Original Gene Watson Fan Site - Gene Watson's Peers: Quote from Joe Chmbers: August 2006

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 2006, 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 Joe Chambers, which he submitted to this site on Friday 18 August 2006.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Joe Chambers who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.

Joe Chambers
This quote was submitted on Friday 18 August 2006.

'Sean, thank you for your kind words about myself and my dear friend and co-writer Larry Jenkins.

I would be honoured to talk about Gene Watson for your site.

To me, Gene is one of a hand full of real country music singers, not just stars but true vocal talents like George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013), Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016) and Patsy Cline (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004).

It was a high point in my writing career to not only have Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015) produce but to have Gene Watson sing one of my songs.

To be honest with you, I think Mark Sherrill is also a writer on 'Ashes To Ashes' also. It's been a while since we wrote it now, but I'm pretty sure Mark is on that one too.

Good luck with the site and thank you for sharing your knowledge about Gene with all of his fans'

Thank you, Joe Chambers, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Joe Chambers...

Joe Chambers was the curator and owner of The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum, a 30,000 sq. ft. multipurpose complex. This unique facility includes not only stellar exhibits of superstar musicians but also studio musicians, producers and engineers who have created the music that has become the soundtrack of our lives.

The museum is located in downtown Nashville's prime tourist area, with neighbours which include Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Country Music Hall of Fame, Gaylord Entertainment Center, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville Convention Center and Frist Center for the Arts.

Johnny Paycheck (Tuesday 31 May 1938 - Wednesday 19 February 2003) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Look What The Dog Drug In' and included the track on 'armed & Crazy' (Epic Records, 1978).

Johnny Duncan (Wednesday 5 October 1938 - Monday 14 August 2006) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Too Friendly For Friends' (co-written with Steve Davis) and included the track on 'See You When The Sun Goes Down' (Columbia Records, 1979).

George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Good Ones & Bad Ones' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Still The Same Ole Me' (Epic Records, 1981).

Lacy J Dalton: 'Takin' It Easy' (Columbia Records, 1981)

Lacy J Dalton recorded Joe Chambers' 'Somebody Killed Dewey Jones' Daughter' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Takin' It Easy' (Columbia Records, 1981).

On Monday 28 April 2014, England's Morello Records released Lacy J Dalton's 'Takin' It Easy' (Columbia Records, 1981), along with Lacy J Dalton's '16th Avenue' (Columbia Records, 1982), as a special 2-CD set (MRLL33).

In 1982, Gary Wolf ‎recorded Joe Chambers' 'Love Never Dies' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) for Columbia Records; the track, which was a non-album track, reached No.51 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1982.

George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Second Time Around' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'You've Still Got A Place In My Heart' (Epic Records, 1984).

Mel McDaniel (Sunday 6 September 1942 - Thursday 31 March 2011) recorded Joe Chambers' 'I Can Never Get You Off My Mind' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Let It Roll' (Capitol Records, 1984).

Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Somebody Lied' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Don't Call Him A Cowboy' (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).

Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Joe Chambers' 'You Can Lead A Heart To Love (But You Can't Make It Fall)' (co-written with Larry Jenkins and Michael Twitty) and included the track on 'Sometimes When We Touch' (Epic Records, 1985); the track reached No.48 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.

Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Joe Chambers' 'It's Hard To Be The Dreamer (When I Used To Be The Dream)' and included the track on 'Sometimes When We Touch' (Epic Records, 1985).

Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Joe Chambers' 'I'm The Man In The Song' (co-written with Larry Jenkins and Conway Twitty) and included the track on 'Chasin' Rainbows' (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).

Terri Gibbs recorded Joe Chambers' 'Rockin' In A Brand New Cradle' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Old Friends' (Warner Bros. Records, 1985).

Ronnie McDowell: 'In a New York Minute' (Epic Records, 1985)

Ronnie McDowell recorded Joe Chambers' 'You're The Best I Ever Had' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'In A New York Minute' (Epic Records, 1985).

Gene Watson recorded Joe Chambers' 'Ashes To Ashes' (co-written with Larry Jenkins and Mark Sherrill) and included the track on 'Honky Tonk Crazy' (Epic Records, 1987).

Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Beneath A Painted Sky' (co-written with Bucky Jones) and included the track on 'Higher Ground' (Epic Records, 1987); the track, which reached No.25 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1987, featured background harmony vocals from Emmylou Harris.

Ricky Van Shelton recorded Joe Chambers' 'Somebody Lied' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Wild Eyed Dream' (Columbia Records, 1987); the track was No.1 on the Billboard country music singles chart for one week in September 1988.

Randy Travis recorded Joe Chambers' 'Old 8x10' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'Old 8 x 10' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988).

Moe Bandy recorded Joe Chambers' 'Back In My Roarin' 20s' and included the track on 'Greatest Hits' (Curb Records, 1990).

Joe Diffie (Sunday 28 December 1958 - Sunday 29 March 2020) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Stranger In Your Eyes', which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Larry Jenkins, and included the track on 'A Thousand Winding Roads' (Epic Records, 1990).

George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Joe Chambers' 'I Sleep Just Like A Baby' and included the track on 'You Oughta Be Here With Me' (Epic Records, 1990).

Ricky Van Shelton recorded Joe Chambers' 'I Meant Every Word He Said', which was co-written with Curly Putman (Thursday 20 November 1930 - Sunday 30 October 2016) and Bucky Jones, and included the track on 'Ricky Van Shelton III' (Columbia Records, 1990); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1990.

George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Joe Chambers' 'Good Ones & Bad Ones' (co-written with Larry Jenkins) and included the track on 'The Bradley Barn Sessions' (MCA Records, 1994).

Ken Mellons recorded Joe Chambers' 'Stranger In Your Eyes', which was co-written with Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Larry Jenkins, and included the track on 'Where Forever Begins' (Epic Records, 1995); the track reached No.55 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1995.

Ricky Van Shelton: 'Making Plans' (Vanguard Records, 1998)

Ricky Van Shelton recorded Joe Chambers' 'Just Say Goodbye' (co-written with Byron Hill) and included the track on 'Making Plans' (Vanguard Records, 1998).

Ricky Van Shelton recorded Joe Chamers' 'I Wish You Were More Like Your Memory'and included the track on 'Making Plans' (Vanguard Records, 1998).

Gene Watson re-recorded Joe Chambers' 'Ashes To Ashes' (co-written with Larry Jenkins and Mark Sherrill) and included the track on 'Real.Country.Music' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2016).

On Wednesday 28 September 2022, Joe Chambers passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Vanderbilt University Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Nashville.

The Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum was Joe Chambers' passion and joy. During his entire illness, Joe Chambers could not stop talking about how thankful he was for all those who visited the Museum, watched the Museum's YouTube channel, or supported the Museum in any way.