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 2018, 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 Monte Warden, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 13 February 2018.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Monte Warden who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Monte Warden
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 13 February 2018.
‘Hey, Sean – Monte Warden here!
Thank you for asking me to say a few words about Gene Watson.
Gene has always been one of my favourite country singers, since ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon‘ came out. I wanna say 1975, I think I was about eight or nine years old.
And my Dad would play that in his truck. We’d listen to KOKE here in Austin and that on the radio every five minutes.
And then ‘Paper Rosie‘, and ‘Fourteen Carat Mind‘, and ‘Farewell Party‘.
Gene has always been one of my very, very favourite country singers.
And, in 1988, my group, The Wagoneers, got to open for him, a couple or three times.
And, it seemed like he was enjoying a big hit
He hadn’t had a hit in a few years, and it was, I think, ‘Don’t Waste It On The Blues‘ was a Top 10 record, and his tour manager gave me his Gene Watson members only tour jacket, and I’ve kept it for all these thirty years as a prized possession.
And my wife Brandi, when she and I got together in the late ’90s, her Daddy is a songwriter, Phil Thomas (1944 – Saturday 5 January 2019), and we were talking about cuts he’d had. He’d written songs for Alabama, and George Strait, and she said he wrote ‘Drinkin’ My Way Back Home‘ for Gene Watson.
And, I went, oh my gosh, that’s one of my favourite songs that Gene Watson ever did.
So, I love Gene. I think he deserves to be in The Country Music Hall of Fame.
I think he deserves to be a household name as one of the greatest country singers that ever lived or will ever live.
So, thanks again for asking me to say a few words about him’
Thank you, Monte Warden, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Monte Warden…
Monte Warden is a native of Austin, Texas where he was born on Wednesday 26 April 1967.
Monte Warden won his first of many Austin Music Awards (for ‘Best New Band’) when he was fifteen years old. The band in question was the rockabilly trio Whoa Trigger!, which the young Monte Warden rode all the way into his next project.
The even more popular and highly influential, Wagoneers, were formed in 1986 and scored a major label record deal with A&M Records after performing at the first South By South West Festival in 1987.
Wagoneers consisted of Monte Warden (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Brent Wilson (lead guitar, backing vocals), Craig Allan Pettigrew (bass) and Thomas A. Lewis Jr. (drums).
Wagoneers’ ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988) was produced by Emory Gordy Jr., and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘I Wanna Know Her Again’ (written by Monte Warden) (No.43, 1988) / this track also reached No.32 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1988
‘Every Step of The Way’ (written by Monte Warden) (No.52, 1988) / this track also reached No.18 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1988
‘Help Me Get Over You’ (written by Monte Warden) (No.66, 1989)
Wagoneers’ ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988) also included the following tracks:
‘I Confess’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘So Many Mistakes’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Please Don’t Think I’m Guilty’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Stout & High’ (written by Monte Warden) / Herb Alpert played trumpet on this track
‘It’ll Take Some Time’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Lie & Say You Love Me’ (written by Monte Warden and Brent Wilson)
‘Hell Town’ (written by Monte Warden and Brent Wilson)
‘All Nite’ (written by Monte Warden)
Wagoneers’ ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988) reached No.47 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1988.
In 1989, Wagoneers saw the release of ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989), which was produced by Emory Gordy Jr., and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Sit A Little Closer’ (written by Monte Warden and Mas Palermo) (No.53, 1989) / this track also reached No.48 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1989
Wagoneers‘ ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989) also included the following tracks:
‘Everybody Calls My Babe Honey’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Por Favor Señor’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Take Me’ (written by Craig Pettigrew and Monte Warden)
‘Champagne & Chandeliers’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Good Fortune’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘She Wouldn’t Have It’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Atlanta’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Test of Time’ (written by Monte Warden and Paul Kennerley)
‘I Can’t Stay’ (written by Monte Warden)
Personnel involved in the recording of Wagoneers‘ ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989) included the following:
Biff Watson, Emory Gordy Jr. and Richard Bennett (acoustic guitar, additional acoustic guitar)
Thomas A. Lewis Jr. (drums)
David Schnaufer (circa 1953 – Wednesday 23 August 2006) (dulcimer)
Craig Pettigrew (electric bass, six-string bass)
Sleepy LaBeef (lead guitar)
Glen Duncan (fiddle)
Monte Warden (lead vocals, rhythm guitar)
Glen D. Hardin (piano)
Kayton Roberts (pedal steel guitar)
Ed Enoch, Guy Penrod, Larry Strickland and Tony King (vocal quartet)
Brent Wilson (vocals, lead electric guitar, acoustic guitar)
Wagoneers‘ ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989) did not chart on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart.
Wagoneers received rave reviews, played on ‘Austin City Limits’, on the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and found themselves sharing the stage with both country music and rock music legends.
Then, in late 1989, Wagoneers suddenly called it quits, but not before establishing themselves as originators and innovators. Wagoneers truly helped lay the foundation for the Americana and alt-country movement of the 1990s. Wagoneers‘ popularity never took off on a nationwide scale in the Unted States; the band broke up in 1990.
In 1995, Monte Warden said in an interview, when he was pursuing a solo career, that ‘There were a lot of reasons why the Wagoneers didn’t happen on a bigger scale. Number one, we were on a pop label (A&M Records) that had never attempted to get in the country music market before. Two, even though it was just four or five years ago, that was light years in regards to country music’s popularity and we were a different group, a bit unique at that time. That, and maybe country radio wasn’t just ready for those songs. It doesn’t matter what the success level was, for me; I was just pleased to get to make records’.
Kelly Willis recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Don’t Be Afraid’ and included the track on ‘Well Travelled Love’ (MCA Records, 1990).
Kelly Willis recorded Monte Warden’s ‘One More Time’ (co-written with Emory Gordy Jr.) and included the track on ‘Well Travelled Love’ (MCA Records, 1990).
Kelly Willis recorded Monte Warden’s ‘I’ll Try Again’ (co-written with Jim Lauderdale) and included the track on ‘Bang Bang’ (MCA Records, 1991); the track was subsequently included on Kelly Willis’ ‘One More Time: The MCA Recordings’ (MCA Records, 2000).
Patty Loveless recorded Monte Warden’s ‘If You Don’t Want Me’ (co-written with Emory Gordy Jr.) and included the track on ‘Up Against My Heart’ (MCA Records, 1991).
In 1993, Monte Warden saw the release of his self-titled solo debut album, ‘Monte Warden’ (Watermelon Records, 1993), which was produced by Dave McNair and Mas Palermo, and included the following tracks:
‘Don’t Know A Thing’ (written by Monte Warden, Mas Palermo and Brad Fordham)
‘Forever From Now On’
‘Til She Walked In’
‘Give My Heart A Break’ / this track featured guest vocals from Malford Milligan and Mike Cross
‘The Only One’ (written by Monte Warden and Bruce Robison) / this track featured guest vocals from Kelly Willis
‘It’s Amazing’
‘Feel Better’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Everyday We Fall In Love’
‘Just To Hear Your Voice’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘All I Want Is You’
‘Car Seat’
Personnel involved in the recording of Monte Warden’s self-titled solo debut album, ‘Monte Warden’ (Watermelon Records, 1993), included the following:
Brad Fordham (bass, vocals)
Mas Palermo (drums, vocals, castanets)
David Murray (electric guitar)
Brent Wilson (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, vocals, bass)
Monte Warden (lead vocals, rhythm guitar)
Nick Connolly (Hammond B3 organ)
Dave McNair (percussion)
Floyd Domino (piano)
Kelly Willis (guest vocals on ‘The Only One’)
Malford Milligan and Mike Cross (guest vocals on ‘Give My Heart A Break’)
Monte Warden’s self-titled solo debut album, ‘Monte Warden’ (Watermelon Records, 1993), was named one of the 100 best American albums of the 20th century by New Music Express.
Toni Price (Monday 13 March 1961 – Friday 22 November 2024) recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Just To Hear Your Voice’ and included the track on ‘Swim Away’ (Discovery Records, 1993).
In 1995, Monte Warden saw the release of ‘Here I Am’ (Watermelon Records, 1995), which was produced by Mas Palermo and David Leonard, and included the following tracks:
‘Here I Am’ (written by Mas Palermo and Monte Warden)
‘The Way I Feel’ (written by Mas Palermo and Monte Warden)
‘I Need You’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Dyin’ Inside’ (written by Mas Palermo and Monte Warden)
‘You’re In Love’ (written by Mas Palermo and Monte Warden)
‘Wall Around Your Heart’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘Teardrops’ (written by Trish Mitchell and Monte Warden)
‘Wicked Lies’ (written by Mas Palermo and Monte Warden)
‘Just Like Me’ (written by Paul Kennerley and Monte Warden)
‘Do You Remember’ (written by Monte Warden)
James House recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Know Mercy‘ (co-written with James House and Brandi Warden) and included the track on ‘Songwriters Serenade’ (Victor House Recordings, 2015).
Bruce Robison recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Desperately’ (co-written with Bruce Robison) and included the track on ‘Wrapped’ (Sony Music Distribution, 1998).
Bruce Robison recorded Monte Warden’s ‘End Like That’ (co-written with Bruce Robison) and included the track on ‘Wrapped’ (Sony Music Distribution, 1998).
Danni Leigh recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Chain Me’ (co-written with Doug Swander and Danni Leigh) and included the track on ’29 Nights’ (Universal Records, 1998).
On Tuesday 9 March 1999, Monte Warden saw the release of ‘A Stranger To Me Now’ (Elektra Records, 1999), which was produced by Joe Thomas, and included the following tracks:
‘Your Heart Will Come Around’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘The Love You Promised Me’ (written by John Bettis, Ray Vega and Monte Warden)
‘It’s Only Love’ (written by Colin Boyd and Monte Warden)
‘For You’ (written by Michael Noble and Monte Warden)
‘I Take Your Love’ (written by Mas Palermo and Monte Warden)
‘A Stranger To Me Now’ (written by Bill Lloyd and Monte Warden)
‘Someday’ (written by Monte Warden and Mike Noble)
‘Just To Hear Your Voice’ (written by Monte Warden)
‘I Can’t Tell My Heart What To Do’ (written by Bill Lloyd and Monte Warden)
‘Madeline’ (written by Mas Palermo and Bruce Robison)
‘Another Try’ (written by Bill Lloyd and Monte Warden)
Travis Tritt recorded Monte Warden’s ‘I Wish I Was Wrong’ (co-written with Tommy Connors) and included the track on ‘Down The Road I Go’ (Columbia Records, 2000).
George Strait recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Desperately’ (co-written with Bruce Robison) and included the track on ‘Honkytonkville’ (MCA Records, 2003); the track, which reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2004, earned Monte Warden, in March 2007, the prestigious BMI ‘Million-Air’ Award, signifying over one million radio performances of the song.
Bill Lloyd recorded Monte Warden’s ‘One Last Look‘ (co-written with Bill Lloyd) and included the track on ‘Horizontal Hold’ (Bill Lloyd Self Release, 2005).
Bill Lloyd recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Horizontal Hold‘ (co-written with Bill Lloyd) and included the track on ‘Horizontal Hold’ (Bill Lloyd Self Release, 2005).
Bill Lloyd recorded Monte Warden’s ‘I Can’t Tell My Heart What To Do‘ (co-written with Bill Lloyd) and included the track on ‘Horizontal Hold’ (Bill Lloyd Self Release, 2005).
In late 2005, Monte Warden was awarded his first BMI Award for success in the country music field.
Bruce Robison recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Anywhere But Here’ (co-written with Bruce Robison) and included the track on ‘It Came From San Antonio’ (Premium Latin Music, 2007).
In 2008, Carrie Underwood recorded Monte Warden’s ‘It Hurts So Much’, but the track was never released.
In 2011, Wagoneers were asked to get together and play a brief set at Austin Music Awards to coincide with their induction into The Austin Music Hall of Fame.
Wagoneers found that playing together again felt so natural, they booked a few small gigs in Austin, New Braunfels, Dallas, Houston and other cities in Texas.
In 2011, Wagoneers saw the release of ‘The Essential Wagoneers’ (Wagoneers Independent Release, 2011), which included both of their first albums, ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988) and ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989), along with three country gospel songs from an unreleased project, which was produced by Emory Gordy Jr. in 1988.
Wagoneers‘ ‘The Essential Wagoneers’ (Wagoneers Independent Release, 2011) included the following tracks:
‘I Confess’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Help Me Get Over You’ (written by Monte Warden) (No.66, 1989) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘So Many Mistakes’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Please Don’t Think I’m Guilty’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Stout & High’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track, which was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988), featured Herb Alpert on trumpet
‘I Wanna Know Her Again’ (written by Monte Warden) (No.43, 1988) / this track, which also reached No.32 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1988, was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘It’ll Take Some Time’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Lie & Say You Love Me’ (written by Brent Wilson and Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Every Step of The Way’ (written by Monte Warden) (No.52, 1988) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Hell Town’ (written by Brent Wilson and Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘All Nite’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Stout & High’ (A&M Records, 1988)
‘Sit A Little Closer’ (written by Monte Warden and Mas Palermo) (No.53, 1989) / this track, which also reached No.48 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1989, was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Everybody Calls My Baby Honey’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Por Favor Señor’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Take Me’ (written by Craig Pettigrew and Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Champagne & Chandeliers’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Good Fortune’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘She Wouldn’t Have It’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Atlanta’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘Test of Time’ (written by Monte Warden and Paul Kennerley) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘I Can’t Stay’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was originally included on ‘Good Fortune’ (A&M Records, 1989)
‘The Biggest Mansion’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was listed as a ‘bonus track’
‘The Voice of One’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was listed as a ‘bonus track’
‘Rows & Rows’ (written by Monte Warden) / this track was listed as a ‘bonus track’
In 2012, Wagoneers reunited and completed their first album since 1989 with Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum producer, Mark Bright, at the helm.
Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis recorded Monte Warden’s ‘Anywhere But Here’ (co-written with Bruce Robison) and included the track on ‘Our Year’ (Premium Records, 2014).
Monte Warden is a rare two-time member of The Texas Music Hall of Fame, both as a solo artist and as a member of Wagoneers.
(Monday 7 September 1936 – Tuesday 3 February 1959)
In addition to his success as a songwriter and recording artist, Monte Warden is recognised throughout the world as one of the premier experts on the career, life and musical works of Buddy Holly (Monday 7 September 1936 – Tuesday 3 February 1959).
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