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 2005, 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 The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker & Louis Nunley), which they submitted to this site on Friday 28 October 2005.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker & Louis Nunley) who have made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.





The Jordanaires (Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker and Louis Nunley) pictured together in the 1970s

The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker & Louis Nunley)
This quote was submitted on Friday 28 October 2005.

'Gene Watson was, and still is, one of our favourite singers.

In the 1970s, we (The Jordanaires) were doing anything from two to four recording sessions daily.

It's impossible to remember all the details about various recording sessions we've undertaken, but we're sure that we did more than one session with Gene.

We enjoyed the sessions with Gene and enjoyed hearing him in the studio as those were live sessions'

Thank you, The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker & Louis Nunley), for your support of Gene Watson.

About Gordon Stoker & Louis Nunley...



The Jordanaires (Gordon Stoker, Curtis Young, Louis Nunley & Ray Walker) pictured together in 2000

Gordon Stoker & Louis Nunley were members of The Jordanaires, who were formed in Springfield, Missouri in the 1940s and were initially a gospel quartet.

In 1949, The Jordanaires moved to Nashville to back Grand Ole Opry headliner Red Foley (Friday 17 June 1910 - Thursday 19 September 1968). In the 1950s, the group was re-organised.

The combination of Gordon Stoker, Neal Matthews (Saturday 26 October 1929 - Friday 21 April 2000), Hoyt Hawkins (Thursday 31 March 1927 - Saturday 23 October 1982) and Ray Walker was the one that would anchor the group for more than two decades and would be the line-up elected to The Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Jordanaires are best known for the wonderful background harmonies which they provided for Elvis Presley's greatest hits between 1956 and 1969.

As a result of their association with Elvis Presley (Tuesday 8 January 1935 - Tuesday 16 August 1977), The Jordanaires went on to provide vocal harmonies on tracks by a number of distinguished artists, including the following:

• Ricky Nelson (Wednesday 8 May 1940 - Tuesday 31 December 1985)
• Ferlin Husky (Thursday 3 December 1925 - Thursday 17 March 2011)
• Jim Reeves (Monday 20 August 1923 - Friday 31 July 1964)
• Patsy Cline (Thursday 8 September 1932 - Tuesday 5 March 1963)
• Don Gibson (Tuesday 3 April 1928 - Monday 17 November 2003)
• Johnny Horton (Thursday 30 April 1925 - Saturday 5 November 1960)
• Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998)
• Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993)
• Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020)
• George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013)



The Jordanaires line-up of Gordon Stoker, Louis Nunley, Hoyt Hawkins and Neal Matthews provided vocal harmonies, on three tracks, on Gene Watson's 'Reflections' (Capitol Records, 1978):

'Take off them Shoes' (written by Joe Dougherty and Tom Ghent)
'I Wonder How it is in Colorado' (written by Joe Allen)
'Mama Sold Roses', which was written by Dallas Harms (Thursday 18 July 1935 - Saturday 12 October 2019)

Connie Smith recorded Gordon Stoker's 'I'm So Glad', which was co-written with Neal Matthews (Saturday 26 October 1929 - Friday 21 April 2000), and included the track on 'Now' (RCA Records, 1974).

Hoyt Hawkins, who was born in Paducah, Kentucky on Thursday 31 March 1927, passed away on Saturday 23 October 1982.



Additionally, Louis Nunley was one of the background vocalists, along with Hurshel Wayne Wiginton (Saturday 29 January 1938 - Monday 6 March 2017), Wendy Suits and Diane Tidwell, who worked on Gene Watson's 'Honky Tonk Crazy' (Epic Records, 1987).

Neal Matthews, who was born in Nashville on Saturday 26 October 1929, passed away in Brentwood, Tennessee on Friday 21 April 2000.

In 2001, The Jordanaires were inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

Louis Nunley, who was born on Thursday 15 October 1931 in Sikeston, Missouri passed away on Friday 26 October 2012.

Visitation took place on Wednesday 31 October 2012, between 5:00pm and 8:00pm, at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville.

Louis Nunley's funeral service took place on Thursday 1 November 2012 at 1:00pm at Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane in Nashville.

The Jordanaires (Neal Matthews, Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker and Louis Nunley) pictured together in the 1970s



• Visit Ray Walker's official Jordanaires site at jordanaires.net