Original Gene Watson Fan Site - Gene Watson's Peers: Quote from Kent Westberry: October 2007

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 2007, 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 Kent Westberry, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 9 October 2007.

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

Kent Westberry
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 9 October 2007.

'Gene Watson is probably one of country music's greatest singers; he's one of mine for sure.

And I'm so glad he recorded my song 'Love In The Hot Afternoon'.

Besides that, Gene is a nice guy'

Thank you, Kent Westberry, for your support of Gene Watson.

About Kent Westberry...

Kent Westberry is a native of Miami, Florida where he was born on Tuesday 23 May 1939 and is a renowned songwriter, singer and entertainer.

While in high school, Kent Westberry formed his own band called The Chaperones and they recorded 'My Baby Don't Rock Me Now' for Art Records.

Following a move to Nashville in 1960, Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017) was instrumental in getting Kent Westberry signed with a major publishing company.

Kent Westberry also worked in Carl Perkins' band, as a bass player, and for Tex Ritter (Thursday 12 January 1905 - Wednesday 2 January 1974), before forming his own band called The Memory Makers, a band named after the Mel Tillis hit single 'Memory Maker' (No.3, 1974), which Kent Westberry had co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017).

Kent Westberry has also toured extensively around the United States and other countries.

On Monday 10 April 1961, Wanda Jackson recorded Kent Westberry's 'Funnel of Love' (co-written with Charlie McCoy); the track was subsequently included on 'Heart Trouble' (CMH Records, 2003).

Ann-Margret: 'On The Way Up' (RCA Victor Records, 1962)

Ann-Margret recorded Kent Westberry's 'I Just Don't Understand', which was co-written with Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 - Saturday 28 October 2006), and included the track on 'On The Way Up' (RCA Victor Records, 1962); the track reached No.17 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music singles chart in 1961.

Skeeter Davis (Wednesday 30 December 1931 - Sunday 19 September 2004) & Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Sorrow's Tearing Down The House', which was co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), and included the track on 'Skeeter Davis & Porter Wagoner Sing Duets' (RCA Records, 1962).

Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 - Friday 2 January 2015) recorded Kent Westberry's 'It's Me That Hurts The Most' and included the track on 'Out Behind The Barn' (Columbia Records, 1962).

Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 - Friday 2 January 2015) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Sorrow's Tearing Down The House', which was co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), and included the track on 'Handle with Care' (Columbia Records, 1965).

Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 - Friday 2 January 2015) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Handle With Care' (co-written with Little Jimmy Dickens) and included the track on 'Handle with Care' (Columbia Records, 1965).

Carmen Cole: 'I Just Don't Understand' (written by Kent Westberry and Marijohn Wilkin) (Groove Records, 1965)

In 1965, Carmen Cole saw the release, on Groove Records, of a non-album single, 'I Just Don't Understand', which was written by Kent Westberry and Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 - Saturday 28 October 2006).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Kent Westberry's 'I Just Don't Know How To Say No' (co-written with Bill Irwin) and included the track on 'Unmitigated Gall' (Mercury Records, 1967).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Kent Westberry's 'You Don't Treat Me Right', which was co-written with Benny Joy (Tuesday 5 November 1935 - Monday 24 October 1988), and included the track on 'Unmitigated Gall' (Mercury Records, 1967).

Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) & Dolly Parton recorded Kent Westbury's 'Sorrow's Tearing Down The House', which was co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), and included the track on 'Just Between You & Me' (RCA Records, 1968).

Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 - Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Kent Westberry's 'If You'd Only Taken The Time' (co-written with Merv Shiner) and included the track on 'Just Plain Charley' (RCA Records, 1970).

Melba Montgomery recorded Kent Westberry's 'Closer She Gets' (co-written with Merv Shiner) and included the track on 'Don't Keep Me Lonely Too Long' (Capitol Records, 1970).

Ernest Tubb: 'A Good Year For The Wine' (Decca Records, 1970)

Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 - Thursday 6 September 1984) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Be Glad', which was co-written with Justin Tubb (Tuesday 20 August 1935 - Saturday 24 January 1998), and included the track on 'A Good Year For The Wine' (Decca Records, 1970).

Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996) recorded Kent Westberry's 'I Don't Think I'd Believe You' (co-written with Hal Harbour) and included the track on 'Step Aside' (Mercury Records, 1971).

Kitty Wells (Saturday 30 August 1919 - Monday 16 July 2012) recorded Kent Westberry's 'I've Got Yesterday' (co-written with Merv Shiner) and included the track on 'I've Got Yesterday' (Decca Records, 1972).

Jerry Reed (Saturday 20 March 1937 - Monday 1 September 2008) recorded Kent Westberry's 'I Just Don't Understand', which was co-written with Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 - Saturday 28 October 2006), and included the track on 'Hot A' Mighty' (RCA Records, 1972).

Jim Ed Brown (Sunday 1 April 1934 - Thursday 11 June 2015) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was co-written with Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003), and included the track on 'Evening' (RCA Records, 1972).

Gene Watson recorded Kent Westberry's 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was co-written with Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003), and included the track on his debut album, 'Love in the Hot Afternoon' (Capitol Records, 1975); the track reached No.5 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1975.

Mel Tillis: 'Love Revival' (MCA Records, 1976)

Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Pictures' (co-written with Hal Harbour) and included the track on 'Love Revival' (MCA Records, 1976).

Gene Watson recorded Kent Westberry's 'Winds of Change' (co-written with Buzz Cason) and included the track on 'In Other Words' (Canada: Mercury Records / Polygram Records, 1992 / United States: Broadland International Records, 1992).

Melba Montgomery recorded Kent Westberry's 'Goin' Quietly Crazy' (co-written with Melba Montgomery) and included the track on 'Do You Know Where Your Man Is' (Playback Records, 1992).

Between Tuesday 22 January 1963 and Wednesday 26 May 1965, The Beatles - Paul McCartney, John Lennon (Wednesday 9 October 1940 - Monday 8 December 1980), George Harrison, MBE (Thursday 25 February 1943 - Thursday 29 November 2001) & Ringo Starr - recorded Kent Westberry's 'I Just Don't Understand', which was co-written with Marijohn Wilkin (Wednesday 14 July 1920 - Saturday 28 October 2006) for the BBC Light Programme, in England; the track was subsequently included on 'The Beatles: Live At The BBC' (Apple Records, 1994).

Gene Watson re-recorded Kent Westberry's 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was co-written with Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003), and included the track on 'The Good Ole Days' (Step One Records, 1996).

Johnny Bush (Sunday 17 February 1935 - Friday 16 October 2020) recorded Kent Westberry's 'Winds of Change' (co-written with by Buzz Cason) and included the track on 'Talk to My Heart' (Watermelon Records, 1998).

Billy Keeble recorded Kent Westberry's 'The Blues Is A Good Woman Gone' (co-written with Curt Ryle) and included the track on 'Unchained Country' (Universal Sound Records, 1999).

Mark Chesnutt recorded Kent Westberry's 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was co-written with Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003), and included the track on 'Lost In The Feeling' (MCA Records, 2000).

On Monday 10 April 1961, Wanda Jackson recorded Kent Westberry's 'Funnel of Love' (co-written with Charlie McCoy); the track was subsequently included on 'Heart Trouble' (CMH Records, 2003).

At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote', in October 2007, Kent Westberry was residing in Lakeland, Florida and was looking forward to the release of a new album.

Cory Walker recorded Kent Westberry's 'Every Housewife's Nightmare, Every Schoolboy's Dream' (co-written with Eddie Burton) and included the track on 'Cory Walker' (Walker Records, 2010).

Cory Walker recorded Kent Westberry's 'Memory Maker', which was co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), and included the track on 'Cory Walker' (Walker Records, 2010).

Jody Nix recorded Kent Westberry's 'She Won't Let Me Forget Her' (co-written with Snuffy Smith) and included the track on 'Twin Fiddles Turn Me On' (Hillside Records, 2011).

Gene Watson re-recorded Kent Westberry's 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was co-written with Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003), and included the track on 'Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits' (Fourteen Carat Music, 2012).

Cyndi Lauper: 'Detour' (Sire Records / Rhino Records / Atlantic Records, 2016)

Cyndi Lauper recorded Kent Westberry's 'Funnel of Love' (co-written with Charlie McCoy) and included the track on 'Detour' (Sire Records / Rhino Records / Atlantic Records, 2016); the track was originally recorded by Wanda Jackson on Monday 10 April 1961, and was subsequently included on Wanda Jackson's 'Heart Trouble' (CMH Records, 2003).

Jeff Woolsey: 'The Real Me' (Shuffle One Records, 2016)

Jeff Woolsey recorded Kent Westberry's 'Memory Maker', which was co-written with Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017), and included the track on 'The Real Me' (Shuffle One Records, 2016).

Dan Herrell: 'Where Were You (When I Was Leaving)' (Dan Herrell Independent Release, 2021)

Dan Herrell recorded Kent Westberry's 'Heavy Construction' (co-written with Curt Ryle) and included the track on 'Where Were You (When I Was Leaving)' (Dan Herrell Independent Release, 2021); the album was produced by Curt Ryle.

Kent Westberry is an accomplished and highly regarded songwriter and has written major hit songs, including 'Love In The Hot Afternoon', which was co-written with Vincent Wesley Matthews (1940 - Saturday 22 November 2003) (recorded by Gene Watson) and 'I Just Don't Understand' (recorded by Ann-Margret and The Beatles).

Kent Westberry's compositions, which total more than five hundred songs, have been recorded by a wide and diverse group of artists, including Bob Wills (Monday 6 March 1905 - Tuesday 13 May 1975), Faron Young (Thursday 25 February 1932 - Tuesday 10 December 1996), Little Jimmy Dickens (Sunday 19 December 1920 - Friday 2 January 2015), Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner (Friday 12 August 1927 - Sunday 28 October 2007) and Hank Williams Jr.