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 2007 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 Sarah Jory, which she submitted to this site on Monday 3 September 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Sarah Jory who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sarah Jory
This quote was submitted on Monday 3 September 2007.
‘I became aware of the music of Gene Watson when I was about 11 or 12 years of age.
It was through the song, ‘Farewell Party‘, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007), and the steel guitarist on that song was my hero, Lloyd Green, and he played the most beautiful solo in the middle of the song and I really wanted to learn how to play it.
I had just gone from a few years of playing the Hawaiian steel onto the pedal steel guitar and Lloyd was one of my favourites and learning to play that solo was a landmark turning point for me.
I then went on to buy just about every album that Gene Watson made over the years because for me his voice did, and still does, demonstrate the true meaning of a perfect country sound.
He has made some of the very best country albums you will find anywhere and he not only can truly sell you the song on album, I have had the great pleasure of seeing him live many times over the years and he is just as amazing live.
Gene Watson will always be a kingpin in my collection of country music greats!’
Thank you, Sarah Jory, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Sarah Jory…
Sarah Jory, a native of Reading in Berkshire, England where she was born Sarah Elizabeth Jory on Thursday 20 November 1969, graduated to playing steel guitar at an extraordinarily early age; she got her first steel guitar when she was five years old, played her first concert when she was six years old, and joined her first band when she was nine years old.
In 1978, Sarah Jory was a featured artist on the United Kingdom’s BBC Radio 2’s ‘Live From Golder’s Green’, where she was backed by the group, Poacher.
(Friday 23 May 1930 – Friday 5 October 2012)
It was also in 1978 when Sarah Jory’s Dad, Arthur James Jory (Friday 23 May 1930 – Friday 5 October 2012), noted an advertisement for a steel guitarist to join a four-piece band called Colorado Country.
Arthur Jory secured an audition and Sarah was subsequently hired; the band also changed their name to Sarah & Colorado Country. Sarah Jory worked with Colorado Country for four years, followed by an assortment of gigs while she completed her schooling.
In 1980, when she was eleven years old, Sarah Jory saw the release of her first album; ‘Sarah’s Steel Line’ (Crow Records, 1980), which was made with the Warrington, England-based band, Poacher, included the following tracks:
‘San Antonio Rose’, which was written by Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975)
‘Cold, Cold Heart’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Feelings’ (written by Morris Albert)
‘Danny Boy’, which was written by Frederic Edward Weatherly (4 October 1848 – Saturday 7 September 1929)
‘Steel Line’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain’, which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954)
‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’, which was written by Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003)
‘Welcome To My World’, which was written by Ray Winkler (Wednesday 13 October 1920 – Saturday 9 May 1998) and John Hathcock
‘Amazing Grace’, which was written by John Newton (24 July 1725 – 21 December 1807)
‘Steel Guitar Rag’, which was written by Merle Travis (Thursday 29 November 1917 – Thursday 20 October 1983), Cliffie Stone (Thursday 1 March 1917 – Saturday 17 January 1998) and Leon McAuliffe (Wednesday 3 January 1917 – Saturday 20 August 1988)
As a result of ‘Sarah’s Steel Line’ (Crow Records, 1980), Sarah Jory was invited to play the important Peterborough Festival of Country Music in the east of England.
In 1982, when she was thirteen years old, international success began with Sarah Jory’s first visit to America; she appeared at the annual Steel Guitar Convention in St. Louis, Missouri where she played a set with Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015), one of her biggest heroes.
Between 1984 and 1992, Sarah Jory played major steel guitar conventions in the United States on thirteen occasions and shared the same stage as Buddy Emmons (Wednesday 27 January 1937 – Wednesday 29 July 2015), Lloyd Green and Paul Franklin.
It was during these visits to the United States when Sarah worked with a number of country music artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 – Sunday 28 October 2007) and Gene Watson.
In 1984, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Sarah On Steel’ (Point Records, 1984), which was produced by Sarah Jory, and included the following tracks:
‘Sticky Fingers’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Song For Sarah’ (written by Paul Franklin and Jerry Stacey)
‘I Love You Because’, which was written by Leon Payne (Friday 15 June 1917 – Thursday 11 September 1969)
‘Cold, Cold Heart’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Sound Waves’ (written by Lloyd Green)
‘Three of Us’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Mansion On The Hill’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953) and Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954)
‘San Antonio Stroll’ (written by Peter Noah)
‘My Elusive Dreams’, which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016)
‘Stainless Steel’ (written by Lloyd Green)
Personnel involved in the recording of Sarah Jory’s ‘Sarah On Steel’ (Point Records, 1984) included the following:
Sarah Jory (steel guitar, mandolin)
Pete Brazil (guitar)
John O’Boyle Sr. (bass)
John O’Boyle Jr. (drums)
Tony Ariss (piano)
In 1985, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Cross Country’ (Point Records, 1985), which was produced by Sarah Jory, and included the following tracks:
‘Oklahoma Stomp’ (written by D.C. Cooley, Lawrence DePaul and Andrew Soldi)
‘Blue Eyes Crying in The Rain’, which was written by Fred Rose (Floyd Jenkins) (24 August 1898 – Wednesday 1 December 1954)
‘Just Out of Reach’ (written by Virgil F. Stewart)
‘She Believes in Me’ (written by Steve Gibb)
‘Old Rugged Cross’ (written by George Bennard)
‘Indian Killed a Woodcock’ / ‘Sugarfoot Rag’ (medley)
‘Rose Coloured Glasses’ (written by Fred Carter)
‘I Just Destroyed The World I’m Living In’, which was written by Willie Nelson and Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013)
‘Beneath Still Waters’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022)
‘Crazy Arms’, which was written by Ralph E. Mooney (Sunday 16 September 1928 – Sunday 20 March 2011) and Chuck Seals
In 1985, Sarah Jory was voted ‘Most Promising New Act’ by the British Country Music Association (BCMA) and, for eight consecutive years in the 1990s, Sarah was voted ‘Female Vocalist of The Year’ by the British Country Music Association (BCMA).
Since 1997, Sarah Jory has been voted ‘European Country Rock Entertainer of The Year’.
In 1988, Sarah Jory made her first vocal tape, ‘No Time At All’, and spent some time developing a new act around the pub circuit in Bristol, England.
It was also in 1988 when Sarah Jory formed a new, fully professional band.
In 1988, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Deep In The Heart of Texas’ (Spark Records, 1988), which included the following tracks:
‘Highway 40 Blues’ (written by Larry Cordle)
‘Careless Hands’ (written by Bob Hilliard and Carl Sigman)
‘Almost Persuaded’, which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 – Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 – Tuesday 17 April 2007)
‘Waltz Across Texas’ (written by Talmadge Tubb)
‘Shirley’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Deep In The Heart of Texas’ (written by June Hershey and Don Swander)
‘Waltz You Saved For Me’ (written by Gus Kahn, Wayne King and Emil Flindt)
‘Cotton Eyed Joe’ / ‘Sugarfoot Rag’, which was written by Hank Garland (Tuesday 11 November 1930 – Monday 27 December 2004) and Vaughn Horton
‘Blue Jade’ (written by Sarah Jory)
In 1989, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Dallas City Lights’ (Spark Records, 1989), which included the following tracks:
‘Remington Ride’, which was written by Herbert Clayton Penny (Hank Penny) (Wednesday 18 September 1918 – Friday 17 April 1992) and Herb Remington
‘Mama’s Wedding Band’
‘Jealous Heart’, which was written by Jenny Lou Carson (Wednesday 13 January 1915 – Saturday 16 December 1978)
‘Steel Line’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Beyond The Point of No Return’
‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’ (written by Stevie Wonder)
‘City Lights’ (written by Bill Anderson)
‘Touch My Heart’, which was written by Johnny Paycheck (Tuesday 31 May 1938 – Wednesday 19 February 2003) and Aubrey Mayhew (Sunday 2 October 1927 – Sunday 22 March 2009)
‘Preacher’
‘Farewell Party’, which was written by Lawton Williams (Monday 24 July 1922 – Thursday 26 July 2007)
‘Flint Hill Special’, which was written by Earl Scruggs (Sunday 6 January 1924 – Wednesday 28 March 2012)
‘Once Upon A Time In The West’
In 1990, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Sarah’s Dream’ (Spark Records, 1990), which included the following tracks:
‘One More Time’, which was written by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 – Sunday 19 November 2017) / ‘My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You’, which was written by Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 – Tuesday 13 May 1975) and Lee Ross
‘I Always Get Lucky With You’, which was written by Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), Freddy Powers (Tuesday 13 October 1931 – Tuesday 21 June 2016) and Gary Church
‘In The Garden’, which was written by Charles Austin Miles (7 January 1868 – Sunday 10 March 1946)
‘Under The Boardwalk’ (written by Kenny Young and Artie Resnick)
‘Gonna Build A Mountain’ (written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley)
‘Sarah’s Dream’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Bye Bye Love’, which was written by Boudleaux Bryant (Friday 13 February 1920 – Thursday 25 June 1987) and Felice Bryant (Friday 7 August 1925 – Tuesday 22 April 2003) / ‘When Will I Be Loved’, which was written by Phil Everly (Thursday 19 January 1939 – Friday 3 January 2014)
‘Cry’, which was written by Churchill Kohlman (28 January 1906 – Wednesday 25 May 1983)
‘Why Me’, which was written by Kris Kristofferson (Monday 22 June 1936 – Saturday 28 September 2024)
‘Sweet Dreams’, which was written by Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 – Monday 17 November 2003)
‘Tennessee Flat Top Box’, which was written by Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003)
‘How Great Thou Art’, which was written by Stuart Wesley Keene Hine (25 July 1899 – Tuesday 14 March 1989)
It was also in 1990 when Sarah Jory had the huge privilege and honour, under the banner of Ritz Records, to undertake a United Kingdom-wide tour with Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020).
Sarah Jory remembered, when she was a 21-year-old, seeing Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020) onstage, along with Lloyd Green on pedal steel guitar, at the Wembley Country Music Festival in London.
In 1991, Sarah Jory opened for Eric Clapton in Dublin, Ireland and undertook a nationwide tour in the United Kingdom with Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 – Tuesday 8 August 2017).
Sarah Jory plays banjo, mandolin, guitar and keyboards, as well as steel guitar but, when she signed with Ritz Records, she grasped the opportunity to show off her vocal talents with the release of ‘New Horizons’ (Ritz Records, 1992), which included the following tracks:
‘Never Had It So Good’ (written by Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Jennings)
‘Look At Us’, which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 – Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vince Gill
‘Take Your Memory With You’ (written by Vince Gill)
‘The Strings That Tie You Down’, which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 – Sunday 11 January 2004) and Vince Gill
‘Darlin’ (written by Oscar Stuart Blandamer)
‘The Wind Beneath My Wings’, which was written by Jeff Silbar and Lawrence Joel ‘Larry’ Henley (Wednesday 30 June 1937 – Thursday 18 December 2014)
‘Orange Blossom Special’, which was written by Ervin Thomas Rouse (Wednesday 19 September 1917 – Wednesday 8 July 1981) / this track was an instrumental
‘Mississippi’ (written by Werner Theunissen)
‘How Do’ (written by Mary Chapin Carpenter)
‘Til A Tear Becomes A Rose’, which was written by Wilbur Steven ‘Bill’ Rice (Wednesday 19 April 1939 – Saturday 28 October 2023) and Mary Sharon Vaughn
‘You’ll Never Get To Heaven’ (written by Steve Collom)
‘Take A Love Off My Mind’ (written by V. Lackey)
‘Heartaches By The Number’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘Sarah’s Dream’ (written by Sarah Jory) / this track was an instrumental
Sarah Jory’s ‘New Horizons’ (Ritz Records, 1992) featured Sarah Jory on vocals, steel guitar and mandolin.
In 1993, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Sarah Jory, The Early Years: 20 Steel Guitar Favourites’ (Ritz Records, 1993), which included the following tracks:
‘Sticky Fingers’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Deep In The Heart of Texas’ (written by June Hershey and Don Swander)
‘Orange Blossom Special’, which was written by Ervin Thomas Rouse (Wednesday 19 September 1917 – Wednesday 8 July 1981)
‘Jealous Heart’, which was written by Jenny Lou Carson (Wednesday 13 January 1915 – Saturday 16 December 1978)
‘Under The Boardwalk’ (written by Kenny Young and Artie Resnick)
‘Careless Hands’ (written by Bob Hilliard and Carl Sigman)
‘Steel Line’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘A Way To Survive’, which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 – Thursday 15 July 2010) and Moneen Carpenter
‘San Antonio Stroll’ (written by Peter Noah)
‘She Believes in Me’ (written by Steve Gibb)
‘Oklahoma Stomp’ (written by D.C. Cooley, Lawrence DePaul and Andrew Soldi)
‘Highway 40 Blues’ (written by Larry Cordle)
‘Rose Coloured Glasses’, which was written by Fred F. Carter Jr. (Sunday 31 December 1933 – Saturday 17 July 2010)
‘Blue Jade’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘Cold, Cold Heart’, which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953)
‘Three of Us’ (written by Sarah Jory)
‘In The Garden’, which was written by Charles Austin Miles (7 January 1868 – Sunday 10 March 1946)
‘City Lights’ (written by Bill Anderson)
‘Once Upon A Time In The West’
‘Remington Ride’, which was written by Herbert Clayton Penny (Hank Penny) (Wednesday 18 September 1918 – Friday 17 April 1992) and Herb Remington
In 1994, Sarah Jory saw the release of a single, a version of Jackie DeShannon’s ‘When You Walk In The Room’.
‘The South Bank Show’ was produced by London Weekend Television (LWT) and was shown on the (Independent Television) ITV network between 1978 and 2010.
On Sunday 2 April 1995, Sarah Jory was one of the female country artists included in an edition of the major United Kingdom television documentary/arts series, ‘The South Bank Show’, which was hosted by Melvyn Bragg.
‘The South Bank Show’ was produced by London Weekend Television (LWT) and was shown on the (Independent Television) ITV network between 1978 and 2010.
In 1995, 1996 and 1997, Sarah Jory was presented with the ‘British Female Vocalist of The Year’ Award by the British Country Music Association (BCMA).
On Thursday 12 October 1995, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Love With Attitude’ (Ritz Records, 1995), which was recorded in Nashville, and included the following tracks:
‘Whatever Way The Wind Blows’
‘Some Kind of Fool’
‘If I Had Any Pride Left At All’, which was written by John Greenebaum, Troy Seals and Edward F. Setser (1945 – Monday 27 January 2020) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Outside The Box‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2022)
‘Wise Beyond Her Tears’
‘Don’t Walk In Here Like You Never Walked Out’
‘I Just Don’t Love You’
‘Back Seat Driver’
‘The Story Behind Her Smile’
‘Love With Attitude’
‘You Can Say That Again & Again’
‘When Promises Made Are Promises Kept’
‘Now It’s Time’
‘With All The Love’
‘Same Track, Different Trains’
‘Last Date’
On Monday 8 March 1999, Sarah Jory saw the release of ‘Kiss My Innocence’ (Tamarin Records, 1999), which included the following tracks:
‘Always The Same In Love’
‘Kiss My Innocence’
‘Jealous Guy’
‘Talk To Me’
‘Out of My Hands’
‘Stay The Night’
‘Rhythm In The Rain’
‘Eyes of Love’
‘Last Horizon’
‘Wounded I Bleed’
‘Knock On Wood’
Sarah Jory has a stunning vocal style, while she is also an accomplished musician, whether on electric guitar or acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin or banjo.
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, on Monday 3 September 2007, Sarah Jory was playing pedal steel guitar, dobro and banjo for Van Morrison.
Between September 2006 and January 2010, Sarah Jory was a musician and backing vocalist for Van Morrison’s touring and recording line-up (Exile Productions and Listen To The Lion Records).
During 2006 and 2009, Sarah Jory played with Van Morrison’s band and performed on his album, ‘Keep It Simple’ (United Kingdom: Exile / Polydor Records, 2008 / United States: Lost Highway Records, 2008), which was recorded ‘live’ in concert at Blackpool Opera House, Blackpool, England on Saturday 26 January 2008, and included the following tracks:
‘How Can A Poor Boy?’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘School of Hard Knocks’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘That’s Entrainment’ (written by by Van Morrison)
‘Don’t Go To Nightclubs Anymore’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘Lover Come Back’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘Keep It Simple’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘End of The Land’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘Song of Home’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘No Thing’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘Soul’ (written by Van Morrison)
‘Behind The Ritual’ (written by Van Morrison)
Sarah Jory played steel guitar, on all tracks, on Van Morrison’s ‘Keep It Simple’ (United Kingdom: Exile / Polydor Records, 2008 / United States: Lost Highway Records, 2008); Sarah Jory also played banjo on ‘Song of Home’ (written by Van Morrison) and ‘Don’t Go To Nightclubs Anymore’ (written by Van Morrison).
On Monday 9 February 2009 (in the United Kingdom) and Tuesday 24 February 2009 (in the United States), Van Morrison saw the release of ‘Astral Weeks: Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ (Listen To The Lion Records, 2009), which was recorded during two ‘live’ concerts at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California on Friday 7 November 2008 and Saturday 8 November 2008.
Sarah Jory played rhythm guitar on Van Morrison’s ‘Astral Weeks: Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ (Listen To The Lion Records, 2009), which was released on Van Morrison’s record label, Listen To The Lion Records; the album was distributed by EMI.
On Tuesday 19 May 2009, a DVD of performances from the concerts, ‘Astral Weeks Live At The Hollywood Bowl: The Concert Film’, were released.
The ‘live’ performances of the eight original songs, which feature on Van Morrison’s ‘Astral Weeks: Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ (Listen To The Lion Records, 2009) took place forty years after the classic ‘Astral Weeks’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1968) was first released by Warner Bros. Records in 1968. One of the original musicians, guitarist Jay Berliner, joined with the many other musicians on the revisited version of ‘Astral Weeks’.
In 2009, Sarah Jory performed with the group Essence of Ireland on a major tour.
Between March 2010 and November 2011, Sarah Jory enjoyed a varied role, both as a musician and vocalist, in the Essence of Ireland Touring Production, and also on the touring management side. Sarah Jory made contributions on pedal steel guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, percussion and vocals; she also acted as band manager.
In August 2010, Sarah Jory toured with Gene Watson at various venues in England, including St. George’s Hall in Bristol, when she clearly demonstrated her fine skills on steel guitar and acoustic guitar.
Sarah Jory continues to perform, both as a solo artist, and as a guest band member at numerous festivals, and with her band throughout the United Kingdom.
Sarah Jory’s musical ability, style and versatility, also mean she is continually in demand as a session player on numerous album projects.