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 2021, 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 Rick Peoples, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Rick Peoples who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Rick Peoples
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 28 July 2021.
‘I was so proud to hear Gene sing ‘When A Fool Learns’, that I wrote with Steve Clark, on his ‘Back In The Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) album.
He is, indeed, The Voice!
Thank you, Rick Peoples, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Rick Peoples…
Rick Peoples, who was born on 30 July, is an acclaimed Nashville songwriter, who has received ‘Gold’, ‘Platinum’, and ‘Multi-Platinum’ Awards, along with the prestigious ASCAP ‘Most Played Songs’ Award.
Rick Peoples’ songs have been on millions of records by a number of legendary country music artists, including Gene Watson, Reba McEntire, Tanya Tucker, Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013), Randy Travis, Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998), Collin Raye, Moe Bandy, and many more.
On Thursday 22 March 1984, Kathy Mattea saw the release of her self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), which was produced by Rick Peoples and Byron Hill, and included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Street Talk’ (written by Lee Domann and Ralph Whiteway) (No.25, 1983)
‘Someone Is Falling In Love’ (written by Lee Domann and Pebe Sebert) (No.26, 1984)
‘You’ve Got A Soft Place To Fall’, which was written by Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022), Bob McDill and H. Moore (No.44, 1984)
‘That’s Easy For You To Say’ (written by B. Clifford and D. Hodges) (No.50, 1984)
Kathy Mattea‘s self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), also included the following tracks:
‘Takin’ The Givin’ Away’ (written by Bob DiPiero and J. Wood)
‘You Know That I Do (& I Know That You Won’t)’, which was written by Peter James McCann (Saturday 6 March 1948 – Thursday 26 January 2023)
‘Full Time Love’, which was written by Bob DiPiero and Tim Krekel (Tuesday 10 October 1950 – Wednesday 24 June 2009)
‘Somewhere Down The Road’, which was written by Tom Snow and Cynthia Weil (Friday 18 October 1940 – Thursday 1 June 2023)
‘(Back To The) Heartbreak Kid’, which was written by Van Stephenson (Wednesday 4 November 1953 – Sunday 8 April 2001) and Tim DuBois
‘God Ain’t No Stained Glass Window’ (written by Mark Germino)
Personnel involved in the recording of Kathy Mattea‘s self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), included the following:
Kathy Mattea (vocals, guitar, background vocals)
Mark Casstevens, Gregg Galbraith, Jon Goin, Chris Leuzinger and Dale Sellers (guitar)
Sonny Garrish (pedal steel guitar)
David Briggs and Bobby Wood (piano)
Spady Brannan and Alan Rush (bass)
Gene Chrisman and Tommy Wells (drums)
Curtis Young, Wade McCurdy, Pat McManus, Marcy Cates and Margie Cates (background vocals)
Nashville String Machine (strings, arranged by Bergen White)
Kathy Mattea‘s self-titled debut album, ‘Kathy Mattea’ (Mercury Records, 1984), reached No.42 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1984.
In 1985, Margo Smith (Thursday 9 April 1942 – Tuesday 23 January 2024) saw the release, on Bermuda Dunes Records, of ‘Take Your Memory When You Go’ (written by Rick Peoples and Byron Hill), a non-album single, which did not chart.
Shelly West recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Now There’s You’ (co-written with Len Chera and Bob Morrison) and included the track on ‘Don’t Make Me Wait On The Moon’ (Viva Records, 1985); the track was subsequently included on ‘The Very Best of Shelly West’ (Varèse Sarabande Records, 2009).
Billy Joe Royal (Friday 3 April 1942 – Tuesday 6 October 2015) recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Out of Sight & On My Mind’, which was co-written with Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022), and included the track on ‘The Royal Treatment’ (Atlantic America Records, 1987); the track, which reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, was subsequently included on Billy Joe Royal’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (Atlantic America Records, 1991).
Tanya Tucker recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Fool, Fool Heart’ (co-written with Roger Brown) and included the track on ‘Girls Like Me’ (Capitol Records, 1986).
Gene Watson recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘When A Fool Learns’ (co-written with Steve Clark) and included the track on ‘Back In The Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988); the album was subsequently released, on Friday 11 November 2016, by England’s Morello Records, along with Gene Watson‘s ‘At Last‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991), as a special ‘2-on-1‘ CD set (WMRLL 66), ‘Back In The Fire & At Last’ (Morello Records, 2016).
This special CD brought together two pivotal albums from Gene Watson‘s brief, but extraordinary time, with Warner Bros. Records; ‘Back In The Fire‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) and ‘At Last‘ (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Moe Bandy recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘My Wish for You’ (co-written with Moe Bandy) and included the track on ‘Many Mansions’ (Curb Records, 1988).
Moe Bandy recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Yuppie Love’ (co-written with Moe Bandy) and included the track on the release of ‘Many Mansions’ (Curb Records, 1988).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘You Left Memories Layin’ (All Over The Place)’ (co-written with Roger Brown) and included the track on the release of ‘Next To You’ (Epic Records, 1989).
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Now There’s You’ (co-written with Leonard Chera and Robert Morrison) and included the track on saw the release of ‘My Heart Is Yours’ (Sugar Hill Records, 1990).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘When The Blues Hit Town’ (co-written with Roger Brown) and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records, 1991).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Look What Followed Me Home’ (co-written with Roger Brown) and included the track on ‘Sometimes A Rose’ (Columbia Records, 1991).
Collin Raye recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘If I Were You’, which was co-written with Richard Fagan (Thursday 24 April 1947 – Friday 5 August 2016), and included the track on his debut album, ‘All I Can Be’ (Epic Records, 1991).
Reba McEntire recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Buying Her Roses’ (co-written with Joe Doyle) and included the track on ‘For My Broken Heart’ (MCA Records, 1991).
Darryl & Don Ellis recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Boy, Was I Wrong’ (co-written with Richard Ross) and included the track on ‘No Sir’ (Epic Records, 1992).
Randy Travis recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Memories of Old Santa Fe’ (co-written Roger Brown) and included the track on ‘Wind In The Wire’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1993); the track was subsequently included on ‘Trail of Memories: The Randy Travis Anthology’ (Rhino Records, 2002).
Dude Mowrey recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘What Kind of Memories Remain’ (co-written with Joe Doyle) and included the track on ‘Dude Mowrey’ (Arista Nashville Records, 1993).
Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Where Was I’ (co-written with Steve Clark) and included the track on ‘I’m Gonna Love Her On The Radio’ (16th Avenue Records, 1988); the track, which reached No.49 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988, was subsequently included on ‘The Very Best of Charley Pride: 1987 – 1989’ (Varèse Sarabande Records, 2003).
Brad Davis recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘Old Number Nine’ (co-written with Brad Davis) and included the track on ‘I’m Not Gonna Let My Blues Bring Me Down’ (FGM Records, 2003).
Eric Hancock recorded Rick Peoples’ ‘I Never Really Missed You’ (co-written with Jeff Tweed) and included the track on ‘Dream Big’ (Eric Hancock Independent Release, 2007).
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