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 2012, 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 T. Graham Brown, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 14 August 2012.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to T. Graham Brown who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Sean Brady would also like to say ‘thank you‘ to Carrie & Debbie Moore at Third Coast Talent in Kingston Springs, Tennessee for their help in acquiring this valuable quote from T. Graham Brown.
T. Graham Brown
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 14 August 2012.
‘Gene Watson is the purest voice in country music, a great guy, and my friend’
Thank you, T. Graham Brown, for your support of Gene Watson.
About T. Graham Brown…
T. Graham Brown was born Anthony ‘T.’ Graham Brown on Saturday 30 October 1954 in Arabi, Georgia.
T. Graham Brown has been active as an American country music artist since 1986 and has recorded a number of acclaimed studio albums.
T. Graham Brown has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart, three of which – ‘Hell & High Water’ and ‘Don’t Go To Strangers’ from 1986, and ‘Darlene’ from 1988 – reached No.1, along with eight more hit singles, which reached the Billboard country music Top 10.
Anthony Graham Brown first performed in a duo called Dirk & Tony, before founding two more bands and eventually settling on the stage name T. Graham Brown.
In 1982, T. Graham Brown moved to Nashville and found work singing advertising jingles for companies such as McDonald’s, Disneyland and Budweiser.
T. Graham Brown also provided the vocal work for many of the demos in Nashville; in fact, it was T. Graham Brown’s voice which Randy Travis heard when he listened to the demo of ‘1982’ (written by James ‘Buddy’ Blackmon and Carl ‘Vip’ Vipperman).
Randy Travis recorded ‘1982’ (written by James ‘Buddy’ Blackmon and Carl ‘Vip’ Vipperman) and included the track on ‘Storms of Life’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986); the track reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
T. Graham Brown was also the singing narrator in the Taco Bell ‘Run For The Border’ television commercial spots.
T. Graham Brown also found work as a songwriter for Tree Publishing before signing to Capitol Records in 1984.
T. Graham Brown’s first release for Capitol Records, ‘Drowning In Memories’, peaked at No.39 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984; the track, however, was never included on any album.
After ‘Drowning In Memories’ (No.39, 1984), came the No.7 hit ‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (written by Ron Hellard, Michael Garvin and Bucky Jones), the first single from T. Graham Brown’s 1986 album of the same name.
In March 1986, T. Graham Brown saw the release of his debut album, ‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (Capitol Records, 1986), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (written by Ron Hellard, Michael Garvin and Bucky Jones) (No.7, 1985) / this track was recorded by Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 – Saturday 7 May 2022) in 1985, but his version remained unreleased until 2017
‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), Rafe Van Hoy and Don Cook (No.3, 1986)
‘Hell & High Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown and Alex Harvey (Monday 10 March 1947 – Saturday 4 April 2020) (No.1 for one week in December 1986) / Alex Harvey was a songwriter, who was best known for composing David Houston’s ‘Baby, Baby (I Know You’re A Lady)’ (No.1 for four weeks in January 1970), Tanya Tucker‘s ‘Delta Dawn’ (No.6 in April 1972) and Kenny Rogers’ ‘Reuben James’
‘Don’t Go To Strangers’, which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019) and JD Martin (No.1 for one week in May 1987)
T. Graham Brown’s debut album, ‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (Capitol Records, 1986), also included the following tracks:
‘Say When’ (written by Kevin Welch and Gary Nicholson)
‘Rock It, Billy’ (written by Gary Nicholson)
‘She’s Mine’ (written by John Barlow Jarvis and Gary Nicholson)
‘You’re Trying Too Hard’ (written by T. Graham Brown and Gary Nicholson)
‘Don’t Make A Liar Out of Me’ (written by Kevin Welch and Gary Nicholson)
‘Is There Anything I Can Do’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Gary Nicholson
T. Graham Brown’s debut album, ‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (Capitol Records, 1986), reached No.15 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1986.
Pake McEntire recorded T. Graham Brown’s ‘I’m Having Fun’, which was co-written with Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Verlon Thompson, and included the track on ‘Too Old To Grow Up Now’ (RCA Victor Records, 1986).
In May 1987, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (Capitol Records, 1987), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (written by John Hadley and Gary Nicholson) (No.9, 1987)
‘She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore’ (written by Mike McGuire, Billy Henderson and Billy Maddox) (No.4, 1987)
‘The Last Resort’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Bruce C. Bouton (No.4, 1988)
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (Capitol Records, 1987) also included the following tracks:
‘R.F.D. 30529’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Verlon Thompson)
‘Save That Dress’ (written by Kevin Welch, John Barlow Jarvis and Gary Nicholson)
‘Talkin’ To It’ (written by T. Graham Brown, James ‘Buddy’ Blackmon and Carl ‘Vip’ Vipperman)
‘Anything To Lose’ (written by Dave Loggins (Monday 10 November 1947 – Wednesday 10 July 2024)
‘The Power of Love’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Don Cook)
‘Walk On Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, John Jarrad (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) and Gary Nicholson
‘Sittin’ On The Dock of The Bay’, which was written by Otis Redding (Tuesday 9 September 1941 – Sunday 10 December 1967) and Steve Cropper
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (Capitol Records, 1987) reached No.23 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1987.
In July 1988, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘Come As You Were’ (Capitol Records, 1988), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:
‘Darlene’ (written by Mike Geiger, Ricky Ray Rector and Woody Mullis) (No.1 for one week in November 1988)
‘Come As You Were’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014) (No.7, 1989)
‘Never Say Never’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield) (No.30, 1989)
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Come As You Were’ (Capitol Records, 1988) also included the following tracks:
‘This Wanting You’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Bruce C. Bouton
‘I Read A Letter Today’ (written by T. Graham Brown)
‘She’s OK & I’m OK’, which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 – Sunday 3 March 2002)
‘Time Machine’, which was written by Dennis Linde (Thursday 18 March 1943 – Friday 22 December 2006)
‘You Left The Water Running’, which was written by Oscar Franck, Rick Hall (Sunday 31 January 1932 – Tuesday 2 January 2018) and Dan Penn
‘The Best Love I Ever Had’ (written by Kent Blazy, James Dowell and Sharon Kimbel)
‘I’ll Believe It When I Feel It’, which was written by Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Verlon Thompson
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Come As You Were’ (Capitol Records, 1988) reached No.22 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1988.
In early 1990, T. Graham Brown sang guest vocals on ‘Tomorrow’s World’, a multi-artist charity single.
It was also in 1990 when T. Graham Brown sang guest vocals on Tanya Tucker‘s single ‘Don’t Go Out’, which was written by Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd; the track reached No.6 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990, and was included on ‘Tennessee Woman’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
In June 1989, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘Bumper To Bumper’ (Capitol Records, 1989), which included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘If You Could Only See Me Now’ (written by Susan Longacre and Rick Giles) (No.6, 1990)
‘Moonshadow Road’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Verlon Thompson and Gary Nicholson) (No.18, 1990)
‘I’m Sending One Up For You’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Nigel Kennedy) (No.53, 1991) / this track was T. Graham Brown’s first single to land outside the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Top 40 Chart
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Bumper To Bumper’ (Capitol Records, 1989) also included the following tracks:
‘You Can’t Make Her Love You’ (written by Jerry Ward)
‘I’m Expecting Miracles’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Verlon Thompson)
‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)’, which was written by Otis Redding (Tuesday 9 September 1941 – Sunday 10 December 1967) and Jerry Butler
‘Eyes Wide Open’ (written by Jerry Ward)
‘Bring A Change’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Carl ‘Vip’ Vipperman
‘Blues of The Month Club’, which was written by Gary Nicholson, Dan Penn and Carson Whitsett (Tuesday 1 May 1945 – Tuesday 8 May 2007)
‘For Real’, which was written by T. Graham Brown and Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022)
‘We Tote The Note’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Dan Penn)
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Bumper To Bumper’ (Capitol Records, 1989) reached No.33 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 1989.
Ray Kennedy recorded T. Graham Brown’s ‘I’m Sending One Up For You’ (co-written with Gary Nicholson and Ray Kennedy) and included the track on ‘What A Way To Go’ (Atlantic Records, 1990).
In 1991, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘Greatest Hits’ (Capitol Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘R.F.D. 30529’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Verlon Thompson) / this track was an album track from 1987
‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (written by Ron Hellard, Michael Garvin and Bucky Jones) (No.7, 1985)
‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), Rafe VanHoy and Don Cook (No.3, 1986)
‘Hell & High Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown and Alex Harvey (Monday 10 March 1947 – Saturday 4 April 2020) (No.1 for one week in December 1986)
‘Don’t Go To Strangers’, which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019) and JD Martin (No.1 for one week in May 1987)
‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (written by John Hadley and Gary Nicholson) (No.9, 1987)
‘She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore’ (written by Mike McGuire, Billy Henderson and Billy Maddox) (No.4, 1987)
‘The Last Resort’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Bruce C. Bouton (No.4, 1988)
‘Darlene’ (written by Mike Geiger, Ricky Ray Rector and Woody Mullis) (No.1 for one week in November 1988)
‘Come As You Were’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014) (No.7, 1989)
In April 1991, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ (Capitol Records, 1991), which included two tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘With This Ring’ (No.31, 1991)
‘You Can’t Take It With You’ (written by Steve Bogard) / this track was released as a single in 1991, but it did not chart
T. Graham Brown’s ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ (Capitol Records, 1991) also included the following tracks:
‘Love At Work’
‘Rock’
‘Sweet Believer’
‘Just A Woman’
‘You’re Everything She Couldn’t Be’
‘Shaky Ground’
‘Pillow of Mercy’
‘Bolt Out of The Blue’
Following the release of T. Graham Brown’s ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ (Capitol Records, 1991), he exited the roster at Capitol Records.
Anne Murray recorded T. Graham Brown’s ‘Overboard’, which was co-written with Wayland D. Holyfield (Sunday 15 March 1942 – Monday 6 May 2024) and Verlon Thompson, and included the track on ‘Yes I Do’ (Capitol Records, 1991).
In 1992, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘Best of T. Graham Brown’ (Capitol Records, 1992), which included the following tracks:
‘You Can’t Take It With You’ (written by Steve Bogard) / this track was released as a single in 1991, but it did not chart
‘Never Say Never’ (written by Walt Aldridge and Tom Brasfield) (No.30, 1989)
‘Moonshadow Road’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Verlon Thompson and Gary Nicholson) (No.18, 1990)
‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (written by written by Ron Hellard, Michael Garvin and Bucky Jones) (No.7, 1985)
‘She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore’ (written by Mike McGuire, Billy Henderson and Billy Maddox) (No.4, 1987)
‘If You Could Only See Me Now’ (written by Susan Longacre and Rick Giles) (No.6, 1990)
‘With This Ring’ (No.31, 1991)
‘Hell & High Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown and Alex Harvey (Monday 10 March 1947 – Saturday 4 April 2020) (No.1 for one week in December 1986)
‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)’ / this track was an album track from 1989
‘I’m Sending One Up For You’ (No.53, 1991)
In September 1993, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘All Time Greatest Hits’ (Curb Records, 1993), which included the following tracks:
‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (written by written by Ron Hellard, Michael Garvin and Bucky Jones) (No.7, 1985)
‘Hell & High Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown and Alex Harvey (Monday 10 March 1947 – Saturday 4 April 2020) (No.1 for one week in December 1986)
‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (written by John Hadley and Gary Nicholson) (No.9, 1987)
‘She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore’ (written by Mike McGuire, Billy Henderson and Billy Maddox) (No.4, 1987)
‘Darlene’ (written by Mike Geiger, Ricky Ray Rector and Woody Mullis) (No.1 for one week in November 1988)
‘Come As You Were’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014) (No.7, 1989)
‘Drowning In Memories’ (No.39, 1984) / this track, which was T. Graham Brown’s first release for Capitol Records in 1984, was never included on an album, until the release of ‘All Time Greatest Hits’ (Curb Records, 1993)
‘Shaky Ground’ / this track was an album track from 1991
‘With This Ring’ (No.31, 1991)
‘If You Could Only See Me Now’ (written by Susan Longacre and Rick Giles) (No.6, 1990)
In May 1995, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘Super Hits’ (Columbia Records, 1995), which included the following tracks:
‘I Tell It Like It Used To Be’ (written by Ron Hellard, Michael Garvin and Bucky Jones) (No.7, 1985)
‘I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again’, which was written by Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 – Sunday 30 October 2016), Rafe VanHoy and Don Cook (No.3, 1986)
‘Hell & High Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown and Alex Harvey (Monday 10 March 1947 – Saturday 4 April 2020) (No.1 for one week in December 1986)
‘Don’t Go To Strangers’, which was written by Russell Smith (Friday 17 June 1949 – Friday 12 July 2019) and JD Martin (No.1 for one week in May 1987)
‘The Power of Love’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Don Cook) / this track was an album track from 1987
‘Brilliant Conversationalist’ (written by John Hadley and Gary Nicholson) (No.9, 1987)
‘The Last Resort’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Bruce C. Bouton (No.4, 1988)
‘She Couldn’t Love Me Anymore’ (written by Mike McGuire, Billy Henderson and Billy Maddox) (No.4, 1987)
‘Come As You Were’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014) (No.7, 1989)
‘Darlene’ (written by Mike Geiger, Ricky Ray Rector and Woody Mullis) (No.1 for one week in November 1988)
It wasn’t until 1998 when T. Graham Brown recorded another album; he saw the release, on Tuesday 25 August 1998, of ‘Wine Into Water’ (Intersound Records, 1998), which included four tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘Wine Into Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Ted Hewitt (No.44, 1998)
‘Happy Ever After’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kevin Welch) (No.68, 1999)
‘Never In A Million Tears’ (written by Daryl Burgess and Ty Tyler) (No.63, 1999)
‘Memphis, Women & Chicken’ (written by Donnie Fritts, Gary Nicholson and Dan Penn) (No.73, 1999)
T. Graham Brown’s ‘Wine Into Water’ (Intersound Records, 1998) also included the following tracks:
‘Keep Me From Blowing Away’, which was written by Paul Craft (Friday 12 August 1938 – Saturday 18 October 2014)
‘Good Days, Bad Days’, which was written by Walt Aldridge, John Jarrad (Thursday 7 May 1953 – Thursday 1 February 2001) and Gary Nicholson
‘Hide & Seek’ (written by Gary Nicholson)
‘Accept My Love’ (written by Glen Clark and Jeff Silbar)
‘A Better Word For Love’ (written by Al Anderson and Gary Nicholson)
‘Livin’ On Love’ (written by Craig Fuller and Gary Nicholson)
‘How Do You Know’, which was written by Delaney Bramlett (Saturday 1 July 1939 – Saturday 27 December 2008) and Gary Nicholson
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013) recorded T. Graham Brown’s ‘This Wanting You’, which was co-written with Bruce C. Bouton and Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022), and included the track on ‘Cold Hard Truth’ (Asylum Records, 1999).
On Tuesday 20 May 2003, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘The Next Right Thing’ (Compendia Records, 2003), which included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘Middle Age Crazy’ (written by Sonny Throckmorton) (No.58, 2003)
T. Graham Brown’s ‘The Next Right Thing’ (Compendia Records, 2003) also included the following tracks:
‘Tennessee Hideaway’ (written by Danny Flowers and Kenny Greenberg)
‘Bag of Bones’, which was written by Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 – Tuesday 17 May 2016) and Gary Nicholson
‘The Next Right Thing’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Chuck Jones and Gary Nicholson)
‘Tools For The Soul’ (written by Danny Flowers and James Pennebaker)
‘Which Way To Pray’ (written by T. Graham Brown and Gary Nicholson)
‘Still Not Out of The Woods’ (written by Jim Lauderdale and Gary Nicholson)
‘As If You Didn’t Know’ (written by Donnie Fritts and Gary Nicholson)
‘Monkey’ (written by T. Graham Brown)
‘Use The Blues’ (written by Gary Nicholson and Kim Wilson)
‘My Old Friend The Blues’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘If I Had The Power’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Kim Wilson)
‘Wine Into Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Ted Hewitt
On Tuesday 31 October 2006, T. Graham Brown saw the release of ‘The Present’ (Joy Records / Aspirion Records, 2006), which included one track, which was released as a single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:
‘The Present’ (written by T. Graham Brown and Tom Hambridge) / this track was released as a single in 2006, but it did not chart
T. Graham Brown’s ‘The Present’ (Joy Records / Aspirion Records, 2006) also included the following tracks:
‘Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)’, which was written by Pete Seeger (Saturday 3 May 1919 – Monday 27 January 2014), Petersen and Marsalis
‘Just A Close Walk With Thee’
‘I Can See Clearly Now’, which was written by Johnny Nash (Monday 19 August 1940 – Tuesday 6 October 2020)
‘You’ve Got A Friend’
‘Stand Up For Love’ (written by Steve Schuffert)
‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ (written by Paul Simon)
‘He’s Got The Whole World’
‘As If You Didn’t Know’ (written by Donnie Fritts and Gary Nicholson)
‘Whole Lotta Lovin’ (written by T. Graham Brown and Steve Schuffert)
‘I’m Expecting Miracles’ (written by T. Graham Brown, Gary Nicholson and Verlon Thompson)
‘You Are The Sunshine of My Life’
‘Through The Eyes of A Child’ (written by Phil Dillon, Kim Parent and Stuart Ziff)
‘Put A Little Love In Your Heart’, which was written by Jackie DeShannon and Jimmy Holiday (Tuesday 24 July 1934 – Sunday 15 February 1987)
‘Put Your Hand In The Hand’, which was written by Gene MacLellan (Wednesday 2 February 1938 – Thursday 19 January 1995)
‘Wine Into Water’, which was written by T. Graham Brown, Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Ted Hewitt
Gene Watson & Rhonda Vincent recorded T. Graham Brown’s ‘This Wanting You’, which was co-written with Bruce C. Bouton and Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022), and included the track on ‘Your Money & My Good Looks‘ (Upper Management Music, 2011).
Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022) recorded T. Graham Brown’s ‘Wine Into Water’, which was co-written with Bruce Burch (Friday 30 January 1953 – Saturday 12 March 2022) and Ted Hewitt, and included the track on ‘Full Circle’ (Legacy Recordings, 2016).
• Visit T. Graham Brown’s official site at tgrahambrown.com