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 2006, 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 Leona Williams, which she submitted to this site on Monday 19 June 2006.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Leona Williams who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Leona Williams
This quote was submitted on Monday 19 June 2006.
‘Gene Watson is one of the greatest singers in the industry.
His voice is unmatched in its ability to capture an audience with sincerity and communicate that feeling to everyone in the building.
Gene Watson is pure country at its finest’
Thank you, Leona Williams, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Leona Williams…
Leona Williams was born Leona Belle Helton in Vienna, Missouri on Thursday 7 January 1943 and picked up her professional last name from her first husband.
Leona Williams sang in her family band as a child and, by 1958, had landed her own radio show, ‘Leona Sings’, on Jefferson City’s KWOS.
It was also in 1958 when Leona married bassist Ron Williams and they both joined the road-show of Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022).
It was as a result of appearances on Jefferson City’s KWOS that brought her to the attention of Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), who asked Leona Williams to join her touring band as a bass player and backup vocalist.
Roy Acuff (Tuesday 15 September 1903 – Monday 23 November 1992) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Once More’ and included the track on ‘Once More – It’s Roy Acuff’ (Hickory Records, 1959).
In 1966, Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) enjoyed her first No.1 single on the Billboard country music singles chart with ‘Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)’.
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Get What You Want & Go’, which was co-written with Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) and Ron Williams), and included the track on ‘Don’t Come Home A-Drinking’ (Decca Records, 1967).
However, Leona Williams’ goal was to be a recording artist in her own right, so she signed as a solo artist with Hickory Records in 1968, where she cut a few minor hits for the label, including ‘Once More’, ‘Country Girl With Hot Pants On’ and ‘Yes, Ma’am, He Found Me In A Honky Tonk’.
It was also at this time that Leona Williams’ marriage to Ron Williams broke up.
Bobbie Gentry recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Papa’s Medicine Show’ and included the track on ‘Local Gentry’ (Capitol Records, 1968).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Broadminded’ (co-written with Jimmy Payne) and included the track on ‘Take Me To Your World / I Don’t Wanna Play House’ (Epic Records, 1968).
Although Leona Williams had joined Hickory Records in 1968, it wasn’t until February 1970 that she saw the release of ‘That Williams Girl, Leona’ (Hickory Records, 1970), her first album for the label, which included the following tracks:
‘Circle of Friends’
‘I Narrowed This Triangle Down To Two’
‘Papa’s Medicine Show’
‘Baby, We’re Really In Love’
‘This Ain’t A Home No More’
‘When I Stop Dreaming’
‘Once More’
‘Broadminded’ (written by Leona Williams and Jimmy Payne)
‘They’ll Never Take His Love From Me’
‘Woman’s Man’
‘Ten Minutes ‘Til Heartaches’
‘I Want Some More of This’
In August 1972, Leona Williams saw the release of her second album for Hickory Records, ‘The Best of Leona Williams’ (Hickory Records, 1972), which included the following tracks:
‘Happy Anniversary Baby’
‘Gentleman On My Mind’
‘Tom Lucas’
‘Country Music In My Soul’
‘Boys & Lucy Brown’
‘Yes, Ma’am (He Found Me In A Honky Tonk)’
‘Country Girl With Hot Pants On’
‘He’s Just You Made Over’
‘Out of Hand’
‘Ain’t That Fine’
‘How Great Thou Art’, which was written by Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (25 July 1899 – Tuesday 14 March 1989)
In 1974, with a broken marriage behind her and three children to bring up (one of those children was Ron Williams), Leona Williams decided to sign with RCA Records; she had a couple of songs produced by Ray Pennington (Friday 22 December 1933 – Wednesday 7 October 2020), but nothing came of them.
Connie Smith recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Dallas’ and included the track on ‘That’s The Way Love Goes’ (Columbia Records, 1974).
In January 1975, Leona Williams met Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘After Loving You’ (co-written with Merle Haggard and Ronnie Reno) and included the track on ‘It’s All In The Movies’ (Capitol Records, 1976).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Dallas’ and included the track on ‘I Still Believe In Fairy Tales’ (Epic Records, 1975).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) was putting the finishing touches to ‘My Love Affair With Trains’ (Capitol Records, 1976), so he asked Leona Williams to add harmony vocals to ‘Where Have All The Hobos Gone’, a track which was written by Leona Williams’ future husband, Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004).
In 1976, Leona Williams moved from Hickory Records to MCA Records, where she recorded a landmark album.
‘San Quentin’s First Lady’ (MCA Records, 1976), which was recorded on New Year’s Day (Thursday 1 January) 1976, was the first country music album to be recorded by a female country artist inside a prison and featured Merle Haggard‘s backing band, The Strangers; the album, which was released in September 1976, included the following tracks:
‘Introduction’
‘I’m Just Here To Get My Baby Out of Jail’
‘Cotton Eyed Joe’
‘Prisons Aren’t Only For Men’
‘Goodbye Comes Hard For Me’
‘I Wonder Where I’ll Find You At Tonight’
‘Workin’ Girl Blues’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘If Anyone Ought To Know’
‘Yes, Ma’m, This One Can’
‘San Quentin’
In 2005, Leona Williams’ ‘San Quentin’s First Lady’ (MCA Records, 1976) was subsequently released on CD.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘I Think It’s Gone Forever’ (co-written with Merle Haggard) and included the track on ‘Ramblin’ Fever’ (MCA Records, 1977).
In 1977, Leona Williams saw the release, in the United Kingdom, of ‘A Woman Walked Away’ (DJM Records, 1977), which included the following tracks, all of which were originally recorded for Hickory Records:
‘Happy Anniversary Baby’
‘Woman’s Man’
‘Broadminded’ (written by Leona Williams and Jimmy Payne)
‘I Narrowed This Triangle Down To Two’
‘This Ain’t A Home No More’
‘Anything Goes (‘Til Everything’s Gone)’
‘Ten Minutes ‘Til Heartaches’
‘They’ll Never Take His Love From Me’
‘When I Stop Dreaming’
‘I’m Not Supposed To Love You Anymore’
‘I Spent A Week There Last Night’
‘He’s Just You Made Over’
‘Gentleman On My Mind’
‘Yes, Ma’am (He Found Me In A Honky Tonk)’
On Saturday 7 October 1978, Leona Williams became Merle Haggard‘s third wife in a ceremony at which Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 – Monday 24 April 2006), Merle Haggard‘s second wife, served as a bridesmaid.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Bonnie Owens were married in 1965, but they separated in 1976. Bonnie Owens had also been married to country music legend, Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 – Saturday 25 March 2006), in the years between 1948 and 1953.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Mama, I’ve Got To Go To Memphis’ and included the track on ‘I’m Always On A Mountain When I Fall’ (MCA Records, 1978).
Leona Williams became an invaluable member of Merle Haggard‘s backing group.
Leona Williams and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) enjoyed a Top 10 hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart with ‘The Bull & The Beaver’ in early 1979; the track, which was a non-album track, reached No.8.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Where Have You Been’ and included the track on ‘The Way I Am’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Can’t Break The Habit’ (co-written with Merle Haggard) and included the track on ‘Back To The Barrooms’ (MCA Records, 1980).
In 1982, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘After I Sing All My Songs’; the track was included on the Merle Haggard and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) duet album ‘A Taste of Yesterday’s Wine’ (Epic Records, 1982).
In 1983, Leona Williams recorded an album of duets with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), ‘Heart To Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1983), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘We’re Strangers Again’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Leona Williams) (No.42, 1983)
Leona Williams & Merle Haggard‘s album of duets, ‘Heart To Heart’ (Mercury Records, 1983), also included the following tracks:
‘Heart To Heart Talk’ (written by Lee Ross)
‘Let’s Pretend We’re Not Married Tonight’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Leona Williams
‘You Can’t Break The Chains of Love’, which was written by Lewis Porter, Franklin Tableporter and Jimmy Wakely (Monday 16 February 1914 – Thursday 23 September 1982)
‘Waltz Across Texas’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984)
‘Waitin’ On The Good Life To Come’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Don’t Ever Let Your Lover Sleep Alone’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘It’s Cold In California’, which was written by Freddy Powers (Tuesday 13 October 1931 – Tuesday 21 June 2016)
‘I’ll Never Be Free’ (written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss)
‘Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down’, which was written by Rose Maddox (Saturday 15 August 1925 – Wednesday 15 April 1998)
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) & Willie Nelson recorded Leona Williams’ ‘All The Soft Places To Fall’ and included the track on ‘Poncho & Lefty’ (Epic Records, 1983).
Leona Williams also contributed a number of songs to Merle Haggard‘s country music career, two of which reached No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘You Take Me For Granted’ and included the track on ‘Going Where The Lonely Go’ (Epic Records, 1982); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May / June 1983.
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Someday You’re Gonna Need Your Friends Again’ and included the track on ‘Going Where The Lonely Go’ (Epic Records, 1982).
Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Someday When Things Are Good’ (co-written with Merle Haggard) and included the track on ‘That’s The Way Love Goes’ (Epic Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in June 1984.
In October 1984, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘Someday When Things Are Good’ (Mercury Records, 1984), which included the following tracks:
‘We Agree That We Must Be In Love’
‘Someday When Things Are Good’
‘More I See of Those Cowboys’
‘Midnight Love’
‘You Sure Make Cheatin’ Seem Easy’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘This Dream’s on Me‘ (MCA Records, 1982)
‘Telephone Line’
‘You Take Me For Granted’
‘I Dropped Your Name’
‘Melted Down Memories’
‘My First Night Away From Home’
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘If I Painted A Picture’ (co-written with Charles Browder) and included the track on ‘Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes’ (Epic Records, 1985).
In 1986, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘A Taste of Life’ (Loveshine Records, 1986), which included the following tracks:
‘No Love Line’
‘Way It Was’
‘A Taste of Life’
‘Honky Tonk Moon’
‘I’ve Got To Stop Lovin’ You’
‘Good Morning’
‘You Weren’t There’
‘Rock Me To Sleep’
‘Home Is Where My Heart Lies’
‘Miracle’
‘Virginia’
‘Dad’s Old Fiddle’
In 1990, Randy Travis & Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘We’re Strangers Again’; the track, which was included on Randy Travis‘ ‘Heroes & Friends’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1990), and earned a Country Music Association (CMA) nomination for ‘Duet of The Year’ for Tammy Wynette and Randy Travis.
The Forester Sisters – Kathy, June, Kim and Christy – recorded Leona Williams’ ‘You Take Me For Granted’ and included the track on ‘Talkin’ About Men’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991); the original version of this track, which was recorded by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), who included it on ‘Going Where The Lonely Go’ (Epic Records, 1982), was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in May / June 1983.
In 1983, Leona Williams left Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and filed for divorce.
Leona Williams moved back to Vienna in Missouri where she lived on a farm with her new husband, Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), who was a former member of Merle Haggard‘s band, The Strangers.
Leona Williams and Dave Kirby married in 1985.
Sadly, Dave Kirby passed away on Saturday 17 April 2004 – he was sixty-three years old.
Dave Kirby, who was a native of Brady in Texas where he was born on Sunday 10 July 1938, was a masterful songwriter and had had the privilege of having twenty-three of his compositions recorded by Gene Watson.
In 1999, Leona Williams saw the release of a solo album, ‘Melted Down Memories’ (Leona Records, 1999), which was produced by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), and included the following tracks:
‘I Ain’t Gonna Think About You’
‘Melted Down Memories’, which was written by Buck Moore and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999)
‘Guitar Pickin’ Song’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘He’s Just You Made Over’
‘Where The Soul of Man Never Dies’
‘You Weren’t There’
‘Telephone Line’
‘Someday When Things Are Good’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘Rock Me To Sleep’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004)
‘You Take Me For Granted’
‘Broken Record’
‘Where No One Stands Alone’ / this track was a duet with Ron Williams
‘I’m Almost Ready’ (written by Vince Gill)
‘My First Night Away From Home’ (written by Leona Williams)
In 2000, Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) and Hank Thompson (Thursday 3 September 1925 – Tuesday 6 November 2007) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Don’t Sing Me No Songs About Texas’; the track was included on ‘Johnny Bush Sings Bob Wills’ (Texas Music Group Records, 2000).
On Sunday 9 July 2001, Leona Williams & Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) saw the release of ‘Old Loves Never Die’ (Bear Family Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘Heart To Heart Talk’ (written by Lee Ross)
‘Let’s Pretend We’re Not Married Tonight’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Leona Williams
‘You Can’t Break The Chains of Love’, which was written by Lewis Porter and Jimmy Wakely (Monday 16 February 1914 – Thursday 23 September 1982)
‘Waltz Across Texas’, which was written by Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 – Thursday 6 September 1984) and Talmadge Tubb
‘We’re Strangers Again’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Leona Williams
‘Waitin’ On The Good Life To Come’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Don’t Ever Let Your Lover Sleep Alone’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘It’s Cold In California’, which was written by Freddy Powers (Tuesday 13 October 1931 – Tuesday 21 June 2016)
‘I’ll Never Be Free’ (written by Bennie Benjamin and George David Weiss)
‘Sally, Let Your Bangs Hang Down’, which was written by Rose Maddox (Saturday 15 August 1925 – Wednesday 15 April 1998)
‘We Agree That We Must Be In Love’ (written by Larry Shell)
‘Someday When Things Are Good’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘The More I See of Those Cowboys’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘Midnight Love’ (written by Buck Moore)
‘You Sure Make Cheatin’ Seem Easy’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Warren D. Robb / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘This Dream’s on Me‘ (MCA Records, 1982)
‘The Telephone Line’ (written by Marilyn Belken and Leona Williams)
‘You Take Me For Granted’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘I Dropped Your Name’ (written by Kenny Bell and Terry Skinner)
‘Melted Down Memories’, which was written by Buck Moore and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999)
‘My First Night Away from Home’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘Divorce On The Rocks’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Old Loves Never Die’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Warren D. Robb / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Old Loves Never Die‘ (MCA Records, 1981)
‘Waitin’ For My Turn’ (written by Jade Tana and Leona Williams)
‘Too Long A Time To Say Goodbye’, which was written by Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Warren D. Robb
‘Love & Honor’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘Tiny White Circle’ (written by Vera Lakey)
‘Thinking of Me’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘Tommy Lasorda’ (written by Leona Williams)
In 2002, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘This Is Leona Williams Country’ (Ernest Tubb Record Shops, 2002), which included eleven duets with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
On Tuesday 5 October 2004, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘Honorary Texan’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:
‘Yes, Ma’am (He Found Me In A Honky Tonk)’
‘Don’t Leave The Leaving Up To Me’
‘Dance ‘Til The Cows Come Home’
‘You’d Be Home By Now’
‘I’ve Called To Say I Love You One More Time’
‘Arms of A Fool’
‘Things I Almost Had With You’
‘Don’t Sing Me No Songs About Texas’
‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)
‘Memories To Burn’, which was written by Warren D. Robb and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Memories to Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985)
Gene Watson‘s ‘Memories to Burn‘ (Epic Records, 1985) also included ‘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), and featured backing vocals from Leona Williams, along with the exquisite guitar work of Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004); this track was included, for the first time on CD, on Gene Watson‘s ‘Ultimate Collection‘ (Universal / Hip-O Records, 2001).
‘Nobody’s Darling But Mine’
‘Goodbye’s Come Hard For Me’
‘I Walked From Dallas’
‘Misery’
Curtis Potter (Thursday 18 April 1940 – Saturday 23 January 2016) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Chicago Dancin’ Girls’, which was co-written with Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004), and included the track on ‘Chicago Dancin’ Girls’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2005).
In November 2005, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘I Love You Because’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:
‘Before You Lose It All’
‘I Fall Easy’
‘Blue Darlin’
‘It’s Tearing This Ole Heart Right Out of Me’
‘Yearning (To Kiss You)’
‘Dallas’ (written by Leona Williams)
‘I Love You Because’
‘I Barely Am Gettin’ By’
‘After I Sing All My Songs’
‘Three Nickles & A Dime’
‘From Dallas To Nashville With Love’
‘Texas Fiddle Song’
On Thursday 26 July 2012, Leona Williams’ ‘I Love You Because’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2005) was re-issued, on CD.
Pretty Miss Norma Jean recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Good Morning’ and included the track on ‘The Loneliest Star In Texas’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2005).
In 2006, Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 – Thursday 17 March 2011) saw the release of ‘The Way It Was’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2006), which was produced by Leona Williams and Justin Trevino, and included two tracks, ‘Dear John’ and ‘As Long as I Live’, which were duets with Leona Williams, along with ‘The Way It Was’, which was written by Leona Williams.
Ferlin Husky‘s ‘The Way It Was’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2006) also included recorded ‘Champagne Ladies’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999).
In April 2006, Frankie Miller saw the release of ‘The Family Man’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2006); one of the included tracks was ‘Two Lips Away’, which featured guest vocals from Leona Williams.
In September 2008, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘New Patches’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2008), which included the following tracks:
‘New Patches’
‘I’m Too Good To Be Better Than Nothing Again’
‘You Put Out An Old Flame Last Night’ (written by Dave Lindsey and Ernie Rowell) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Sometimes I Get Lucky‘ (MCA Records, 1983)
‘I’m Getting Better At Just Getting By These Days’
‘Many Happy Hangovers To You’
‘He’s Just On My Mind Again’
‘Somewhere In Colorado’
‘When He Touches Me’
‘Manhattan, Kansas’ (written by Joe Allen)
‘I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still In Love With You)’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Ole George’
‘For God & Country’
On Tuesday 7 October 2008, in what was seen as both a smart and obvious move, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘Leona Williams Sings Merle Haggard‘ (Ah-Ha Records / Faith Works Records, 2008), which included the following tracks:
‘Workin’ Girl Blues’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘The Bottle Let Me Down’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘It’s Not Love (But It’s Not Bad)’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Glenn W. Martin (Thursday 30 June 1932 – Sunday 12 May 2019)
‘Today I Started Loving You Again’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Bonnie Owens (Tuesday 1 October 1929 – Monday 24 April 2006)
‘If We’re Not Back In Love By Monday’
‘Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016)
‘You Take Me For Granted’
‘The Fightin’ Side of Me’
‘Hungry Eyes’
‘Someday When Things Are Good’
‘If We Make It Through December’
‘Okie From Muskogee’
‘Everybody’s Had The Blues’
‘Trying Not To Love You’
‘Someday We’ll Be Together’
Liz Talley recorded Leona Williams’ ‘The Way It Was’ and included the track on ‘More Than Satisfied’ (Diamond Music Group, 2009).
Liz Talley recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Johnny Getting Out of Jail Barbeque’, which was co-written with Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 – Saturday 17 April 2004) and Terry Radigan, and included the track on ‘More Than Satisfied’ (Diamond Music Group, 2009).
Johnny Rodriguez & Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) recorded Leona Williams’ ‘If Cheaters Never Win’, which was co-written with Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), and included the track on ‘Texas Legends’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2009).
On Tuesday 30 October 2012, Leona Williams saw the release of ‘By George This Is…Leona Williams’ (Ah Ha Entertainment Records, 2012), a tribute album to George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
Leona Williams’ ‘By George This Is…Leona Williams’ (Ah Ha Entertainment Records, 2012) included one brand new song, ‘Ole George’, which was written by Leona Williams, along with her renditions of classic country songs, which were originally recorded by George Jones.
Please note that Billboard country music single chart placings refer to those achieved by George Jones:
‘Window Up Above’ (written by George Jones) (No.2, 1960)
‘A Picture of Me, Without You’, which was written by Norro Wilson and George Richey (Saturday 30 November 1935 – Saturday 31 July 2010) (No.5, 1972)
‘He Thinks I Still Care’ (written by Dickey Lee and Steve Duffy) (No.1 for six weeks in Spring / Summer 1962)
‘I’ll Share My World With You’ (No.2, 1969)
‘Color of The Blues’, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007) and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) (No.7, 1958)
‘The Race Is On / White Lightning / Why Baby Why’ (medley)
‘The Race Is On’ (written by George Jones and Don Rollins) (No.3, 1964)
‘White Lightning’, which was written by J.P. Richardson (Friday 24 October 1930 – Tuesday 3 February 1959) (No.1 in April 1959)
‘Why Baby Why’, which was written by Darrell Edwards and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) (No.4, 1955)
‘I’m Not Ready Yet’, which was written by Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 – Friday 20 August 2021) (No.2, 1980)
‘Walk Through This World With Me’, which was written by Sandra Noreen Seamons (Friday 31 May 1935 – Friday 22 Aug 2014) and Kay Jeanne Savage (who passed away on Friday 18 December 2009)
(No.1 for two weeks in early 1967)
‘Things Have Gone To Pieces’ (No.9, 1965) / this track was a duet with Gene Pitney (Monday 17 February 1941 – Wednesday 5 April 2006)
‘When The Grass Grows Over Me’ (No.2, 1968)
‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’, which was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) (No.1 for one week in July 1980)
‘You Comb Her Hair’ (No.5, 1963)
‘Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?’, which was written by Troy Seals and Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 – Sunday 11 January 2004) (No.3, 1985)
Moe Bandy recorded Leona Williams’ ‘It’s All Over Town’ (co-written with Eric Blankenship) and included the track on ‘A Love Like That’ (Spur Records, 2020), which was produced by Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 – Monday 1 June 2020).
Moe Bandy recorded Leona Williams’ ‘Shoulda Been Singin’ Rock of Ages’ (co-written with Lance Miller and Austin Cunningham) and included the track on ‘A Love Like That’ (Spur Records, 2020), which was produced by Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 – Monday 1 June 2020).
• Visit Leona Williams’ official site at leonawilliams.com