy Pasquale and D. Lay) (No.50, 1986)
‘Everything I Used To Do’ (written by Ernie Rowell) (No.29, 1986)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986), which was recorded at Hilltop Studios in Nashville (Recording Engineer: Randy Best), and mastered by M.C. Rather at Custom Mastering in Nashville, reached No.49 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986, and also included the following tracks:
‘Completely Out of Love’, which was written by Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982)
‘Almost Like Having You Here’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Warren D. Robb
‘Take It From Me’ (written by ‘Doc James’ Shapiro)
‘Sittin’ On A Gold Mine’ (written by B. Moore)
‘Atlanta Anymore’, which was written by Charlie Craig (Friday 30 September 1938 – Friday 1 July 2011) and Keith Stegall
‘Starting New Memories Today’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Warren D. Robb
‘I Saved Your Place’ (written by Steve Spurgin)
‘Rollin’ Home’ (written by Keith Stegalland Brent Mason)
At the time of the release of Gene Watson‘s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986), the line-up of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band included the following members:
Tony Booth (bass)
Chris ‘Tiny’ Olson (steel guitar)
Daniel (Danny) T. Rainwater (passed away on Friday 28 December 2018) (lead guitar)
Norman Richard ‘Norm’ Kastner (Sunday 2 September 1945 – Wednesday 18 July 2012) (lead guitar, rhythm guitar)
Joe Eddie Gough (Friday 27 January 1939 – Friday 14 August 2009) (piano)
Doug Boggs (drums)
Hubert ‘Hoots’ Hester (Monday 13 August 1951 – Tuesday 30 August 2016) (fiddle)
On Friday 28 March 2008, Tony Booth saw the release of ‘Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2008); some of the included tracks were ‘My Memories of You’ (written by Larry Booth), ‘You Look Like Someone That Used To Love Me’, which was written by Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 – Tuesday 17 April 2007) and Billy Troy, and ‘Losing You Just Dawned On Me Today’ (written by Kent Westberry).
On Monday 9 May 2011, England’s Hux Records released (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories To Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985), along with Gene Watson‘s ‘Starting New Memories‘ (Epic Records, 1986), as a special ‘2-for-1‘ CD set; the CD set was released worldwide on Tuesday 17 May 2011.
While a member of Gene Watson‘s Farewell Party Band, Larry Booth toured with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) in Canada, and with Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) in Europe.
In the mid-1990s, Larry Booth retreated from the country music scene and became a truck driver. Larry Booth drove his truck all over the United States and, on his various trips, he mostly listened to sports and talk radio.
However, Larry Booth’s MP3 player does contain a wide range of music, including Christina Aguilera and Lady Gaga.
Larry Booth also enjoys today’s country music, particularly Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.
A portion of the information contained in this feature on Larry Booth, was published on Friday 10 May 2013, in an article called ‘Legends Don’t Live Forever’ by Rebeka Rutledge, on ‘Stephens County’s Only Daily Newspaper’, Duncan Banner, which is based in Duncan, Oklahoma.
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