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 2013, 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 Wesley Dennis, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 11 June 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Wesley Dennis who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Wesley Dennis
This quote was submitted on Thursday 11 June 2013.
‘Gene Watson has always been one of my favourite singers.
I started listening to him at an early age and he was a big influence on my vocal style.
I had the pleasure of doing a show with him at the Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953) Festival in Georgiana, Alabama a few years back and he was as good as ever and such a nice gentleman.
He is what I consider a ‘singer’s singer’.
True country and one of the best’
Thank you, Wesley Dennis, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Wesley Dennis…
Wesley Dennis was born in Clanton, Alabama on Tuesday 24 April 1962 and previously held a job installing car windshields before he took to singing in bars.
In 1995, Wesley Dennis signed a recording contract with Mercury Nashville Records, and saw the release, on Tuesday 7 March 1995, of his self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 1995); the album sold over 500,000 copies.
Wesley Dennis’ self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 1995), which was produced by Keith Stegall and John Kelton, included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:
‘I Don’t Know (But I’ve Been Told)’ (written by Wesley Dennis) (No.46, 1995)
‘Don’t Make Me Feel At Home’, which was written by L. David Lewis and Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) (No.51, 1995)
‘Who’s Counting’ (written by Tony Martin, Roger Springer and Reese Wilson) (No.58, 1995)
Wesley Dennis’ self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 1995), also included the following tracks:
‘Leave Me A Picture of You’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘Bubbaland’ (written by Larry Alderman and Michael White)
‘This Hat Ain’t No Act’ (written by Carson Chamberlain, Keith Stegall and Michael White)
‘Borrowed Angel’, which was written by Mel Street (Monday 21 October 1935 – Saturday 21 October 1978) / the original version of this track was recorded by Mel Street in 1969 for a small regional record label, Tandem Records. A larger record label, Royal American Records, picked it up in 1972 and it reached No.7 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972; the track was subsequently included on ‘Borrowed Angel’ (Metromedia Country Records, 1972)
‘In The Middle of A Little Love’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘It Ain’t Fair’, which was written by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 – Wednesday 30 March 2011) and Mel Besher
‘Whiskey Behavior’ (written by Buddy Blackmon and Gordon Bradberry)
‘Lovers’ Junk Pile’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘That Look Was Worth A Thousand Words’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
Personnel involved in the recording of Wesley Dennis’ self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (Mercury Nashville Records, 1995), included the following:
Wesley Dennis (lead vocals)
Bruce Watkins (acoustic guitar)
Glenn Worf (electric guitar, bass guitar)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Paul Franklin (Dobro)
Eddie Bayers (drums)
Larry Franklin and Stuart Duncan (fiddle)
Dirk Johnson and Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 – Sunday 30 January 2022) (piano)
Jann Coe, John Wesley Ryles and Terri Clark (background vocals)
During the course of his country music career, Wesley Dennis has performed with a number of country music artists, including Faith Hill, Lorrie Morgan, Clay Walker, Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 – Sunday 29 March 2020), Terri Clark, Shania Twain, Gene Watson, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016) and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), amongst others.
In 1995, Wesley Dennis also toured with Alan Jackson.
Following his departure from Mercury Records in 1995, Wesley Dennis became disillusioned with the country music business, and returned home to Alabama, where he opened a karaoke bar and retired from recording and performing.
John Anderson recorded Wesley Dennis’ ‘Who’s Who’ (co-written with Michael White) and included the track on ‘Takin’ The Country Back’ (Mercury Records, 1997), an album which was produced by Keith Stegall.
In 1999, Wesley Dennis recorded ‘Country To The Core’ (Millennium Records, 2009) for Millennium Records; the album, which was produced by Les Ladd, and included the following tracks, was not released until 2017:
‘Moaning’
‘My Love’
‘My Old Friend’
‘Pieces of You’
‘You Oughta Try It’
‘Shortest Song In The World’
‘Dear Hunting’
‘How Do I Talk To An Angel’
‘That’s What I Love’
‘All Right’
‘Crazy For You’
‘A New Fire To An Old Flame’
Personnel involved in the recording of Wesley Dennis’ ‘Country To The Core’ (Millennium Records, 2009) included the following:
Wesley Dennis (lead vocals)
Greg English (acoustic guitar)
Jeff Zona (lead guitar)
Henry Wallace (steel guitar)
Kenny Allen (bass)
Jimmy Fullbright (bass, piano, background vocals)
Mark Honeycutt (drums)
Alan Johnson and Gary Mackey (fiddle)
Larry Stewart (harp)
Jimmy Bryant and Laketa Bagwell (background vocals)
On Wednesday 19 December 2012, thanks to the efforts of fellow country music artist, Ken Mellons, Wesley Dennis returned to the recording studio, and saw the release of his second album, ‘Country Enough’ (Dirt Road Records, 2012), on the Canada-based Dirt Road Records; the album was produced by Greg Cole and received a 4-out-of-5 star review, in the September 2012 issue of the United Kingdom’s highly influential monthly publication, Country Music People.
Wesley Dennis’ ‘Country Enough’ (Dirt Road Records, 2012) included the following tracks:
‘A Month of Sundays’
‘That Dog Won’t Hunt’
‘You’
‘Country Enough’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘Lovin’ On Back Streets’ / this track featured guest vocals from Louise Dennis / the original version of this track was recorded by Mel Street (Monday 21 October 1935 – Saturday 21 October 1978), who included it on ‘Borrowed Angel’ (Metromedia Records, 1972); Mel Street’s version reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1972
‘Ring That Bell’
‘When The Tingle Becomes A Chill’ (written by Lola Jean Dillon) / this track featured guest vocals from Louise Dennis / the original version of this track was recorded by Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 – Tuesday 4 October 2022), who included it on ‘When The Tingle Becomes A Chill’ (MCA Records, 1976); Loretta Lynn‘s version of the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1976
‘Final Touches’ (written by Gordon Bradberry and Tony Colton) / the original version of this track was recorded by Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 – Saturday 5 June 1993), who included it on ‘Final Touches’ (MCA Records, 1993)
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jimmy Alan Stewart) / this track was a duet with Brian Mallery / the original version of this track was recorded, in 1987, by Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Earl Thomas Conley (Friday 17 October 1941 – Wednesday 10 April 2019), but the track was not included on an album until it appeared concurrently on Keith Whitley’s posthumous ‘Kentucky Bluebird’ (RCA Records, 1991) and Earl Thomas Conley‘s ‘Yours Truly’ (RCA Records, 1991)
Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Earl Thomas Conley‘s version of ‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jimmy Alan Stewart) charted for twenty weeks on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991, peaking at No.2 and holding that position for one week.
In 1992, Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989) and Earl Thomas Conley‘s recording of ‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jimmy Alan Stewart) was nominated by the Country Music Association (CMA) for ‘Vocal Event of The Year’.
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jimmy Alan Stewart) was also recorded by Moe Bandy, who included it on ‘Many Mansions’ (Curb Records, 1988); Moe Bandy‘s version reached No.53 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1988
‘Brotherly Love’ (written by Tim Nichols and Jimmy Alan Stewart) was also recorded by Billy Dean, who included it on his debut album, ‘Young Man’ (Capitol Records, 1990).
‘Sun, Surf & The Sand’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘Lady’s Choice’
‘I Don’t Know (But I’ve Been Told)’ (written by Wesley Dennis) / this was a newly recorded acoustic version / Wesley Dennis’ original version of this track reached No.46 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995, and was included on Wesley Dennis’ self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (MCA Records, 1995)
‘Don’t Make Me Feel At Home’, which was written by L. David Lewis and Kim Williams (Saturday 28 June 1947 – Thursday 11 February 2016) / this was a newly recorded acoustic version / Wesley Dennis’ original version of this track reached No.51 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995, and was included on Wesley Dennis’ self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (MCA Records, 1995)
‘Who’s Counting’ (written by Tony Martin, Roger Springer and Reese Wilson) / this was a newly recorded acoustic version / Wesley Dennis’ original version of this track reached No.58 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995, and was included on Wesley Dennis’ self-titled debut album, ‘Wesley Dennis’ (MCA Records, 1995)
At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson ‘Peer’s Quote’, in June 2013, Wesley Dennis was continuing to keep his music country to the core.
Wesley Dennis always looked up to music from Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 – Tuesday 9 May 1989), George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 – Saturday 12 December 2020), Gene Watson and Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016), to name a few.
Wesley Dennis is a true traditional country music artist and songwriter.
When you hear Wesley Dennis sing ‘live’ or on CD, you will feel it directly in your soul.
On Friday 21 May 2021, Wesley Dennis saw the release of ‘Then & One More Day’ (KDM Records, 2021), which was produced by Buddy Hyatt, and included the following tracks:
‘I’m So Afraid of Losing You Again’, which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 – Friday 14 January 2022) and Arthur Leo ‘Doodle’ Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 – Monday 4 October 1999)
‘Where Are All the Girls I Used To Cheat With’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019)
‘Halo & Horns’
‘Alabama Dreams’
‘All My Friends Are Behind Bars’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘Love The Tired Out of You’
‘Who’s Gonna Take You When You Go’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘This Song’s For You’
‘Birmingham Turnaround’, which was written by Sanger D. ‘Whitey’ Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 – Saturday 12 January 2019) and Warren D. Robb
‘Then & One More Day’ (written by Wesley Dennis)
‘If I Had Any Pride Left At All’, which was written by Troy Seals, Edward F. Setser (1945 – Monday 27 January 2020) and John Greenebaum / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on ‘Outside The Box‘ (Fourteen Carat Music, 2022)
‘Hey, Pretty Baby’
‘Little Things’
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