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 2019, 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 Mark Collie, which he submitted to this site on Friday 18 January 2019.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Mark Collie who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Mark Collie
This quote was submitted on Friday 18 January 2019.
‘Gene Watson is one of the finest pure country singers I’ve ever had the pleasure meeting.
He may not recall but, as a young struggling musician, I once opened a show for him in West Tennessee many years before I came to Nashville.
He was an inspiration to me and one of my early influences.
I wish I had a dime for every time I sang ‘Fourteen Carat Mind‘, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Larry Lee Favorite (Saturday 6 January 1940 – Saturday 26 May 2001)’
Thank you, Mark Collie, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Mark Collie…
Mark Collie was born George Mark Collie in Waynesboro, Tennessee on Wednesday 18 January 1956, and is an acclaimed country music singer, songwriter, musician, actor, record producer, and fundraiser for Type-1 diabetes study.
Mark Collie has won awards and acclaim for his music, his acting, and his philanthropy.
Mark Collie’s singing career has included five major-label albums, four albums for MCA Records and one album for Giant Records.
Sixteen of Mark Collie’s singles have charted on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, including the Top 10 hit singles ‘Even The Man In The Moon Is Cryin’ and ‘Born To Love You’.
Mark Collie has also written songs for a number of acclaimed country music artists, including Aaron Tippin, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Alabama, and JT Hodges.
Mark Collie’s acting career included roles in ‘Fire Down Below’ (with Steven Seagall), ‘The Punisher’ (with John Travolta) and ‘Kill Switch’.
In addition to his own recordings, Mark Collie has produced or co-produced albums for Brandt Vogel, JT Hodges, Kyle Sherman, and The Horn Family.
Mark Collie has acted in television series and movies, independent features and Hollywood feature films.
Starting in 1994 and continuing to the present day, Mark Collie has played a variety of characters, including Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) in the short ‘I Still Miss Someone’ in 1999, which he also co-wrote and co-produced with filmmaker John Lloyd Miller.
Mark Collie has appeared as Frankie Gray on the ABC series ‘Nashville’.
Mark Collie also had a small role as assassin, Harry Heck, where he played a song called ‘In Time’, in ‘The Punisher’, in 2004.
From the beginnings of his performing and recording career, Mark Collie’s singing and performing style drew comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003), as a result of his combination of rockabilly energy, intensity, and clever songwriting.
In 1989, Mark Collie began his career on MCA Records after being discovered by label representatives. Tony Brown, then-president of MCA Records, helped Mark Collie secure his recording contract.
On Tuesday 29 May 1990, Mark Collie saw the release of his debut album, ‘Hardin County Line’ (MCA Records, 1990), which was produced by Tony Brown and Doug Johnson, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Something With A Ring To It’ (written by Mark Collie and Aaron Tippin) (No.54, 1990)
‘Looks Aren’t Everything’ (written by Mark Collie) (No.35, 1990)
‘Hardin County Line’, which was written by Mark Collie and Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010) (No.59, 1990)
‘Let Her Go’ (written by Mark Collie) (No.18, 1991)
Mark Collie’s debut album, ‘Hardin County Line’ (MCA Records, 1990), also included the following tracks:
‘The Good News & The Bad News’, which was written by Mark Collie and Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022)
‘What I Wouldn’t Give’, which was written by Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022), Mark Collie and Vip Vipperman
‘Where There’s Smoke’, which was written by Mark Collie and Bobby Paul Barker (Sunday 19 November 1944 – Friday 20 November 2015)
‘Bound To Ramble’, which was written by Mark Collie, Michael Gordon and Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010)
‘Another Old Soldier’ (written by Mark Collie)
‘Deliver Me’ (written by Mark Collie and Bruce C. Bouton)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mark Collie’s debut album, ‘Hardin County Line’ (MCA Records, 1990), included the following:
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Mark Collie (lead vocals)
Barry Beckett (Thursday 4 February 1943 – Wednesday 10 June 2009) (piano)
James Burton (electric guitar)
The Fairfield Five Singers (background vocals on ‘What I Wouldn’t Give’)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Vince Gill, Harry Stinson and Curtis Young (background vocals)
Mac McAnally (acoustic guitar)
Steve Nathan (organ on ‘Deliver Me’ and ‘Another Old Soldier’)
Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 – Saturday 4 March 2023) (bass guitar)
Marty Stuart (acoustic guitar on ‘Hardin County Line’)
Mark Collie’s debut album, ‘Hardin County Line’ (MCA Records, 1990), reached No.57 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1990.
Mark Collie was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes as a teenager and, in the early 1990s, after finding success as a country music artist, Mark Collie began a series of celebrity/NASCAR events, which included Legend Car races and concerts that have raised millions of dollars for research into a cure for Type-1 juvenile diabetes.
Mark Collie’s efforts have resulted in a research Chair at Vanderbilt University, The Mark Collie Chair in Diabetes Research, and his Mark Collie Foundation continues to generate donations.
In February 1991, Mark Collie was part of a filmed benefit concert in Nashville’s Centennial Park, along with George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) to salute American troops in Operation Desert Storm. The concert was filmed by director John Lloyd Miller and distributed for free to Armed Forces Television and to United States troops throughout the Middle East.
On Tuesday 23 July 1991, Mark Collie saw the release of ‘Born & Raised In Black & White’ (MCA Records, 1991), which was produced by Tony Brown and Doug Johnson, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Calloused Hands’ (written by Pat Alger and Gene Levine) (No.31, 1991)
‘She’s Never Comin’ Back’ (written by Mark Collie and Gerry House) (No.28, 1991)
‘It Don’t Take A Lot’ (written by Mark Collie and Larry Shell) (No.70, 1992)
Mark Collie’s ‘Born & Raised In Black & White’ (MCA Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘When The Sun Goes Down’ (written by Mark Collie and Marty Stuart)
‘Ten Lonely Nights’ (written by Mark Collie and Paul Kennerley)
‘There Goes My Dream’, which was written by Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021) / this track was also recorded by The Chicks, who included it on ‘Shouldn’t A Told You That’ (Crystal Clear Sound, 1993)
‘Born & Raised In Black & White’ (written by Don Cook and John Barlow Jarvis)
‘Ballad of Thunder Road’, which was written by Robert Mitchum (6 August 1917 – Tuesday 1 July 1997) and Don Raye / the original version of this track was recorded by Tex Williams (Thursday 23 August 1917 – Friday 11 October 1985), who included it on ‘Country Music Time’ (Decca Records, 1962) / this track was also recorded by Robert Mitchum, who included it on ‘That Man’ (Monument Records, 1967)
‘Lucky Dog’, which was written by Verlon Thompson and Bill Caswell (passed away on Friday 17 February 2023) / the original version of this track was recorded by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989), who included it on ‘Don’t Close Your Eyes’ (RCA Records, 1988)
‘Johnny Was A Rebel’ (written by Mark Collie)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mark Collie’s ‘Born & Raised In Black & White’ (MCA Records, 1991) included the following:
Mark Collie (lead vocals)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
David Hungate (bass)
Mark Collie, Pat Flynn, Steve Gibson and Mac McAnally (acoustic guitar)
James Burton, Steve Gibson and John Willis (electric guitar)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar, Dobro)
John Barlow Jarvis and Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Hassell Teekell (organ)
Steve Gibson (mandolin)
Paul Franklin and Steve Gibson (Pedabro)
Steve Gibson and David Hungate (6-string bass)
Lance Dary, Jamie O’Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 – Thursday 7 January 2021), Jim Photoglo, Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019), Harry Stinson and Hassell Teekell (backing vocals)
Aaron Tippin recorded Mark Collie’s ‘I Miss Misbehavin’, which was co-written with Aaron Tippin and Charlie Craig (Friday 30 September 1938 – Friday 1 July 2011), and included the track on ‘Read Between The Lines’ (RCA Records, 1992).
Garth Brooks recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Something With A Ring To It’ (co-written with Aaron Tippin) and included the track on ‘The Chase’ (Liberty Records, 1992).
On Tuesday 5 January 1993, Mark Collie saw the release of a self-titled album, ‘Mark Collie’ (MCA Records, 1993), which was produced by Don Cook, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Even The Man In The Moon Is Crying’ (written by Mark Collie and Don Cook) (No.5, 1992)
‘Born To Love You’, which was written by Mark Collie, Don Cook and Chick Rains (Wednesday 5 November 1941 – Friday 21 January 2022) (No.6, 1993)
‘Shame, Shame, Shame, Shame’ (written by Mark Collie and Jackson Leap) (No.26, 1993)
‘Something’s Gonna Change Her Mind’ (written by Mark Collie and Don Cook) (No.24, 1993)
Mark Collie’s self-titled album, ‘Mark Collie’ (MCA Records, 1993), also included the following tracks:
‘Trouble’s Comin’ Like The Train’ (written by Mark Collie, Hillary Kanter and Even Stevens)
‘Keep It Up’ (written by Deborah Allen, Mark Collie and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘The Heart of The Matter’ (written by Mark Collie and Don Cook)
‘Linda Lou’ (written by Mark Collie, Hilary Kanter and Even Stevens)
‘Is That Too Much To Ask’ (written by Mark Collie, Don Cook and John Barlow Jarvis)
‘Hillbilly Boy With The Rock & Roll Blues’, which was written by Mark Collie and Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mark Collie’s self-titled album, ‘Mark Collie’ (MCA Records, 1993), included the following:
Mark Collie and Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Brent Mason and Brian Franklin (electric guitar)
Bruce C. Bouton (steel guitar, slide guitar)
John Barlow Jarvis (keyboards, piano)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar, upright bass)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Mark Collie (lead vocals)
Deborah Allen, John Wesley Ryles, Harry Stinson and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Mark Collie’s self-titled album, ‘Mark Collie’ (MCA Records, 1993), reached No.38 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1993, No.156 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 1993, No.6 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart in 1993, and No.8 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1993.
Deborah Allen recorded Mark Collie’s ‘If You’re Not Gonna Love Me’ (co-written with Rafe Van Hoy and Deborah Allen) and included the track on ‘Delta Dreamland’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993); the track reached No.44 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1993.
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Redneck Heaven’ (co-written with Billy Ray Cyrus, Terry Shelton, Michael Joe Sagraves and Danny Shirley) and included the track on ‘Storm In The Heartland’ (Mercury Records, 1994); the track featured guest vocals from Mark Collie and Danny Shirley.
On Tuesday 19 July 1994, Mark Collie saw the release of ‘Unleashed’ (MCA Records, 1994), which was produced by Don Cook, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘It Is No Secret’ (written by Mark Collie and Mike Reid) (No.53, 1994)
‘Hard Lovin’ Woman’ (written by Mark Collie, Don Cook and John Barlow Jarvis) (No.13, 1994)
Mark Collie’s ‘Unleashed’ (MCA Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
‘All I Want Is You’ (written by Mark Collie and James House) / this track featured guest vocals from James House
‘Waiting’ (written by Mark Collie, Even Stevens and Hillary Kanter)
‘Ring of Fire’, which was written by Merle Kilgore (Thursday 9 August 1934 – Sunday 6 February 2005) and June Carter Cash (Sunday 23 June 1929 – Thursday 15 May 2003) / this track featured guest vocals from Carlene Carter
‘Rainy Day Woman’ (written by Mark Collie, Don Cook and John Barlow Jarvis)
‘When You Belonged To Me’ (written by Mark Collie, Don Cook and John Barlow Jarvis)
‘God Didn’t Make Me That Strong’ (written by Mark Collie and Don Cook)
‘Lonely Streak’ (written by Mark Collie, Deborah Allen and Rafe Van Hoy) / this track was a duet with Deborah Allen
‘Unleashed’ (written by Mark Collie and Gary Nicholson)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mark Collie’s ‘Unleashed’ (MCA Records, 1994) included the following:
Deborah Allen (duet vocals on ‘Lonely Streak’)
Robert Bailey, Lorelei McBroom, John Wesley Ryles, Suzy Willis and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Bruce C. Bouton (steel guitar on ‘Lonely Streak’)
Mark Capps (Saturday 14 December 1968 – Thursday 5 January 2023) (electric guitar on ‘Ring of Fire’)
Carlene Carter (guest vocals on ‘Ring of Fire’)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Mark Collie (lead vocals, acoustic guitar)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
James House (vocals on ‘All I Want Is You’)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, synthesizer, Hammond B-3 organ)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar, upright bass)
The Nashville String Machine (Carl Gorodetzky, Pam Sixfin, Lee Larrison, Ted Madsen, Conni Ellisor, Alan Umstead, Dave Davidson, Mary K. Vanosdale, Bob Mason and John Catchings) (strings)
Dennis Burnside (strings arrangements)
Mark Collie’s ‘Unleashed’ (MCA Records, 1994) is notable for being Mark Collie’s last record for MCA Records before he switched labels to Giant Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records.
Archer/Parker (Randy Archer and Johnny Parker) recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Where There’s Smoke’ (co-written with Bobby Barker) and included the track on ‘We Got A Lot In Common’ (Atlantic Records, 1994).
In 1995, Mark Collie signed a recording contract with Giant Records and saw the release, on Tuesday 18 July 1995, of his only album for the label, ‘Tennessee Plates’ (Giant Records, 1995), which was produced by Mark Collie and James Stroud, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Three Words, Two Hearts, One Night’ (written by Mark Collie and Gerry House) (No.25, 1995) / this track was Mark Collie’s last Top 40 entry on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart
‘Steady As She Goes’ (written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill and Michael Murgrage) (No.65, 1995)
‘Lipstick Don’t Lie’ (written by Trey Bruce and Mark Collie) / this track was released as a single in 1996, but it did not chart
Mark Collie’s ‘Tennessee Plates’ (Giant Records, 1995) also included the following tracks:
‘There’s Just You’, which was written by Mark Collie, Dean Dillon and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘We’ll Never Say Goodbye’ (written by Mark Collie)
‘Tennessee Plates’ (written by John Hiatt and Mike Porter)
‘Memories (Still Missing Her)’ (written by Mark Collie and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Tunica Motel’, which was written by Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018) / this track featured Tony Joe White on electric guitar
‘Spirit of A Boy, Wisdom of A Man’ (written by Trey Bruce and Glen Burtnik) / this track was also recorded by Randy Travis, who included it on ‘You & You Alone’ (DreamWorks Nashville Records, 1998); Randy Travis‘ version of the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in late 1998
‘Those Days Are Gone’ (written by Lewis Anderson and Mark Collie)
‘Chasin’ A Dream Called Love’ (written by Mark Collie and Rafe Van Hoy)
Personnel involved in the recording of Mark Collie’s ‘Tennessee Plates’ (Giant Records, 1995) included the following:
Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar)
Mark Collie (lead vocals, acoustic guitar)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 – Wednesday 12 June 2019) and Matt Rollings (piano)
Dann Huff (electric guitar)
Paul Leim and James Stroud (drums)
Steve Nathan (Hammond B-3 organ)
Leland Sklar (bass guitar)
Tony Joe White (Friday 23 July 1943 – Wednesday 24 October 2018) (electric guitar on ‘Tunica Motel’)
On Tuesday 13 February 1996, Columbia Records released ‘NASCAR: Hotter Than Asphalt’ (Columbia Records, 1996), a multi-artist compilation album; one of the included tracks was Mark Collie’s recording of ‘Love To Burn’, which reached No.72 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
On Wednesday 3 April 1996, Aaron Tippin and Mark Collie helped organise and load a cargo plane with 25,000 country music cassettes for free distribution to United States troops in Bosnia, and was later awarded The American Spirit Award by the United States Air Force for his efforts.
Mark Collie has performed at benefits throughout his career for a diverse collection of causes, including The Nashville Food Bank, The Blue Note Fund, Fallen Police, and Victims of Domestic Violence, among others.
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Tenntucky’ (co-written with Billy Ray Cyrus) and included the track on ‘Trail of Tears’ (Mercury Records, 1996).
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Bluegrass State of Mind’, which was co-written with Alex Harvey (Monday 10 March 1947 – Saturday 4 April 2020), and included the track on ‘The Best of Billy Ray Cyrus: Cover To Cover’ (Mercury Records, 1997).
On Tuesday 15 July 1997, River North Records released ‘Jim Croce: A Nashville Tribute’ (River North Records, 1997), an album project which was dedicated to Jim Croce (Sunday 10 January 1943 – Thursday 20 September 1973); one of the included tracks was Mark Collie’s recording of ‘Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy)’ (written by Jim Croce), which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1997, but it did not chart.
On Tuesday 13 January 1998, MCA Records released a budget-line compilation, ‘Even The Man In The Moon Is Cryin’ (MCA Records, 1998), which included the following tracks, all of which were ‘live’ re-recordings of Mark Collie’s hit singles (original chart positions are shown in brackets):
‘Even The Man In The Moon Is Crying’ (written by Mark Collie and Don Cook) (No.5, 1992)
‘Shame, Shame, Shame, Shame’ (written by Mark Collie and Jackson Leap) (No.26, 1993)
‘It Don’t Take A Lot’ (written by Mark Collie and Larry Shell) (No.70, 1992)
‘She’s Never Comin’ Back’ (written by Mark Collie and Gerry House) (No.28, 1991)
‘Something’s Gonna Change Her Mind’ (written by Mark Collie and Don Cook) (No.24, 1993)
‘Calloused Hands’ (written by Pat Alger and Gene Levine) (No.31, 1991)
‘Let Her Go’ (written by Mark Collie) (No.18, 1991)
‘Looks Aren’t Everything’ (written by Mark Collie) (No.35, 1990)
‘Something With A Ring To It’ (written by Mark Collie and Aaron Tippin) (No.54, 1990)
‘Hardin County Line’, which was written by Mark Collie and Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010) (No.59, 1990)
Alabama recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Small Stuff’ (co-written with Hillary Kanter and Even Stevens) and included the track on ‘Twentieth Century’ (RCA Records, 1999); the track reached No.24 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Ain’t Love A Lot Like That’ (co-written with Dean Miller) and included the track on ‘Cold Hard Truth’ (Asylum Records, 1999).
Aaron Tippin recorded Mark Collie’s ‘I’d Be Afraid of Loving You’ (co-written with Leslie Satcher) and included the track on ‘People Like Us’ (Lyric Street Records, 2000).
In February 2001, Mark Collie delivered the eulogy for race car legend, Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. (Sunday 29 April 1951 – Sunday 18 February 2001), at a memorial service, which included performances by Vince Gill and Steve Wariner at Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.
Tim McGraw recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Forget About Us’ and included the track on ‘Set This Circus Down’ (Curb Records, 2001).
On Tuesday 25 September 2001, Billy Bob Thornton saw the release of ‘Private Radio’ (Universal Records, 2001), his first foray into recorded music following a successful movie career; the album was produced by Marty Stuart, and one of the included tracks was ‘Private Radio’, which was written by Billy Bob Thornton, Marty Stuart and Mark Collie.
On Wednesday 22 January 2006, Mark Collie saw the release of ‘Rose Covered Garden’ (Highway 24 Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
’80 Miles From Memphis’
‘Shackles & Chains’
‘Song For John’
‘Some Things You Can’t Take Back’
‘Rose Covered Garden’
‘Wildflowers’
‘Better Man Than Me’
‘Forget About Us’
‘Walk The Floor, Kill The Lights, Slam The Door’
‘On The Wings of Your Love’
Billy Ray Cyrus recorded Mark Collie’s ‘What About Us’ (co-written with Terry Shelton) and included the track on ‘Wanna Be Your Joe’ (New Door Records / Universal Music Enterprises, 2006).
Lynn Davis recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Down, Down, Down’ (co-written with Kathy Louvin) and included the track on ‘Wild Turkey & Seven Up’ (BSW Records, 2009).
In September 2013, Mark Collie signed to 101 Ranch Records, becoming the first artist signed to the record label.
On Friday 14 October 2016, Mark Collie & His Reckless Companions saw the release, on CD, vinyl and digital, of ‘Mark Collie & His Reckless Companions: Alive At Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary’ (Eagle Rock Entertainment, 2016), an album recorded ‘live’ at Tennessee’s Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, which was one of America’s most notorious penal institutions up until its closure in 2009.
Mark Collie & His Reckless Companions’ ‘Mark Collie & His Reckless Companions: Alive At Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary’ (Eagle Rock Entertainment, 2016) included the following tracks:
‘I Could’ve Gone Right’
‘Maybe Mexico’
‘Heaven Bound’ / this track featured guest vocals from Kelly Willis
‘Got A Feelin’ For Ya’ / this track featured guest vocals from Kelly Willis
‘On The Day I Die’
‘Dead Man Runs Before He Walks’ / this track featured guest vocals from Shawn Camp
‘Rose Covered Garden’
‘Why Me Lord’ / this track featured guest vocals from Kelly Willis
‘Do As I Say’
‘Someday My Luck Will Change’ / this track featured guest vocals from Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown
‘Folsom Prison Blues’
‘Reckless Companions’
‘Gospel Train’ / this track featured guest vocals from Brushy Mountain Prison Choir
Drawing inspiration from country music icon – and good friend – Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003), Mark Collie took note of not only Johnny Cash’s celebrated 1968 – 1969 ‘live’ albums recorded at California’s Folsom and San Quentin prisons, but how his 1958 performance affected inmate No.A-45200: the man the world now knows as Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
‘Without Johnny going to San Quentin’, Mark Collie stated, ‘there might not have been a Merle Haggard. A lot of lives were changed or made better as a result of that music’.
It was this transformative quality that moved Mark Collie to undertake a ‘live’ prison recording. Mark Collie wrote a batch of songs focusing on themes of crime and punishment just for this event, exploring the lives of those incarcerated with poignant detail and compassion.
Culled from the two performances at the prison, ‘Alive At Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary’ (Eagle Rock Entertainment, 2016) displayed Mark Collie’s musical dexterity, traversing a breadth of styles: country music, blues, gospel, bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll.
Personnel involved in the recording of Mark Collie & His Reckless Companions’ ‘Mark Collie & His Reckless Companions: Alive At Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary’ (Eagle Rock Entertainment, 2016) included the following:
Dave Grissom (guitar)
Mike Utley (keyboards)
Tommy Burroughs (guitar, mandolin)
Hassel Tekkle (accordion)
Willie Weeks (bass)
Chad Cromwell (drums)
Shawn Camp (guitar, fiddle, vocals)
Kelly Willis (vocals)
Wade Hayes recorded Mark Collie’s ‘Full Moon Summer Night’ (co-written with Wade Hayes) and included the track on ‘Old Country Song’ (Conabor Records, 2017).
Mark Collie has performed onstage with many country music artists, including Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003).
Mark Collie continues to tour actively, both in the United States and Europe.
• Visit Mark Collie’s official site at markcollie.com