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 2017, 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 Ron Peterson, which he submitted to this site on Monday 6 February 2017.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Ron Peterson who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Ron Peterson
This quote was submitted on Monday 6 February 2017.
‘Yes, Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002) and I wrote many songs together.
I was very pleased to have a cut by Gene (‘Honky Tonk Crazy‘); I consider Gene to be one of the best vocalists in country music – then and now.
I first met Gene when I was playing with Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) at Cowtown Coliseum in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Please feel free to use my quote’
Thank you, Ron Peterson, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Ron Peterson…
Ron Peterson is a prolific country music songwriter and, in the 1970s, he was President, twice, of The Nashville Songwriters’ Association.
In 1970, Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Sittin’ In Atlanta Station’, which was co-written with Van Trevor (Saturday 12 November 1949 – Tuesday 6 December 2005); the track, which was released as a non-album single, reached No.33 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1970.
In 1971, Van Trevor (Saturday 12 November 1949 – Tuesday 6 December 2005) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Wish I Was Home Instead’ (co-written with Rick Shipp) for Royal American Records; the track, which reached No.54 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1971, was subsequently included on ‘Van Trevor’s Greatest Hits’ (Country International Records, 2008).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Touch The Hand’ (co-written with Conway Twitty) and included the track on ‘The High Priest of Country Music’ (MCA Records, 1975); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for two weeks in July / August 1975.
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Old Wore Out Cowboy’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’ (Epic Records, 1978).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘He Brings Your Memory Back Again’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’ (Epic Records, 1978).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Give My Old Memory A Call’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’ (Epic Records, 1978).
On Monday 27 April 2009, England’s Hux Records released Ed Bruce‘s ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’ (Epic Records, 1978), along with Ed Bruce‘s ‘The Tennessean’ (Epic Records, 1977), as a special ‘2-for-1‘ CD set (HUX106).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Last Cowboy Song’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Ed Bruce’ (MCA Records, 1980); the track, which featured guest vocals from Willie Nelson, reached No.12 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Girls, Women & Ladies’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘Ed Bruce’ (MCA Records, 1980); the track reached No.14 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1980.
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Love Ain’t Something I Can Do Alone’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘Ed Bruce’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Last Thing She Said’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Ed Bruce’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Outlaw & The Stranger’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Ed Bruce’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘When You Fall In Love (Everything’s A Waltz)’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘One To One’ (MCA Records, 1981); the track reached No.14 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Thirty-Nine & Holding’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘One To One’ (MCA Records, 1981).
John Conlee recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Nothing Behind You, Nothing In Sight’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Busted’ (MCA Records, 1982); the track reached No.26 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002) & Willie Nelson recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Last Cowboy Song’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021), and included the track on ‘WWII’ (RCA Records, 1982).
BJ Thomas (Friday 7 August 1942 – Saturday 29 May 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Hand of The Man’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021), and included the track on ‘Miracle’ (Myrrh Records, 1982).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Somebody’s Crying’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘I Write It Down’ (MCA Records, 1982).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Songwriter (I Write It Down)’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘I Write It Down’ (MCA Records, 1982).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Memories Can’t Stand To Be Alone’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘I Write It Down’ (MCA Records, 1982).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Your Jukebox Could Use A Few More Sad Songs’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘I Write It Down’ (MCA Records, 1982).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Babe In Arms’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘I Write It Down’ (MCA Records, 1982).
Jan Howard (Friday 13 March 1929 – Saturday 28 March 2020) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Give My Old Memory A Call’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘Tainted Love’ (AVI Records, 1983), which was produced by Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 – Monday 1 June 2020).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Tell ‘Em I’ve Gone Crazy’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce and Patsy Ann Bruce (Friday 8 March 1940 – Sunday 16 May 2021), and included the track on ‘Tell ‘Em I’ve Gone Crazy’ (MCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘All Fall Down’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Ladies Choice’ (Epic Records, 1984); the track, which was a duet with Emmylou Harris, was also included on Emmylou Harris’ ‘Duets’ (Reprise Records, 1990) and George Jones‘ ‘Friends in High Places’ (Epic Records, 1991).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Forever Lovin’ Me’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Homecoming’ (RCA Records, 1984); the track reached No.45 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
The Highwaymen – Waylon Jennings (Tuesday 15 June 1937 – Wednesday 13 February 2002), Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) & Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024) – recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘The Last Cowboy Song’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021), and included the track on ‘Highwayman’ (Columbia Records, 1985).
Gene Watson recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Honky Tonk Crazy’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Honky Tonk Crazy‘ (Epic Records, 1987); the track reached No.43 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Better Class of Loser’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Just Enough Love’ (Step One Records, 1988).
Dana McVicker recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘I’m Loving The Wrong Man Again’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Dana McVicker’ (Capitol Records, 1988); the track reached No.88 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Mark Chesnutt recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Uptown, Downtown (Misery’s All The Same)’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Longnecks & Short Stories’ (MCA Records, 1992).
Prairie Oyster recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘All Fall Down’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Only One Moon’ (Arista Records Canada, 1994); this album was subsequently released in the United States by Zoo Entertainment in 1995.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) & Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘One’, which was co-written with Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) and Judith Bruce, and included the track on ‘One’ (MCA Records, 1995); the track reached No.69 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.
Billie Jo Spears (Friday 14 January 1938 – Wednesday 14 December 2011) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Why Must All The Good Times Be Mem’rys’, which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016) and Bucky Jones, and included the track on ‘Outlaw Woman’ (Country Skyline Records, 1996).
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Better Class of Loser’, which was co-written with Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002), and included the track on ‘Prisoner of Love’ (Justice Records, 2000).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘One’ (co-written with Ed Bruce and Judith Bruce) and included the track on ‘This Old Hat’ (Old Hat Records, 2002).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Changed’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Changed’ (Lamon Records, 2006).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Tougher Than Nails’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Changed’ (Lamon Records, 2006).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘For My Good & To Your Glory’ and included the track on ‘Changed’ (Lamon Records, 2006).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘In Jesus’ Eyes’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Changed’ (Lamon Records, 2006).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘The Perfect Lamb’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘Changed’ (Lamon Records, 2006).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Changed’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘In Jesus’ Eyes: Songs of Inspiration’ (Varèse Fontana Records / Varèse Sarabande Records, 2010).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘In Jesus’ Eyes’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘In Jesus’ Eyes: Songs of Inspiration’ (Varèse Fontana Records / Varèse Sarabande Records, 2010).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Tougher Than Nails’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘In Jesus’ Eyes: Songs of Inspiration’ (Varèse Fontana Records / Varèse Sarabande Records, 2010).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘I Know’ (co-written with Ed Bruce) and included the track on ‘In Jesus’ Eyes: Songs of Inspiration’ (Varèse Fontana Records / Varèse Sarabande Records, 2010).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘For My Good & To Your Glory’ and included the track on ‘In Jesus’ Eyes: Songs of Inspiration’ (Varèse Fontana Records / Varèse Sarabande Records, 2010).
Charlie Daniels (Wednesday 28 October 1936 – Monday 6 July 2020) recorded Ron Peterson’s ‘Night Hawk’ (co-written with Tom McKeon) and included the track on ‘Night Hawk’ (Cedar Creek Records, 2016).
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