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 Rance Norton, which he submitted to this site on Monday 19 August 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Rance Norton who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Rance Norton
This quote was submitted on Monday 19 August 2013.
‘Gene Watson has one of the greatest voices in country music.
I’ve had the opportunity to work some shows with Mr. Watson in Texas and he is a class act.
His music will live on forever, he is a true legend in country music’
Thank you, Rance Norton, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Rance Norton…
Rance Norton grew up in small town Texas and has always had a love for traditional country music. Rance Norton has stated that ‘If it doesn’t have fiddle or steel guitar, it isn’t country music’.
At an early age, while his peers were listening to the latest fad in popular music, Rance Norton was listening to the likes of Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) and Darrell McCall.
Rance Norton recalls hearing a Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) shuffle for the first time and he was instantly hooked.
When he was five years old, Rance Norton started singing at local country oprys around Texas; something that would last for the next fifteen years.
It was at an opry show where Rance Norton was discovered by Tracy Pitcox, the owner and president of Heart of Texas Records.
When he was seventeen years old, Rance Norton became a recording artist for Heart of Texas Records, joining the likes of Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), Darrell McCall, Tony Booth, Curtis Potter (Thursday 18 April 1940 – Saturday 23 January 2016), Frankie Miller and Amber Digby.
In Fall 2008, Rance Norton saw the release of his debut album, ‘True Country’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2008), which included many of Rance Norton’s favourite songs, along with duets with his producer, Justin Trevino and one of his idols, Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020); the album was a resounding success, and included the following classic country music tracks:
‘Wine Me Up’, which was written by Billy Deaton, Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) and Eddie Crandell / the original version of this track was recorded by Faron Young, who included it on ‘Wine Me Up’ (Mercury Records, 1969); Faron Young’s version of the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1970
‘Pass Me By’, which was written by Hillman Hall (1938 – 1989) / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Rodriguez, who included it on ‘Introducing Johnny Rodriguez’ (Mercury Records, 1973); Johnny Rodriguez‘s version of the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973
‘Got No Reason Now For Going Home’, which was written by Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001) / the original version of this track was recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Heartaches, Love & Stuff‘ (MCA Records, 1984); Gene Watson‘s version of the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984
‘Texas Honky Tonk’
‘Pride’
‘I Never Go Around Mirrors’, which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) / the original version of this track was recorded by Lefty Frizzell, who included it on ‘The Legendary Lefty Frizzell’ (ABC Records, 1973); Lefty Frizzell’s version of the track reached No.25 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974
‘Big Blue Diamonds’ / this track was a duet with Justin Trevino
‘Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)’, which was written by 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 ‘Should I Come Home‘ (Capitol Records, 1979); Gene Watson‘s version of the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1979
‘One More Time’
‘The End’
‘Pop A Top’, which was written by Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988) / this track was a duet with Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020) / the original version of this track was recorded by Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 – Thursday 11 June 2015), who included it on ‘Just Jim’ (RCA Victor Records, 1967)
• Ann M. Stuckey submitted a ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson on Saturday 25 January 2014.
‘Heart Over Mind’, which was written by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) / the original version of this track was recorded by Mel Tillis, who included it on ‘Heart Over Mind’ (Columbia Records, 1962)
In 2009, Rance Norton graduated from high school and embarked on the next part of his life: college. When Rance Norton started at Baylor University, he left his musical career behind him in order to focus on his studies.
However, Rance Norton was driving home after he had taken his last final, and a song came on the radio. The song was from Willie Nelson; ‘I’d Have To Be Crazy’, which was written by Steven Fromholz (Friday 8 June 1945 – Sunday 19 January 2014), was included on Willie Nelson’s ‘The Sound In Your Mind’ (Columbia Records, 1976), and reached No.11 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976.
The first part of ‘I’d Have To Be Crazy’ really hit Rance Norton hard when it got to the part, ‘I’d Have To Be Crazy To Stop All My Singing, and Never Play Music Again’.
It was at that moment that Rance Norton knew that his life was at another changing point; he was graduating from Baylor University a year early, so he decided to forgo law school for a year to pursue his country music career.
In Fall 2012, Rance started his own band, which was named after his first album, ‘Rance Norton & True Country’. It was at this time when Rance Norton began work on his second album project for Heart of Texas Records.
In January 2013, Rance Norton saw the release of his second album, ‘Here We Go Again’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2013), which included classic country music tracks, some of which are obscure traditional country music songs which people probably haven’t heard before, mixed with some favourite Texas dance-hall classics:
‘This Time I Won’t Cheat On Her Again’, 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) / the original version of this track was recorded by Moe Bandy, who included it on ‘I Just Started Hatin’ Cheatin’ Songs’ (GRC Records, 1974)
‘When Its Midnight In Dallas’, which was written by Ray Pennington (Friday 22 December 1933 – Wednesday 7 October 2020) / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), for RCA Records, in 1974
‘Different Kind of Flower’ (written by Gary Sefton) / the original version of this track was recorded by Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), who included it on ‘Reunited’ (Dot Records, 1977)
‘Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets’ (written by Wayne C. Thompson and Donn Tankersley) / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Paycheck (Tuesday 31 May 1938 – Wednesday 19 February 2003), who included it on ‘Slide Off Your Satin Sheets’ (Epic Records, 1977); Johnny Paycheck’s version reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1977
‘Texas Dance Hall Girl’, which was written by Justin Tubb (Tuesday 20 August 1935 – Saturday 24 January 1998) / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), who included it on ‘Texas Dance Hall Girl’ (RCA Victor Records, 1973)
‘Nashville Drunkard’ / this track was a duet with Frankie Miller
‘Here We Go Again’ (written by Russell Steagall and Don Lanier) / the original version of this track was recorded by George Strait, who included it on ‘Holding My Own’ (MCA Records, 1992)
‘Right Side of The Wrong Side of The Bed’
‘Right Back In Your Arms Again’, which was written by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) / the original version of this track was recorded by Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), who included it on ‘Whiskey River / There Stands The Glass’ (RCA Victor Records, 1973)
‘There’s Nothing To Hold Me Anymore’
‘Love Comes From The Other Side of Town’ (written by Fred Freiling) / the original version of this track was recorded by George Strait, who included it on ‘Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’ (MCA Records, 1984)
‘I Never Miss A Day (Missing You)’, which was written by Carl Belew (Tuesday 21 April 1931 – Wednesday 31 October 1990), Van Givens and Moe Bandy / the original version of this track was recorded by Moe Bandy, who included it on ‘Love Is What Life’s All About’ (Columbia Records, 1978)
Rance Norton has opened shows for a number of legendary country music performers, including Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 – Friday 16 October 2020), Darrell McCall, Mona McCall, Gene Watson, Moe Bandy, Johnny Rodriguez, Dottsy, Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 – Thursday 11 June 2015), Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 – Friday 2 January 2015), Junior Brown, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely, Jean Shepard (Tuesday 21 November 1933 – Sunday 25 September 2016), Leona Williams, Jack Greene (Tuesday 7 January 1930 – Thursday 15 March 2013) and Johnny Lee.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, in August 2013, Rance Norton & The Cadillac Cowboys were traveling each weekend around the great state of Texas, performing at various dance-halls and festivals, helping to keep the traditional honky-tonk country music sound of Texas music alive.
On Tuesday 14 February 2017, Rance Norton saw the release of ‘Rance Norton’ (Heart of Texas Records, 2017), which included the following tracks:
‘Do I Have A Chance’
‘Call Me Tonight’
‘Just Start Walking’
‘Before Love Departed’
‘Fort Worth Ain’t The Place’
‘Since You’ve Said Goodbye’
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