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 2023, 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 Tommy Rocco, which he submitted to this site on Friday 20 January 2023.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Tommy Rocco who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Tommy Rocco
This quote was submitted on Friday 20 January 2023.
‘Gene is probably one of my favourite country singers.
Met him years ago before he hit.
Probably wouldn’t remember me.
I was also just getting started.
He cut two or three of my songs, which I play often.
He is just a great addition to country music‘
Thank you, Tommy Rocco, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Tommy Rocco…
Tommy Rocco, along with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, emerged as three of the most prolific songwriters in Nashville during the early to mid-1980s.
Tommy Rocco and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) both hooked up as songwriting partners in the 1970s, while working for Ricci Moreno’s publishing company.
Tommy Rocco referred to himself as an ‘old Italian boy from Philadelphia’; Tommy Rocco’s father often called him ‘a hill-a-billy’.
It was Ricci Moreno who convinced Tommy Rocco initially to go under the pseudonym of ‘Skippy Barrett’.
Tommy Overstreet (Friday 10 September 1937 – Monday 2 November 2015) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’ll Never Break These Chains’, which was co-written with Ricci Moreno and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘My Friends Call Me T.O.’ (Dot Records, 1973); the track reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1973.
Jeannie C. Riley recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I Don’t Have To Die To Get Into Heaven’, which was co-written by Tim Daniels and Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008), and included the track on ‘From Harper Valley To The Mountain Top’ (MCA Records, 1981).
Tommy Overstreet (Friday 10 September 1937 – Monday 2 November 2015) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘(Jeannie Marie) You Were A Lady’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Ricci Moreno, and included the track on ‘Woman, Your Name Is My Song’ (Dot Records, 1974); the track reached No.3 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1974.
Tommy Overstreet (Friday 10 September 1937 – Monday 2 November 2015) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’m A Believer’ (co-written with Ricci Moreno) and included the track on ‘I’m A Believer’ (Dot Records, 1974); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975.
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 – Tuesday 28 April 2009) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Took It Like A Man, Cried Like A Baby’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Rory Bourke, and included the track on ‘You’ve Got Somebody’ (Elektra Records, 1979).
Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Took It Like A Man, Cried Like A Baby’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Rory Bourke, and included the track on ‘Free & Easy’ (MCA Records, 1980).
Johnny Rodriguez recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘The Steal of The Night’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008), and Tim Daniels, and included the track on ‘After The Rain’ (Epic Records, 1981).
In 1981, Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 – Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Until The Bitter End’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008), and Tim Daniels; the track, which was a non-album single on MCA Records, reached No.88 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1981.
Louise Mandrell & R.C. Bannon recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘(You Sure Know Your Way) Around My Heart’, which was co-written with Rory Bourke and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Me & My RC’ (RCA Victor Records, 1981); the track reached No.35 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
Johnny Lee recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Be There For Me Baby’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Bet Your Heart On Me’ (Asylum Records, 1981); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982, and No.5 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1982.
Margo Smith (Thursday 9 April 1942 – Tuesday 23 January 2024) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Either You’re Married Or You’re Single’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008), and included the track on ‘Ridin’ High’ (Cameron Records, 1983); the track reached No.64 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.
The Kendalls – Royce Kendall (Wednesday 25 September 1935 – Friday 22 May 1998) and Jeannie Kendall – recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’ll Take Your Love Anytime’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Stickin’ Together’ (Mercury Records, 1982).
George Strait recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘The Steal of The Night’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008), and Tim Daniels, and included the track on ‘Strait From The Heart’ (MCA Records, 1982).
Johnny Lee recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Sounds Like Love’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Sounds Like Love’ (Asylum Records, 1982); the track reached No.6 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, and No.9 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983.
Johnny Lee recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’ll Take Your Love Anytime’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Sounds Like Love’ (Asylum Records, 1982).
Janie Fricke recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Love Lies’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Love Lies’ (Columbia Records, 1983).
Ed Bruce (Friday 29 December 1939 – Friday 8 January 2021) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘You’re Not Leaving Here Tonight’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022), and included the track on ‘You’re Not Leaving Here Tonight’ (MCA Records, 1983); the track reached No.21 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘What If I Said I Love You’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Some Memories Just Won’t Die’ (Columbia Records, 1983); the track reached No.57 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
The Kendalls – Royce Kendall (Wednesday 25 September 1935 – Friday 22 May 1998) and Jeannie Kendall – recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Movin’ Train’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Movin’ Train’ (Mercury Records, 1983); the track reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Jerry Reed (Saturday 20 March 1937 – Monday 1 September 2008) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘She’s Ready For Someone To Love Her’, which was co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Ready’ (RCA Records, 1983).
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 – Friday 8 September 2017) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’ll Take Your Love Anytime’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Yellow Moon’ (MCA Records, 1983).
Anne Murray recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘A Little Good News’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Rory Bourke, and included the track on ‘A Little Good News’ (Capitol Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in December 1983.
Anne Murray’s recording of ‘A Little Good News’ was named by the Country Music Association (CMA) as ‘Single Record of The Year’, earning Anne Murray a country music vocal Grammy.
Anne Murray re-recorded ‘A Little Good News’ and included it on ‘Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends’ (Manhattan Records, 2007); the track was a duet with The Indigo Girls.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Slow Burn’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Slow Burn’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1983); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in January 1984.
Shelly West recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Another Motel Memory’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Red Hot’ (Viva Records, 1983); the track reached No.10 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 – Wednesday 25 March 2009) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘You Really Go For The Heart’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Jerry Gillespie, and included the track on ‘Rebel Heart’ (Liberty Records, 1983); the track reached No.37 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983, and No.23 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1983.
David Frizzell recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘She’s Ready For Someone To Love Her’, which was co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘On My Own Again’ (Viva Records, 1983).
The Osmonds recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘She’s Ready For Someone To Love Her’, which was co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘One Way Rider’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1984); the track reached No.67 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
The Osmonds recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Where Does An Angel Go When She Cries’, which was co-written with Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022), and included the track on ‘One Way Rider’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1984).
David Frizzell & Shelly West recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Silent Partners’, which was co-written with Kerry Michael Chater (Tuesday 7 August 1945 – Tuesday 1 February 2022), and included the track on ‘In Session’ (Viva Records, 1984); the track reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
George Strait recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Let’s Fall To Pieces Together’, which was co-written with Dickey Lee and Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001), and included the track on ‘Right Or Wrong’ (MCA Records, 1984); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1984.
David Frizzell & Shelly West recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘It’s A Be Together Night’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024), and included the track on ‘Golden Duets: The Best of Frizzell & West’ (Viva Records, 1984); the track reached No.13 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
In 1984, Zella Lehr recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘All Heaven Is About To Break Loose’, which was co-written with Steve Bogard and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), for Compleat Records; the track, which was released as a non-album single, reached No.72 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1984.
Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Honor Bound’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘Treadin’ Water’ (RCA Victor Records, 1984); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in April 1985.
In 1985, Zella Lehr recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘You Bring Out The Lover In Me’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), for Compleat Records; the track, which was released as a non-album single, reached No.66 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.
Robin Lee recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Safe In The Arms of Love’ (co-written with Bob McDill and Bucky Jones) and included the track on ‘Robin Lee’ (Evergreen Records, 1985); the track reached No.44 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.
Robin Lee recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’ll Take Your Love Anytime’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Robin Lee’ (Evergreen Records, 1985); the track reached No.37 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
Moe Bandy recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Tonight She Went Crazy Without Me’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘Barroom Roses’ (Columbia Records, 1985).
Jeanne Pruett recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Let’s Fall To Pieces Together’, which was co-written with Dickey Lee and Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001), and included the track on ‘Jeanne Pruett’ (Dot Records, 1985).
The Kendalls – Royce Kendall (Wednesday 25 September 1935 – Friday 22 May 1998) and Jeannie Kendall – recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘One Goodbye From Gone’, which was co-written with John Schweers (Saturday 12 January 1946 – Tuesday 28 May 2024) and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Two Heart Harmony’ (Mercury Records, 1985).
John Schneider recorded Thom Rocco’s ‘If We Can’t Have Forever (Let’s Take Tonight)’ (co-written with Bob McDill) and included the track on ‘A Memory Like You’ (MCA Records, 1986).
The Oak Ridge Boys recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Bedtime’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘Seasons’ (MCA Records, 1986).
Sammi Smith (Thursday 5 August 1943 – Saturday 12 February 2005) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Love Me All Over (All Over Again)’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008), and included the track on ‘Better Than Ever’ (Step One Records, 1986); the track reached No.80 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
T.G. Sheppard recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Strong Heart’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘It Still Rains In Memphis’ (Columbia Records, 1986); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in August 1986.
John Schneider recorded Thom Rocco’s ‘She’s Ready For Someone To Love Her’, which was co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Take The Long Way Home’ (MCA Records, 1986).
Mark Eugene Gray (Friday 24 October 1952 – Friday 2 December 2016) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Strong Heart’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts, and included the track on ‘That Feeling Inside’ (CBS Records, 1986).
In 1986, Alan Jackson recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘The Steal of The Night’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008) and Tim Daniels, and included the track on ‘New Traditional’, an album which was released by Americana Records in 1992.
Crystal Gayle recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Nobody Should Have To Love This Way’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Rory Bourke, and included the track on ‘Straight To The Heart’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1986); the track reached No.26 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1986.
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 – Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Your Love’ (co-written with Beckie Foster) and included the track on ‘Higher Ground’ (Epic Records, 1987); the track, which featured background vocals from Ricky Skaggs, reached No.12 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 – Friday 20 March 2020) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘She’s Ready For Someone To Love Her’, which was co-written with Jerry Gillespie and Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘I Prefer The Moonlight’ (RCA Records, 1987).
In September 1987, John Wesley Ryles recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Strong Heart’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Austin Roberts; the track, which was recorded for Warner Bros. Records, was released as the ‘B’ side of a non-album single, ‘Louisiana Rain’ (written by Richard Alves and Roger Murrah), which reached No.20 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987.
Larry Boone recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Stop Me (If You’ve Heard This One Before)’, which was co-written with Eugene David Dobbins (Monday 19 March 1934 – Sunday 23 November 2008) and Tim Daniels, and included the track on his self-titled debut album, ‘Larry Boone’ (Mercury Records, 1988); the track reached No.48 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
Anne Murray recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Slow Passin’ Time’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Rory Bourke, and included the track on ‘As I Am’ (Capitol Records, 1988); the track reached No.36 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988.
John Conlee recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Knowin’ You Were Leaving’ (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on ‘Fellow Travelers’ (16th Avenue Records, 1989).
Marsha Thornton recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘A Bottle of Wine & Patsy Cline’ (co-written with Lindy Gravelle) and included the track on her self-titled debut album, ‘Marsha Thornton’ (MCA Records, 1989); the track reached No.59 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1990, and No.23 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks Chart in 1990.
Les Taylor recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Knowin’ You Were Leaving’ (co-written with Mike Reid) and included the track on ‘That Old Desire’ (Epic Records, 1990); the track reached No.58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.
Daryle Singletary (Wednesday 10 March 1971 – Monday 12 February 2018) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘I’m Living Up To Her Low Expectations’ (co-written with Bob McDill) and included the track on his self-titled debut album, ‘Daryle Singletary’ (Giant Records, 1990); the track reached No.39 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990, and No.35 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart in 1990.
Gene Watson recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Hold That Thought’, which was co-written with Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016), and included the track on ‘Uncharted Mind‘ (Step One Records, 1993).
Ronna Reeves recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘After The Dance’, which was co-written with Bob Regan and A.J. Masters (Wednesday 20 December 1950 – Monday 12 January 2015), and included the track on ‘After The Dance’ (Polygram Records, 1995).
Steve Azar recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Thunderbird’, which was co-written with Steve Azar and A.J. Masters (Wednesday 20 December 1950 – Monday 12 January 2015), and included the track on ‘Heartbreak Town’ (River North Nashville, 1996).
Anita Cochran recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘For Crying Out Loud’ (co-written with Bob McDill) and included the track on ‘Anita’ (Warner Bros. Records, 1999); the track reached No.58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1999.
Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 – Tuesday 3 July 2001) recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Let’s Fall To Pieces Together’, which was co-written with Dickey Lee and Johnny Russell, and included the track on ‘Actin’ Naturally’ (OMS Records, 2000).
Phil Vassar recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Six-Pack Summer’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Phil Vassar, and included the track on his self-titled debut album, ‘Phil Vassar’ (Arista Nashville Records, 2000); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in September 2001, and No.56 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in September 2001.
Gene Watson recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘She Had Me’, which was co-written with A.J. Masters (Wednesday 20 December 1950 – Monday 12 January 2015), and included the track on ‘From The Heart‘ (RMG Records, 2001).
Phil Vassar recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Around Here Somewhere’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021) and Phil Vassar, and included the track on ‘Prayer of A Common Man’ (Universal South Records, 2008); the track reached No.53 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2008.
Myra Rolen recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘A Bottle of Wine & Patsy Cline’ (co-written with Lindy Gravelle) and included the track on ‘Tonight Darlin’ (Myra Rolen Independent Release, 2012).
Jeff Bates recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Slow Burn’, which was co-written with Charlie Black (Wednesday 23 November 1949 – Friday 23 April 2021), and included the track on ‘Me And Conway’ (Skydancer Entertainment, 2014), a tribute album, which was dedicated to Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993).
Myra Rolen recorded Tommy Rocco’s ‘Hold That Thought’, which was co-written with Ray Griff (Monday 22 April 1940 – Wednesday 9 March 2016), and included the track on ‘Hold That Thought’ (Pretty World Records, 2014).
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