Country's Gene Watson Shares Closing Thoughts
Texas-Born Singer Talks Playing Live, Finding Motivation, Retirement
Sep 20, 2008
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 final part of the 2002 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame inductee's three-part interview with Rollins.
LR: If you ask 10 different Gene Watson fans what their favorite song by you is, you will likely get 10 different answers, because you're so prolific. How do you, personally, keep from getting tired of singing your past hits? You've been recording since the '60s and singing live even longer; do you ever tire of performing those hits?
GW: No, I honestly don’t get tired of performing the hit songs. I think that’s because when I record an album, I spend a whole lot of time searching for songs that are special to me. Sometimes I will have a song that I love and hold for years before there’s the right time to record it. So, I really enjoy the songs as much as the fans do.
Also one thing I don’t do that most acts do in concert is that I don’t write out a specific list of songs that we’ll do in the same rotation night after night. That is known as a “set list,” and I just don’t do that. I like the spontaneity of deciding what song fits where in a concert. My Farewell Party band has to learned to pay attention to the clues I’m saying to the audience, so they’ll know what song I’m about to launch into. That keeps us all from getting bored in any way.
LR: At this point in your career, what brings you the most personal satisfaction—live shows, working in the studio with different artists?
GW: I love it all. I do love recording a great deal. There’s just so much creativity in a room full of musicians, and I enjoy that time with them. I also love meeting my fans and truly enjoy singing live. I have the greatest fans in the world and it’s so nice to get to meet them at the shows.
Time to Make Time for Retirement?
LR: Is there such a thing as retirement for Gene Watson, and if so, how do you know when it’s time? I think your current touring schedule is pretty rigorous myself.
GW: I don’t ever think about retiring. I love to sing, love to perform for the great fans out there. I can’t imagine not touring and sharing the music with my fans. I so enjoy what I do that it doesn’t feel like a “job,” so therefore, I would never want to “retire” from it.
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, Talking Points with Country's Gene Watson and Gene Watson: Making Music In A Perfect World,
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