Talking with Country Music's Gene Watson
Texas Singer on Concert Tours, Surviving Cancer and Country Fans
Sep 19, 2008
The critically acclaimed recording that Womack—former Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year—cut with Watson set a new benchmark for her success, she has said. But for the Lone Star auto mechanic-turned-hitmaker, whose 34th album release was named one of 2007's best country releases by Country Music Television, the pleasure was all his.
In December 2007, the timeless voice behind more than 50 country-music classics—from "Love In the Hot Afternoon," "Farewell Party" and "Got No Reason Now for Goin' Home," to "Memories to Burn," "Pick the Wildwood Flower" and "Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy)"—took time to interview with journalist Lisa L. Rollins about his then-newly released In A Perfect World, his first offering for Shanachie Records. The following is the second part of the 2002 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee's three-part interview with Rollins.
Five Decades of Recording Country Music
LR: I first heard you sing “Love in the Hot Afternoon” when I was about 10, so, literally, I’ve grown up listening to you. I first interviewed you when I was based in Dallas, Texas, and you were performing at Billy Bob’s Texas in Forth Worth. You were humble then and, from all indications, remain humble today. … However, I was surprised to find that you were humbled Brent Rowan wanted to work with you. Can you tell me how the synergy was between you two?
GW: Brent Rowan was just amazing to work with. (Manager) John (Lytle) mentioned the project to Brent, and Brent said he would love to do it, which totally floored me. I have long admired Brent as one of the very best guitarists in the world and have also loved his production work.
This is one of the first times in the studio that I was able to truly lay back and just work on the recording. Brent just took charge and his work ethic is incredible. I have total respect for him as a producer as well as a great human being. ... I do believe this album is a good example of me. I gave it 110 percent, and I’m very happy with how I sound and how Brent put the whole production together. I have always sung live in the studio with the musicians there, because it gives me more of an edge. When one of the musicians plays an especially incredible lick, then I try even harder to make my vocals stand up to their amazing performances.
LR: I haven’t heard (songwriter-artist) Tim Mensy’s name in quite some time, but you recorded five of his songs on this album. What’s your history with Tim?
GW: I have long admired Tim Mensy’s songs and his voice; he’s a fantastic singer. I called Tim personally when we decided to do this record and he just turned over his catalog to me and told me to choose what I liked. That was just amazing. It would have been pretty easy to do an entire album of Tim Mensy songs.
Overcoming Adversity: Surviving Cancer and Excessive Alcohol Use
LR: Things seem to be going great right now, but you've had some rough patches. It’s often said everything happens for a reason. In looking back, what do you think you learned, above all else, from your bout with (colon) cancer (that was diagnosed in October 2000)?
GW: I don’t take anything for granted these days. I am very appreciative of small things every day and try to make the most of life.
LR: In your artist bio you mention that you've been as low as you can go at times in life. Many of us recognize that such highs and lows are what make good country songs. However, what do you consider your all-time low—dealing with the cancer or when you were “drinking and smoking like a freight train,” as it were?
GW: Well, I’m not proud that I was a smoker or drinker, but I am happy that I was able to give all that up. I’d have to say battling cancer was my lowest point just because it wears a person down so bad. I would have days when I was just worn out, but I wanted to keep working during that time so I’d still work on the weekends as much as I could. It was hard, but they say those tough times make you stronger and I believe that to be true.
Concert Tours and Country Fans, from the U.S. to Europe
LR: You are busier than ever now, it seems. You have a concert schedule that takes you overseas. Are you there more often than stateside? And, are those fans different to you than those here in the U.S., and if so, in what ways?
GW: Well no, I’m not overseas more often than in the U.S.A. but I do truly enjoy the fans around the world. We’ve especially enjoyed our Irish fans the past two years and (we did) three weeks in Ireland last October. … We’d love to get to several different countries, if time permits.
One thing I often say about my international fans is that they don’t distinguish songs as “singles” over there. They just listen to the whole album and the radio stations tend to play a lot of songs off the album not just one or two “singles” as we do in the U.S.A. Consequently, when I perform overseas, the fans will request all kinds of songs and the band and I have to really stay on our toes to keep up with all their requests!
For more information about Watson, including tour dates or CD orders, please visit www.genewatsonmusic.com.
- Readers who enjoyed this article also may be interested in Q&A with Country's Gene Watson, Country's Gene Watson Shares Final Thoughts and Gene Watson: Making Music In A Perfect World.
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