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 Marty Raybon, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 14 September 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Marty Raybon who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Marty Raybon
This quote was submitted on Saturday 14 September 2013.
‘I would love to give a quote about Gene Watson!
I have been a tremendous fan of this guy’s singing for years.
His delivery and tone is the heart of who he is and the songs he sings’
Thank you, Marty Raybon, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Marty Raybon…
Marty Raybon was born in Greenville, Alabama on Tuesday 8 December 1959 and is known primarily for his role as the lead singer of the band Shenandoah, a role which he held from 1985 until 1997.
Lead guitarist, Jim Seales and drummer, Mike McGuire formed Shenandoah in 1984 as a house band in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with bass guitarist, Ralph Ezell (1953 – Friday 30 November 2007) and keyboardist, Stan Thorn, as well as lead singer, Marty Raybon, who had been a member of his father’s bluegrass band since childhood.
Mike McGuire invited songwriting friend, Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) to one of the session band’s shows.
Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) then invited them into his recording studio to record a demo, which he then pitched to Columbia Records’ CBS Records division.
The band first wanted to assume the name ‘The MGM Band’, a name which was rejected for legal reasons. CBS suggested ‘Rhythm Rangers’ and ‘Shenandoah’ as possible names; Marty Raybon chose the latter name because he thought that the name ‘Rhythm Rangers’ ‘sounded like an amateur band’.
In 1987, Shenandoah saw the release of their self-titled debut album, ‘Shenandoah’ (Columbia Records, 1987), which was produced by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Rick Hall, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘They Don’t Make Love Like We Used To’ (written by J.R. Adkins, Billy Henderson and G. Rogers) (No.54, 1987)
‘Stop The Rain’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) (No.28, 1987)
‘She Doesn’t Cry Anymore’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.9, 1988)
Shenandoah’s self-titled debut album, ‘Shenandoah’ (Columbia Records, 1987), also included the following tracks:
‘It Ain’t Love ‘Til It Hurts’ (written by W. Caylor and Billy Henderson)
‘The Show Must Go On’ (written by Steven Dale Jones and Mike McGuire)
‘What She Wants’ (written by B. Garfrerick, Billy Maddox and Billy Henderson)
‘She’s Still Here’ (written by Jim Seales)
‘I’m Gonna Hurt Her On The Radio’ (written by Tom Brasfield and Mac McAnally)
‘Lily of The Alley’ (written by Steven Dale Jones, Mike McGuire and Marty Raybon)
‘Can’t Stop Now’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Wendy Waldman)
On Tuesday 31 January 1989, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘The Road Not Taken’ (Columbia Records, 1989), their most successful album, which included six tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘She Doesn’t Cry Anymore’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson (No.9, 1988) / this track was previously included on ‘Shenandoah’ (Columbia Records, 1987)
‘Mama Knows’ (written by Tony Haselden and Tim Menzies) (No.5, 1988)
‘The Church On Cumberland Road’ (written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill and Dennis Robbins) (No.1 for two weeks in April / May 1989) / this track, with its two-week run at No.1 (No.1 for two weeks in April / May 1989), marked the first time in country music history that a country music band’s first No.1 single spent more than one week at the top of the Billboard country music singles chart
‘Sunday In The South’ (written by Jay Booker) (No.1 for one week in August 1989)
‘Two Dozen Roses’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Mac McAnally (No.1 for one week in December 1989)
‘See If I Care’, which was written by Walt Aldridge and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) (No.6, 1990) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1990
Shenandoah’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ (Columbia Records, 1989) also included the following tracks:
‘The Road Not Taken’, which was written by Rick Bowles and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
‘Changes’ (written by Billy Henderson and Billy Maddox)
‘She’s All I’ve Got Going’ (written by Mac McAnally)
‘Hard Country’, which was written by Rick Bowles and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
On Tuesday 22 January 1991, Shenandoah’s ‘The Road Not Taken’ (Columbia Records, 1989) earned a ‘Gold’ certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 copies in the United States.
In the wake of the success of ‘The Road Not Taken’ (Columbia Records, 1989), Shenandoah played three hundred shows in 1989.
On Wednesday 2 May 1990, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘Extra Mile (Columbia Records, 1990), their final album for Columbia Records, which included five tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Next To You, Next To Me’ (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright) (No.1 for three weeks in 1990)
‘Ghost In This House’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024) (No.6, 1990)
‘I Got You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005), Teddy Gentry and Greg Fowler (No.7, 1991) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
‘The Moon Over Georgia’ (written by Mark Narmore) (No.9, 1991) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
‘When You Were Mine’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Gene Nelson (No.38, 1991)
Shenandoah’s ‘Extra Mile (Columbia Records, 1990) also included the following tracks:
‘She Makes The Coming Home (Worth The Being Gone)’ (written by Rory Bourke and Mike Reid)
‘She’s A Natural’ (written by Lionel Cartwright)
‘Puttin’ New Roots Down’ (written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell)
‘Goin’ Down With My Pride’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Susan Longacre
‘Daddy’s Little Man’ (written by Billy Maddox and Mike McGuire)
Personnel, apart from Shenandoah, who were involved in the recording of Shenandoah’s ‘Extra Mile (Columbia Records, 1990) included the following:
Mickey Buckins
Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
Bill Darnell
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Owen Hale (drums)
Rick Hall
Carl Jackson
Lenny LeBlanc
Mac McAnally (acoustic guitar)
Steve Nathan (keyboards)
Mark O’Connor (fiddle)
John Willis
Shenandoah’s ‘Extra Mile (Columbia Records, 1990) was certified ‘Gold’ by the Recording Industry Associatio of America (RIAA).
In 1991, Shenandoah won the (ACM) Academy of Country Music’s ‘Vocal Group of The Year’ Award.
Following the release of Shenandoah’s ‘Extra Mile (Columbia Records, 1990), a band from Tennessee threatened to sue them over the use of the name Shenandoah. After a financial settlement was made with the Tennessee band, four other bands all filed lawsuits over Shenandoah’s name. The lawsuits depleted the money earned by Shenandoah on the road, which led to Marty Raybon asking Columbia Records to pay one-third of their legal costs.
Columbia Records refused to do so; Shenandoah subsequently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 1991 after paying more than $200,000 on court settlements.
Although the lawsuits allowed Shenandoah to keep its name, the bankruptcy filing terminated the contract with Columbia Records following the release, on Tuesday 31 March 1992, of ‘Greatest Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1992), a compilation album, which included the following tracks:
‘Any Ole Stretch of Blacktop’ (written by Frank Joseph Myers and Bernie Nelson) / this track was brand new to this collection / the original version of this track was recorded by Collin Raye, who included it on his debut album, ‘All I Can Be’ (Epic Records, 1991)
‘Mama Knows’ (written by Tony Haselden and Tim Menzies) (No.5, 1988)
‘Sunday In The South’ (written by Jay Booker) (No.1 for one week in August 1989)
‘The Church On Cumberland Road’ (written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill and Dennis Robbins) (No.1 for two weeks in April / May 1989) / this track, with its two-week run at No.1 marked the first time in country music history that a country music band’s first No.1 single spent more than one week at the top of the Billboard country music singles chart
‘Two Dozen Roses’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Mac McAnally (No.1 for one week in December 1989)
‘(It’s Hard To Live Up To) The Rock’ (written by Steve Baccus, Steve Dukes, Stan Munsey and Russ Zavitson) / this track was brand new to this collection / Stan Munsey later became Shenandoad’s keyboard player
‘Next To You, Next To Me’ (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright) (No.1 for three weeks in 1990)
‘Ghost In This House’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024) (No.6, 1990)
‘I Got You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005), Teddy Gentry and Greg Fowler (No.7, 1991) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
‘The Moon Over Georgia’ (written by Mark Narmore) (No.9, 1991) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
Shenandoah’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1992) reached No.43 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1992, and No.13 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 1992.
Columbia Records officials then filed a lawsuit against Shenandoah, claiming that it had tried to void its agreement with the label. Following the departure of Shenandoah, there were no other bands on Columbia Records’ Nashville division.
As a result, producer Larry Strickland assembled three musicians to create a new band called Matthews, Wright & King, in an attempt to keep a commercially successful band on the label.
On Tuesday 12 May 1992, following a move to RCA Records, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘Long Time Comin’ (RCA Records, 1992), which was produced by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Keith Stegall, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Rock My Baby’ (written by Curtis Wright, Bill Spencer and Phil Whitley) (No.2, 1992) / this track also reached No.2 on Radio & Records Chart in 1992, and No.1 on Gavin Report Chart in 1992
‘Hey Mister (I Need This Job)’, which was written by Renée Armand and Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022) (No.28, 1992)
‘Leavin’s Been A Long Time Comin’, which was written by Charlie Craig (Friday 30 September 1938 – Friday 1 July 2011), Stowe Dailey and Mike McGuire (No.15, 1992) / the music video for this track featured a guest appearance from Eddy Arnold (Wednesday 15 May 1918 – Thursday 8 May 2008)
Shenandoah’s ‘Long Time Comin’ (RCA Records, 1992) also included the following tracks:
‘Same Old Heart’ (written by Mac McAnally)
‘Right Where I Belong’ (written by Rick Bowles and Josh Leo)
‘I Was Young Once Too’, which was written by Richard Leigh and Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
‘Give Me Five Minutes’ (written by Robert Ellis Orrall)
‘Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting’ (written by Billy Maddox and Paul Thorn)
‘Rattle The Windows’, which was written by Troy Seals, Edward F. Setser (1945 – Monday 27 January 2020) and Jerry Phillips
‘There Ain’t No Beverly Hills In Tennessee’ (written by Mike McGuire and Marty Raybon)
Personnel, apart from Shenandoah, who were involved in the recording of Shenandoah’s ‘Long Time Comin’ (RCA Records, 1992) included the following:
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, slide guitar)
Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005)
Duncan Cameron
Stuart Duncan (mandolin)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Owen Hale and Roger Hawkins (drums)
Lenny LeBlanc (bass guitar, background vocals)
Mac McAnally, Keith Stegall and Billy Joe Walker Jr. (Friday 29 February 1952 – Tuesday 25 July 2017) (acoustic guitar)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Steve Nathan (keyboards, piano)
Matt Rollings (piano)
Jerry Salley (guitar)
Biff Watson (bass guitar)
John Willis
Curtis Young (background vocals)
In 1992, Shenandoah was nominated as ‘Vocal Group of The Year’ at the Academy of Country Music (ACM).
On Tuesday 27 July 1993, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘Under The Kudzu’ (RCA Records, 1993), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Janie Baker’s Love Slave’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006) (No.15, 1993)
‘I Want To Be Loved Like That’, which was written by Phil Barnhart, Sam Hogin (1950 – Monday 9 August 2004) and Bill LaBounty (No.3, 1993)
‘If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too)’ (written by Marty Raybon, Mike McGuire and Bob McDill) (No.1, 1994)
‘I’ll Go Down Loving You’, which was written by Chapin Hartford, Sam Hogin (1950 – Monday 9 August 2004) and Monty Powell (No.46, 1994)
Shenandoah’s ‘Under The Kudzu’ (RCA Records, 1993) also included the following tracks:
‘One Kind of Woman I Like’ (written by Marty Raybon, Mike McGuire and Don Cook)
‘Under The Kudzu’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
‘Nickel In The Well’ (written by Chris Waters and Lonnie Wilson)
‘If It Takes Every Rib I Got’ (written by Marty Raybon, Bud McGuire and Troy Seals)
‘The Blues Are Comin’ Over To Your House’ (written by Don Cook and Kix Brooks)
‘Just Say The Word’ (written by Mike McGuire)
Personnel, apart from Shenandoah, who were involved in the recording of Shenandoah’s ‘Under The Kudzu’ (RCA Records, 1993) included the following:
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Brent Mason (guitar)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Dennis J. Burnside (piano)
Bruce C. Bouton (steel guitar)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Tommy White
John Wesley Ryles and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
On Tuesday 31 May 1994, Columbia Records’ parent company, Sony Music Entertainment, released ten of Shenandoah’s Columbia songs in a ‘Super Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1994) compilation album:
‘Any Ole Stretch of Blacktop’ (written by Frank Joseph Myers and Bernie Nelson) / this track was brand new to this Shenandoah compilation album, ‘Greatest Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1992)
‘Mama Knows’ (written by Tony Haselden and Tim Menzies) (No.5, 1988)
‘Sunday In The South’ (written by Jay Booker) (No.1 for one week in August 1989)
‘The Church On Cumberland Road’ (written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill and Dennis Robbins) (No.1 for two weeks in April / May 1989) / this track, with its two-week run at No.1, marked the first time in country music history, that a country music band’s first No.1 single spent more than one week at the top of the Billboard country music singles chart
‘Two Dozen Roses’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Mac McAnally (No.1 for one week in December 1989)
‘(It’s Hard To Live Up To) The Rock’ (written by Steve Baccus, Steve Dukes, Stan Munsey and Russ Zavitson) / this track was brand new to the Shenandoah compilation album, ‘Greatest Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1992)
‘Next To You, Next To Me’ (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright) (No.1 for three weeks in 1990)
‘Ghost In This House’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024) (No.6, 1990)
‘I Got You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005), Teddy Gentry and Greg Fowler (No.7, 1991) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
‘The Moon Over Georgia’ (written by Mark Narmore) (No.9, 1991) / this track also reached No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
Shenandoah’s ‘Super Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1994), which reached No.65 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in January 1995, was certified ‘Gold’, with sales of 500,000 copies, in 2002, and was re-issued, with a different cover, in 2007.
It was also in 1994 when Shenandoah collaborated with Ricky Skaggs, on the track, ‘All I Ever Loved Was You’ (written by Dorothy Skaggs), which was included on ‘Keith Whitley: A Tribute Album’ (BNA Records, 1994), an album dedicated to Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989).
On Tuesday 15 November 1994, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1994), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Somewhere In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Rick Chudacoff) (No.7, 1994) / this track featured duet vocals from Alison Krauss and was her first Billboard Top 40 country music hit single, and helped to boost sales of her album, ‘Now That I’ve Found You: A Collection’ (Rounder Records, 1994)
‘Darned If I Don’t (Danged If I Do)’ (written by Dean Dillon and Ronnie Dunn) (No.4, 1995)
‘Heaven Bound (I’m Ready)’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006) (No.24, 1995) / the original version of this track was recorded by The Oak Ridge Boys, who included it on ‘Unstoppable’ (RCA Records, 1991)
‘Always Have, Always Will’ (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Woody Lee) (No.40, 1995)
Shenandoah’s ‘In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1994) also included the following tracks:
‘Cabin Fever’ (written by Marty Raybon, Bud McGuire and Lonnie Wilson)
‘I Wouldn’t Know’, which was written by Marc Beeson, Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Mike McGuire / this track was also recorded by Reba McEntire, who included it on ‘If You See Him’ (MCA Records, 1998)
‘Call It Love’ (written by Tony Haselden)
‘You Can Say That’ (written by Mike McGuire and Curtis Wright)
‘Every Fire’ (written by Cathy Majeski and John Scott Sherrill) / this track was later included on Jason Sellers‘ ‘A Matter of Time’ (BNA Records, 1999), Restless Heart‘s ‘Still Restless’ (Koch Records, 2004) and Neal McCoy‘s ‘XII’ (Blaster Records, 2012)
‘She Could Care Less’ (written by Billy Lawson) / this track was also recorded by Joe Nichols, who included it on his self-titled debut album, ‘Joe Nichols’ (Intersound Records, 1996)
Personnel, apart from Shenandoah, who were involved in the recording of Shenandoah’s ‘In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1994) included the following:
Bruce C. Bouton (pedal steel guitar, slide guitar)
Dennis Burnside (piano, Hammond B-3 organ)
Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar, ukulele)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, synthesizer)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
John Wesley Ryles and Dennis Wilson (background vocals)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Shenandoah’s ‘In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1994) became the band’s fastest-selling album; the first 175,000 copies were distributed with prepaid telephone cards, which included an 800 number that could be called to receive a greeting from the band members.
‘Somewhere In The Vicinity of The Heart’ won Shenandoah and Alison Krauss the Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Vocal Collaboration’ in 1995, and the Country Music Association (CMA) Award for ‘Vocal Event’ in 1995, while ‘Darned If I Don’t’ was nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best Country Vocal by A Duo Or Group’ in 1995.
On Tuesday 18 July 1995, Marty Raybon saw the release of a solo gospel music album, ‘Marty Raybon’ (Sparrow Records, 1995), which included the following tracks:
‘Master of The Wood’
‘Show ‘Em Your Sermon’
‘The Peace of Loving You’
‘Get Up In Jesus’ Name’
‘Drive Another Nail’
‘Daddy Talks To Jesus’
‘Take Jesus As Your Lawyer’
‘What Have I Done’
‘Harvest Wind’
‘When He Reigns’
In October 1995, Sparrow Records released a multi-artist country-gospel album, ‘Amazing Grace – A Country Salute To Gospel’ (Sparrow Records, 1995), to which Shenandoah contributed a rendition of ‘Beulah Land’.
In mid-1995, Shenandoah also covered The Beatles’ ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney), for inclusion on the various artists compilation album, ‘Come Together: America Salutes The Beatles’ (Liberty Records, 1995), the cover artwork of which was drawn by John Lennon (Wednesday 9 October 1940 – Monday 8 December 1980).
In late 1995, Stan Thorn left Shenandoah, while Ralph Ezell (Friday 26 June 1953 – Friday 30 November 2007) left the band in early 1996, with Rocky Thacker unofficially replacing Ralph Ezell on bass guitar. It was during this time that Liberty Records was renamed Capitol Records Nashville.
On Tuesday 2 April 1996, Shenandoah saw the release of their first album for Capitol Records, ‘Now & Then’ (Capitol Records, 1996), which was comprised of re-recordings of eight Columbia Records singles, the original recording of ‘Somewhere In The Vicinity of The Heart’, and five new songs.
Among these new songs was the album’s only single release, ‘All Over But The Shouting’, which peaked at No.43 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996.
Shenandoah’s first album for Capitol Records, ‘Now & Then’ (Capitol Records, 1996), included the following tracks:
‘All Over But The Shoutin’ / this was a new track, which was released as a single, reaching No.43 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1996
‘I Will Know You’ / this was a new track
‘Lonely Too Long’ / this was a new track
‘Deeper Than That’ / this was a new track
‘Nowhere To Go But Back’ / this was a new track
‘Mama Knows’ (written by Tony Haselden and Tim Menzies) / the original version of this track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988
‘She Doesn’t Cry Anymore’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Will Robinson / the original version of this track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988
‘Next To You, Next To Me’ (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright) / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for three weeks in 1990
‘Sunday In The South’ (written by Jay Booker) / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1989
‘Two Dozen Roses’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005) and Mac McAnally / the original version of this track was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for one week in December 1989
‘The Moon Over Georgia’ (written by Mark Narmore) / the original version of this track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991, and No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
‘The Church On Cumberland Road’ (written by Bob DiPiero, John Scott Sherrill and Dennis Robbins) / the original version of this track, which was No.1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart for two weeks in April / May 1989, marked the first time in country music history, that a country music band’s first No.1 single spent more than one week at the top of the Billboard country music singles chart
‘Ghost In This House’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024) / the original version of this track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &Tracks Chart in 1990
‘I Got You’, which was written by Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 – Monday 27 June 2005), Teddy Gentry and Greg Fowler / the original version of this track reached No.7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991, and No.1 on the Gavin Report Chart in 1991
‘Somewhere In The Vicinity of The Heart’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Rick Chudacoff) / this track is the original recording, which featured duet vocals from Alison Krauss, and reached No.7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1994
On Tuesday 17 September 1996, Shenandoah saw the release of their first Christmas album, ‘Shenandoah Christmas’ (Capitol Records, 1996); except for the original song ‘There’s A Way In The Manger’, the album comprised acoustic renditions of popular Christmas songs.
In 1997, Marty Raybon and his brother, Tim Raybon, formed The Raybon Brothers, and saw the release, on Tuesday 26 August 1997, of ‘The Raybon Brothers’ (Capitol Records, 1997), which was produced by Don Cook and Tony Brown, and included three tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Butterfly Kisses’ (written by Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas) (No.37, 1997) / this track also reached No.22 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1997, and No.36 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1997
‘The Way She’s Looking’ (written by Don Cook and Billy Lawson) (No.64, 1997) / this track also reached No.73 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1997
‘Falling’ (written by Lenny LeBlanc and Eddie Struzick) / this track, which was a duet with Olivia Newton-John (Sunday 26 September 1948 – Monday 8 August 2022), was released as a single in 1997, but it only reached No.96 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1997
Marty Raybon & Tim Raybon’s ‘The Raybon Brothers’ (Capitol Records, 1997) also included the following tracks:
‘Gettin’ Ready For The World To End’ (written by Bill LaBounty and Randy Goodrum)
‘Baby Blue’ (written by Don Cook and Al Anderson)
‘Your Love’ (written by Tim Raybon, Marty Raybon and Mike Curtis)
‘Every Fire’ (written by John Scott Sherrill and Cathy Majeski)
‘Hello Love’, which was written by Tim Raybon, Lewis Anderson and Sam Hogin (1950 – Monday 9 August 2004)
‘Just Tryin’ To Keep The Woman I Got’ (written by Don Cook and Al Anderson)
‘Tangled Up In Love’ (written by Vernon Rust and Keith Urban)
Personnel involved in the recording of Marty & Tim Raybon’s ‘The Raybon Brothers’ (Capitol Records, 1997) included the following:
Al Anderson and Mark Casstevens (acoustic guitar)
Bruce C. Bouton (steel guitar, Dobro)
Dennis Burnside (piano)
Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Larry Franklin (fiddle, mandolin)
David Hungate (acoustic bass, tic-tac bass)
John Barlow Jarvis (piano, B3 organ)
Brent Mason (electric guitar, gut string guitar)
Steve Nathan (piano, keyboards)
Brent Rowan (electric guitar, six-string bass)
Olivia Newton-John (Sunday 26 September 1948 – Monday 8 August 2022) (duet vocals on ‘Falling’)
John Wesley Ryles (background vocals)
Mike Severs (electric guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums, percussion)
Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
In 1997, following the disbandment of The Raybon Brothers, Marty Raybon assumed a solo recording career.
Marty Raybon continued to tour with Shenandoah until the end of 1997, when the remaining members disbanded and he sold the naming rights.
On Tuesday 15 February 2000, Marty Raybon saw the release of a second solo album, ‘Marty Raybon’ (Tri Chord Records, 2000), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Cracker Jack Diamond’ (No.63, 2000) / this track was Marty Raybon’s only solo Billboard country music chart hit single
Marty Raybon’s second solo album, ‘Marty Raybon’ (Tri Chord Records, 2000), also included the following tracks:
‘Searching For The Missing Peace’ (written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Tony Toliver)
‘Sitting On A Goldmine’ (written by Victoria Banks)
‘I Can’t Go For That’ (written by Walt Aldridge)
‘Summertown Road’ (written by Tom Damphier and Bill Luther)
‘That’s That’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024)
‘Don’t Tell Me You’re Not In Love’, which was written by Tony Colton, Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) and Bobby Wood
‘She Doesn’t Need Me Anymore’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Peter Cetera)
‘Cracker Jack Diamond’, which was written by Ronny Scaife (1947 – Wednesday 3 November 2010) and Neil Thrasher
‘If I Didn’t Love You’ (written by Deborah Allen and Rafe Van Hoy)
‘Deep Summer (In The Deep South)’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024)
It was also in 2000 when Jim Seales, Mike McGuire and Rocky Thacker reunited as Shenandoah, with three new members, lead singer Brent Lamb, songwriter / keyboardist Stan Munsey and guitarist / vocalist Curtis Wright who, before joining Shenandoah, had been a member of the Super Grit Cowboy Band in the 1980s, then a solo artist and one-half of the duo, Orrall & Wright, with Robert Ellis Orrall.
On Tuesday 12 September 2000, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘Shenandoah 2000’ (Free Falls Records, 2000), which included the band’s last chart single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, ‘What Children Believe’, which reached No.65 in 2000.
Shenandoah’s ‘Shenandoah 2000’ (Free Falls Records, 2000) also included the following tracks:
‘Building A Home’
‘Tied To A Tumbleweed’
‘Something I Fell Into’
‘I Really Don’t Want To Know’
‘Room To Run Around’
‘Hillbilly Hotel’
‘When You Were Mine’
‘Make The Best of It’
‘Loving You Again’
‘Lickity Split’
‘The Booger Song’
In 2001, Shenandoah toured small venues in order to promote ‘Shenandoah 2000’ (Free Falls Records, 2000).
In 2002, Brent Lamb left Shenandoah, with Curtis Wright succeeding him on lead vocals and original bassist Ralph Ezell later re-joining.
On Tuesday 11 March 2003, Marty Raybon saw the release of ‘Full Circle’ (Doobie Shea Records, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘Down The Road’
‘Everything’
‘That’s One’
‘Summertown Road’
‘Rocky Road Blues’
‘All In The Hands of Jesus’
‘Home Run Man’
‘Next To You, Next To Me’
‘Ghost In This House’, which was written by Hugh Prestwood (Thursday 2 April 1942 – Sunday 22 September 2024) / the original version of this track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &Tracks Chart in 1990
‘White House Blues’
‘Webster’s Definition’
‘Prayer Bells of Heaven’
‘The Last Song’
On Tuesday 17 January 2006, Shenandoah saw the release of ‘Journeys’ (Cumberland Road Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘Same Boat Now’
‘Mr. One Man Band’
‘Running Cause I Can’t Fly’
‘Right’
‘Loving You Again’
‘Hillbilly Hotel’
‘When You Were Mine’
‘Tied To A Tumbleweed’
‘Joleena’s Getting Married’
‘Driving Me’
On Tuesday 11 March 2006, Marty Raybon’s ‘Full Circle’ (Doobie Shea Records, 2003) was re-issued by Rural Rhythm Records.
On Monday 14 August 2006, Marty Raybon saw the release of ‘The Grass I Grew Up On’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘Highway Headed South’
‘Alone With You’
‘I Can’t Even Walk (Without You Holding My Hand)’
‘Shenandoah Saturday Night’
‘The Nerve’
‘That Home Above’
‘The Water’s So Cold’
‘Dixie In My Eye’
‘Sit Down (& Pray)’
‘Standing Tall & Tough’
‘The Fuss’
‘Roustabout’
On Tuesday 21 November 2006, Marty Raybon saw the release of ‘When The Sand Runs Out’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘Suzanne’
‘Shenandoah Saturday Night’
‘You Ain’t Going Nowhere’
‘When The Sand Runs Out’
‘Throw Dirt’
‘Who Are You’
‘Come Early Morning’
‘Wish I’d Never’
‘Right Where I Belong’
‘I Know Love’
‘All Came Through The Blood’
‘Down The Road’
On Friday 30 November 2007, Ralph Ezell, of Shenandoah, died of a heart attack, and Mike Folsom succeeded him on bass guitar. Curtis Wright left Shenandoah to join a re-established Pure Prairie League, and songwriter Jimmy Yeary took over as lead singer.
In April 2009, the Shenandoah line-up of Jimmy Yeary, Mike Folsom, Mike McGuire, Stan Munsey and Jim Seales performed a benefit concert in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in which Curtis Wright and Marty Raybon also participated.
Mike McGuire, Jimmy Yeary and Billy Ryan co-wrote a song called ‘You Never Know’ as a tribute to Ralph Ezell (1953 – Friday 30 November 2007), which Darryl Worley recorded and included on ‘Sounds Like Life’ (Stroudavarious Records, 2009).
In 2009 and 2010, Shenandoah continued to tour with Jimmy Yeary on lead vocals, mostly playing at community festivals and county fairs.
In November 2009, Jimmy Yeary became engaged to country-gospel singer Sonya Isaacs (of The Isaacs).
In 2009, Marty Raybon took part in the Rhonda Vincent Bluegrass Cruise.
On Thursday 30 April 2009, Marty Raybon saw the release of ‘This, That & The Other’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2009), which included the following tracks:
‘Leavin’ On The Next Thing Smokin’
‘Everybody’s Reaching (Out For Someone)’
‘I Cast My Bread Upon The Water’
‘You Get Me’
‘Luzianna Nan’
‘Going Through Hell (To Get There)’
‘Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half As Bad As Losing You)’
‘The Immigrant Song’
‘Timber (Stand Back & Watch It Fall)’
‘The Devil’s Ol’ Workshop’
‘Ain’t Love A Lot Like That’
‘Blackjack County Chain’
‘Didn’t It Rain Rain Children’
‘Any Ol’ Stretch of Black Top’
On Monday 26 March 2012, Marty Raybon saw the release of ‘Hand To The Plow’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2012), which was produced by Mark Carman, and included the following tracks:
‘I’ve Seen What He Can Do’
‘I’m Working On A Building’ / this track featured guest vocals from Trace Adkins, T. Graham Brown and Jimmy Fortune
‘He’s Still Doing Miracles Today’
‘Walking With God At A Guilty Distance’
‘When He Reigns, It Pours’
‘What Have I Done To Deserve This’
‘You Get Me’
‘He’s Still My Little Man’ (Matty’s Song)
‘Bright New Morning’
‘You’ve Got To Move’
Personnel involved in the recording of Marty Raybon’s ‘Hand To The Plow’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2012) included the following:
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Lonnie Wilson (drums)
Larry Franklin (fiddle)
Mike Johnson and Sonny Garish (steel guitar)
Gary Prim (synthesizer)
James Mitchell and Kelly Back (guitar)
Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar, banjo)
Ron Oates (piano)
Scott Sanders (steel guitar, Dobro)
Joel Key (acoustic guitar)
Mark Carman (piano, synthesizer)
Tim Raybon (background vocals)
On Tuesday 10 April 2012, Marty Raybon saw the release of ‘Southern Roots & Branches (Yesterday & Today)’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2012), which included the following tracks:
‘Dirt Road Heartache’
‘Long Hard Road’
‘Rocky Road Blues’
‘Get Up In Jesus Name’
‘Beulah Land’
‘White House Blues’
‘Big Pain’
‘Home Run Man’
‘Ghost In This House’
‘Prayer Bells In Heaven’
‘Next To You, Next To Me’
‘Down The Road’
Personnel involved in the recording of Marty Raybon’s ‘Southern Roots & Branches (Yesterday & Today)’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2012) included the following:
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Bryan Sutton (guitar, mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Tim Stafford (guitar)
Kenny Smith
David Talbot (banjo)
Scott Napier (mandolin)
Justin Moses (Dobro, banjo, mandolin, fiddle)
Shad Cobb (fiddle)
Ashby Frank
On Tuesday 26 March 2013, Marty Raybon & Full Circle saw the release of ‘Back Forty’ (Rural Rhythm Records, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘That Janie Backer’
‘She’s Just an Old Love Turned Memory’
‘Late Night Cry of The Whippoorwill’
‘Slowly’
‘Look For Me’
‘Big Burnsville Jail’
‘Little More Sawdust On The Floor’
‘Only You, Only You’
‘Hurt Me All the Time’
‘Mountain Love’
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