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 2007, 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 Lee Roy Parnell, which he submitted to this site on Monday 22 January 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Lee Roy Parnell who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Lee Roy Parnell
This quote was submitted on Monday 22 January 2007.
‘I’ll start out by just laying it out.
I do now, and have always, loved Gene. In Texas, we do things a little different. We do it our own way.
Gene Watson laid the groundwork for so many of us. He doesn’t sound like anyone else. His rich and beautiful voice sets him apart from the rest.
His commitment to use his own band that has their own sound; hell, you knew it was a Gene record in the intro (think of the left hand on the piano).
He chooses his own songs and most importantly, has integrity. Just try and find that yesterday, today or tomorrow.
Bottom line, I am a Gene Watson fan. Always have been, always will be.
Keep ’em comin’, old friend!’
Thank you, Lee Roy Parnell, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Lee Roy Parnell…
Lee Roy Parnell is a native of Abilene, Texas where he was born on Friday 21 December 1956 and where he grew up on his parents’ ranch.
Lee Roy Parnell’s father had toured with a teenage Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975) in traveling medicine shows and his first public performance came on Bob Wills’ radio show at the age of six.
As a teenager, Lee Roy Parnell played drums in a local band and soon picked up guitar as well, eventually concentrating on slide playing. Lee Roy Parnell joined Kinky Friedman’s Texas Jewboys in his late teens and moved to Austin in 1974 to join the city’s budding music scene.
Lee Roy Parnell spent over a decade playing clubs in Austin, Houston and Dallas / Fort Worth, honing his style and song-writing.
La Costa recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘One Heartache’ (co-written with Cris Moore) and included the track on ‘Changin’ All The Time’ (Capitol Records, 1980).
Johnny Lee recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Short Changed’ (co-written with Bob Moulds and Kerry Prior) and included the track on ‘Workin’ For A Livin’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1984).
In 1987, Lee Roy Parnell moved to Nashville and quickly landed a publishing contract along with a regular spot at the famed Bluebird Café.
In 1989, Lee Roy Parnell signed to Arista’s Nashville division, and saw the release, on Tuesday 10 April 1990, of his self-titled debut album, ‘Lee Roy Parnell’ (Arista Records, 1990), which 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)
Lee Roy Parnell’s self-titled debut album, ‘Lee Roy Parnell’ (Arista Records, 1990), also included the following tracks:
‘Fifty-Fifty Love’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Where Is My Baby Tonight’ (written by Troy Seals and Graham Lyle)
‘Let’s Pretend’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore)
‘You’re Taking Too Long’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell, Gary Nicholson and Rory Bourke)
‘Mexican Money’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore) / this track was made into a promotional music video
‘Down Deep’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell, Gary Nicholson and Bucky Jones)
‘Red Hot’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore)
Personnel involved in the recording of Lee Roy Parnell’s self-titled debut album, ‘Lee Roy Parnell’ (Arista Records, 1990), included the following:
Barry Beckett (keyboards)
John Gardner (drums)
Jim Horn, Michael Haynes, Jack Hale and Quitman Dennis (horn section)
Bill Hullett (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Tim Loftin and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Joe McGlohon (saxophone)
Jonell Mosser, Harry Stinson, Bergen White and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Lee Roy Parnell (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, slide guitar, vocals)
John Willis (acoustic guitar)
Lee Roy Parnell’s self-titled debut album, ‘Lee Roy Parnell’ (Arista Records, 1990), received good reviews, but didn’t break Lee Roy Parnell commercially.
Shane Barmby (Monday 1 February 1954 – Thursday 27 October 2022) recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘All Riled Up’ (co-written with Gary Nicholson, Peter Rowan and Dan Penn) and included the track on his debut album, ‘Let’s Talk About Us’ (Mercury Records, 1989).
Pirates of The Mississippi recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Too Much’, which was co-written with Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016), and included the track on ‘Walk The Plank’ (Liberty Records, 1991); the track reached No.36 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
On Tuesday 28 April 1992, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘Love Without Mercy’ (Arista Records, 1992), which was produced by Barry Beckett and Scott Hendricks, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘The Rock’, which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019) and Jim Varsos (No.50, 1992)
‘What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am’ (written by Al Carmichael and Gary Griffin) (No.2, 1992)
‘Love Without Mercy’, which was written by Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015) and Mike Reid (No.8, 1992)
‘Tender Moment’ (written by Rory Bourke, Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell) (No.2, 1993)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Love Without Mercy’ (Arista Records, 1992) also included the following tracks:
‘Back In My Arms Again’ (written by Pat Mastelotto and Richard Page)
‘Ain’t No Short Way Home’ (written by Bob DiPiero and Jim Photoglo)
‘Road Scholar’ (written by Rory Bourke, Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell) / this track was a duet with Delbert McClinton
‘Night After Night’ (written by Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Done Deal’ (written by Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Roller Coaster’ (written by Rory Bourke, Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Love Without Mercy’ (Arista Records, 1992) reached No.66 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1992.
Sweethearts of The Rodeo (Kristine Arnold and Janis Oliver) recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Devil & Your Deep Blue Eyes’, which was co-written with Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019), and included the track on ‘Sisters’ (Columbia Records, 1992); the track reached No.74 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1992.
On Tuesday 26 October 1993, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘On The Road’ (Arista Records, 1993), which was produced by Scott Hendricks, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘On The Road’ (written by Bob McDill) (No.6, 1993)
‘I’m Holding My Own’ (written by Tony Arata) (No.3, 1994)
‘Take These Chains From My Heart’, which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954) and Hy Heath (No.17, 1994) / this track was a duet with Ronnie Dunn
‘The Power of Love’ (written by Don Cook and Gary Nicholson) (No.51, 1994)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘On The Road’ (Arista Records, 1993) also included the following tracks:
‘Country Down To My Soul’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore)
‘They Don’t Know You’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Gary Nicholson)
‘Straight Shooter’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Gary Nicholson)
‘Wasted Time’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Gary Nicholson)
‘Straight & Narrow’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Tony Haselden)
‘Fresh Coat of Paint’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell, Rory Bourke and Cris Moore)
Personnel involved in the recording of Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘On The Road’ (Arista Records, 1993) included the following:
Terry McMillan (Monday 12 October 1953 – Friday 2 February 2007) and Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Glenn Worf (bass)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, Wurlitzer)
Reese Wynans (organ)
Lee Roy Parnell, John Jorgenson, Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) and James Pennebaker (acoustic guitar, electric guitar)
Dan Dugmore (steel guitar)
John Jorgenson (mandolin)
Rob Parnell (harmonica)
Joy Lynn White, Jonell Mosser, Steve Mackey, Dennis Wilson and Harry Stinson (backing vocals)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘On The Road’ (Arista Records, 1993) reached No.59 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993.
Collin Raye recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘That’s My Story’ (co-written with Tony Haselden) and included the track on ‘Extremes’ (Epic Records, 1993); the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in March 1994.
In 1994, Lee Roy Parnell, Diamond Rio and Steve Wariner, as Jed Zeppelin, recorded ‘Workin’ Man Blues’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016); the track, which was included on ‘Mama’s Hungry Eyes: A Tribute To Merle Haggard’ (Arista Records, 1994), a various artists album, reached No.48 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994.
On Tuesday 1 August 1995, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘We All Get Lucky Sometimes’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1995), which included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘A Little Bit of You’ (written by Trey Bruce and Craig Wiseman) (No.2, 1995)
‘When A Woman Loves A Man’ (written by Rafe Van Hoy and Mark Luna) (No.12, 1995) / this track featured harmony vocals from Trisha Yearwood
‘Heart’s Desire’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore) (No.3, 1996)
‘Givin’ Water To A Drowning Man’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell) (No.12, 1996)
‘We All Get Lucky Sometimes’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Jimmy Scott) (No.46, 1996)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘We All Get Lucky Sometimes’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1995) also included the following tracks:
‘Knock Yourself Out’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Gary Nicholson)
‘If The House Is Rockin’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Mike Henderson and Wally Wilson)
‘Saved By The Grace of Your Love’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Mike Reid)
‘I Had To Let It Go’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Will Jennings)
‘Squeeze Me In’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Delbert McClinton)
‘Catwalk’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Flaco Jiménez) / this track was an instrumental, featuring accordionist Flaco Jiménez
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘We All Get Lucky Sometimes’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1995) reached No.26 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1995.
Kenny Chesney recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Back In My Arms’ (co-written with Cris Moore and Rory Bourke) and included the track on ‘Me & You’ (BNA Records, 1996).
The Cox Family recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Who’s Gonna Pay For This Broken Heart’ (co-written with Kostas) and included the track on ‘Just When We’re Thinking It’s Over’ (Asylum Records, 1996).
In 1996, Lee Roy Parnell recorded ‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ (written by Charles Brown and Gene Redd); the track, which was included on the various artists album, ‘Star of Wonder: A Country Christmas Collection’ (Arista Records, 1996), reached No.71 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1997.
On Tuesday 17 June 1997, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘Every Night’s A Saturday Night’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1997), which was produced by Lee Roy Parnell & The Hot Licks, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Lucky Me, Lucky You’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell) (No.35, 1997)
‘You Can’t Get There From Here’ (written by Tony Arata) (No.39, 1997)
‘All That Matters Anymore’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell) (No.50, 1998)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Every Night’s A Saturday Night’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1997) also included the following tracks:
‘One Foot In Front of The Other’ (written by Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Every Night’s A Saturday Night’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Glen Clark)
‘Tender Touch’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Bob McDill)
‘Better Word For Love’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Al Anderson) / this track featured guest vocals from Trisha Yearwood
‘Honky Tonk Night Time Man’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2017)
‘Baton Rouge’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and J.C. Crowley
‘Mama, Screw Your Wig On Tight’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell, Stephen Mackey, Kevin McKendree, James Pennebaker and Lynn Williams)
Personnel involved in the recording of Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Every Night’s A Saturday Night’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1997) included the following:
The Hot Links
Steven Mackey (bass guitar, fretless bass, bull fiddle, background vocals)
Kevin McKendree (piano, Hammond B-3 organ)
Lee Roy Parnell (electric guitar, slide guitar, National guitar)
James Pennebaker (electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, background vocals)
Lynn Williams (drums, percussion)
Additional musicians
Al Anderson (acoustic guitar)
Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) (acoustic guitar, gut string guitar)
Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016), Jonell Mosser, Harry Stinson, John Wesley Ryles, Dennis Wilson and Trisha Yearwood (background vocals)
Carl Gorodetzky, Bob Mason, Pam Sixfin, Gary Vanosdale and Kris Wilkinson (strings)
Strings conducted and arranged by Carl Marsh
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Every Night’s A Saturday Night’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1997) reached No.53 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1997.
The commercially disappointing ‘Every Night’s A Saturday Night’ (Career Records / Arista Nashville Records, 1997) proved to be Lee Roy Parnell’s last new album for Arista Nashville Records, which issued the compilation ‘Hits & Highways Ahead’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1999) to coincide with his departure from the record label.
On Tuesday 24 August 1999, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘Hits & Highways Ahead’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1999), his first compilation album, which included the following tracks:
‘She Won’t Be Lonely Long’ (written by Bob McDill) (No.57, 1999)
‘Heart’s Desire’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Cris Moore) (No.3, 1996)
‘Love Without Mercy’, which was written by Don Pfrimmer (Thursday 9 September 1937 – Monday 7 December 2015) and Mike Reid (No.8, 1992)
‘On The Road’ (written by Bob McDill) (No.6, 1993)
‘Long Way To Fall’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘A Little Bit of You’ (written by Trey Bruce and Craig Wiseman) (No.2, 1995)
‘I’m Holding My Own’ (written by Tony Arata) (No.3, 1994)
‘What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am’ (written by Al Carmichael and Gary Griffin) (No.2, 1992)
‘When A Woman Loves A Man’ (written by Rafe Van Hoy and Mark Luna) (No.12, 1995) / this track featured harmony vocals from Trisha Yearwood
‘Tender Moment’ (written by Rory Bourke, Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell) (No.2, 1993)
‘If The House Is Rockin’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Mike Henderson and Wally Wilson)
‘John The Revelator’ (traditional)
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Hits & Highways Ahead’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1999) reached No.63 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1999.
On Tuesday 12 June 2001, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘Tell The Truth’ (Vanguard Records, 2001), which included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘South By Southwest’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell and Dan Penn) / this track, which did not chart, featured guest vocals from Delbert McClinton
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Tell The Truth’ (Vanguard Records, 2001) also included the following tracks:
‘Right Where It Hurts’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Crossin’ Over’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Breaking Down Slow’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell and Dan Penn) / this track featured guest vocals from Bonnie Bramlett
‘Tell The Truth’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘I Declare’, which was written by Lee Roy Parnell, Mark Selby (1961 – Monday 18 September 2017) and Tia Sillers / this track featured guest vocals from Keb’ Mo’
‘Brand New Feeling’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell and Dan Penn) / this track featured guest vocals from The Mississippi Mass Choir
‘Guardian Angel’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell and Dan Penn)
‘Takes What It Takes’ (written by Lee Roy Parnell and Jack Pearson)
‘Love’s Been Rough On Me’ (written by Gretchen Peters)
On Tuesday 23 March 2004, David Lee Murphy saw the release of ‘Tryin’ To Get There’ (Audium Records, 2004); one of the included tracks was ‘Inspiration’ (written by David Lee Murphy), which featured guest vocals from Lee Roy Parnell, who also played slide guitar on the track.
Patty Loveless recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Old Soul’ (co-written with Tony Arata) and included the track on ‘Dreamin’ My Dreams’ (Epic Records, 2005).
On Tuesday 7 March 2006, Lee Roy Parnell saw the release of ‘Back To The Well’ (Universal South Records, 2006), which included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Daddies & Daughters’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell) / this track, which did not chart, featured guest vocals from Allison Parnell
Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Back To The Well’ (Universal South Records, 2006) also included the following tracks:
‘Back To The Well’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Something Out of Nothing’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Just Lucky That Way’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Old Soul’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Don’t Water It Down’ (written by Gary Nicholson, Lee Roy Parnell and Allen Shamblin)
‘You Can’t Lose ‘Em All’ (written by Tom Hambridge and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Breaking The Chain’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘The Hunger’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘That’s All There Is’ (written by Tony Arata and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Saving Grace’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Lee Roy Parnell)
‘Cool Breeze’ (written by Kevin McKendree and Lee Roy Parnell)
Willie Nelson recorded Lee Roy Parnell’s ‘Worry B Gone’, which was co-written with Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Gary Nicholson, and included the track on ‘Moment of Forever’ (Lost Highway Records, 2008); the track was a duet with Kenny Chesney.
• Visit Lee Roy Parnell’s official site at leeroyparnell.com