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 Wes Hightower, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 14 November 2006.

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





Wes Hightower
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 14 November 2006.

'I have never performed on a Gene Watson record and have never met him personally, so I don't feel qualified to offer an official quote.

However, I do hold him in high regard for being one of the best natural singers of his generation.



I own the 'Back in the Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) album and think it is his best effort - among many great ones'

Thank you, Wes Hightower, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Wes Hightower...



Wes Hightower is a native of Weatherford, Texas where he was born in 1965.  Wes Hightower graduated from Weatherford High School in 1983, undertook two years' study at North Texas State University and eighteen months at University of Texas in Arlington.

In 1990, Wes Hightower moved to Nashville in order to try to enter the music business.  Wes Hightower tinted windows for a living until about 1995 and then decided to gather enough demo work in order to pay the bills.

Wes Hightower always had a knack for harmony vocals and fortunately the music business was in need of someone else to do them in Nashville.

Wes Hightower has sung on about one hundred million country music records, which have been sold world-wide.

Music Row Magazine named Wes Hightower 'Musician of the Year' (for background vocals) for five consecutive years.

Wes Hightower's musical heroes include John Wesley Ryles, Curtis Young, Dennis Wilson and Don Rich (Friday 15 August 1941 - Wednesday 17 July 1974) - everything Wes Hightower learned about singing harmonies he learned from them.

Wes Hightower has provided background vocals / harmony vocals on albums by a multitude of country music artists, including the following:

• Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989)
• Brooks & Dunn (Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn)
• Holly Dunn (Thursday 22 August 1957 - Tuesday 15 November 2016)
• Pam Tillis
• David Kersh
• Chris Ledoux (Saturday 2 October 1948 - Wednesday 9 March 2005)
• Aaron Tippin
• Anita Cochran
• Keith Harling
• Martina McBride
• Matt King
• Mindy McCready (Sunday 30 November 1975 - Sunday 17 February 2013)
• Tracy Byrd
• Clay Walker
• George Strait
• Trace Adkins
• David Ball
• Ricky Van Shelton
• Sara Evans
• John Michael Montgomery
• Collin Raye
• Travis Tritt
• Kenny Chesney
• Darryl Worley
• Leslie Satcher
• Chris Cagle
• Sonny Burgess
• Chely Wright
• Tracy Lawrence
• Alan Jackson
• Rebecca Lynn Howard
• Andy Griggs
• Mark Wills
• Tammy Cochran
• Joe Nichols
• Mark Chesnutt
• Montgomery Gentry
• Randy Travis
• Ty Herndon
• Toby Keith
• Buddy Jewell
• Dierks Bentley
• Blake Shelton
• Rodney Atkins
• Julie Roberts



South65 (Lance Leslie, Brent Parker, Stephen Parker, Jerimy Koeltzow and Doug Urie) recorded Wes Hightower's 'One Moment' (co-written with Chris Waters) and included the track on 'Dream Large' (Atlantic Nashville Records, 2001).

At the time of the acquisition of this Gene Watson 'Peer's Quote', on Tuesday 14 November 2006, it was true that Wes Hightower had not provided harmony vocals on a Gene Watson recording.



However, this situation changed in 2007.

Wes Hightower provided background vocals on nine of the eleven tracks ('Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me', 'Let Me Be The First To Go', 'What Was I Thinking', 'In A Perfect World', 'She's Already Gone', 'I Buried Our Love', 'This Side of The Door', 'A Good Place To Turn Around' and 'Like I Wasn't Even There') included on Gene Watson's 'In a Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007).



Gary Allan recorded Wes Hightower's 'That Ain't Gonna Fly' (co-written with Tony Martin) and included the track on 'Get Off On The Pain' (MCA Nashville Records, 2010).



Todd Fritsch recorded Wes Hightower's 'That Ain't Gonna Fly' (co-written with Tony Martin) and included the track on 'Up Here In The Saddle' (Saddle Up Records, 2012).



Todd Fritsch recorded Wes Hightower's 'Like I Wasn't Even There' (co-written with Monty Criswell and Tim Menzies) and included the track on 'Up Here In The Saddle' (Saddle Up Records, 2012).



On Friday 25 March 2016, Wes Hightower saw the release of 'Good News' (Wes Hightower Independent Release, 2016), which was produced by Jimmy Ritchey and Wes Hightower, and included the following tracks:

'I’m Expecting Some Good News'
'Something About Her Lately'
'I Cheated On You'
'That Ain’t Gonna Fly'
'The Town That Outgrew Me'
'Ready For The Big Time'
'I Forgive You'
'I Got The Girl'
'Right All The Time'
'I Hope The Whole World is Lonely'

Personell involved in the recording of Wes Hightower's 'Good News' (Wes Hightower Independent Release, 2016) included the following:

Chad Cromwell (drums)
Mike Brignardello (bass)
Jim 'Moose' Brown (piano)
J.T. Corenflos (Wednesday 6 November 1963 - Saturday 24 October 2020) (electric guitar)
Jimmy Ritchey (electric guitar, baritone guitar, acoustic guitar)
B.James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
Scott Sanders (steel guitar)
Wes Hightower (lead vocals, backing vocals)

• Visit Wes Hightower's official site at weshightower.com