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 2013, 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 Eddie Bayers, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 17 August 2013.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Eddie Bayers who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Eddie Bayers
This quote was submitted on Saturday 17 August 2013.
'Yes, Gene Watson has always been the exemplary of a great voice.
Even today, he's great as always'
Thank you, Eddie Bayers, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Eddie Bayers...
Eddie Bayers was born on Friday 28 January 1949 in Pautaxant River, Maryland.
An American session drummer, Eddie Bayers has played on one-hundred-and-fifty 'Gold' and 'Platinum'-selling albums.
Eddie Bayers received the Academy of Country Music (ACM) 'Drummer of The Year' Award for eight straight years and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of The Year' Award.
Eddie Bayers is also a member of two bands: The Players & The Notorious Cherry Bombs.
The son of a career military man, Eddie Bayers moved around as a child, originally from Maryland, then spending time in Nashville, North Africa, Oakland and Philadelphia.
Eddie Bayers' early musical training was as a classical pianist studying Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March / O.S. 21 March / 1685 - 28 July 1750), Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 - 26 March 1827) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791).
During his college years in Oakland, California Eddie Bayers jammed with future stars Jerome John 'Jerry' Garcia (Saturday 1 August 1942 - Wednesday 9 August 1995) and Tom & John Fogerty, and developed an appreciation for the creative aspects of music. After a short stint in a New Jersey show band, Eddie Bayers decided to move to Nashville.
In 1973, Eddie Bayers arrived in Nashville and became the house keyboard player at The Carousel Club, where he met drummer Larrie Londin (Friday 15 October 1943 - Monday 24 August 1992), who inspired him to take up drumming.
Eddie Bayers' drumming was influenced by soul drummers such as Al Jackson Jr. and Clyde Stubblefield.
Eddie Bayers became the staff drummer at Audio Media Studios, along with guitarist Paul Worley, keyboardist Dennis Burnside and bassist 'Cowboy' Jack Clement (Sunday 5 April 1931 - Thursday 8 August 2013), playing on records by Tanya Tucker, John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 - Sunday 12 October 1997), Ricky Skaggs, and George Strait.
Eddie Bayers went on to work with The Beach Boys, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell (Wednesday 22 April 1936 - Tuesday 8 August 2017), Kenny Chesney, Peter Frampton, Vince Gill, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Julio Iglesias, Alan Jackson, Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Uncle Kracker, Bob Seger, Sting, Steve Winwood, and Trisha Yearwood.
In 2002, Eddie Bayers formed a band, The Players, with fellow studio musicians Brent Mason, Paul Franklin, John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 - Wednesday 12 June 2019) and Michael Rhodes. The group released a live DVD, 'Live In Nashville', featuring their own performances, along with guest appearances by Peter Frampton, Shawn Colvin, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill and Jim Horn.
In 2003, Eddie Bayers replaced his former mentor, drummer Larrie Londin (Friday 15 October 1943 - Monday 24 August 1992), in a reunited Notorious Cherry Bombs for an ASCAP Country Awards dinner.
The band decided to stay together and saw the release of 'The Notorious Cherry Bombs', which was nominated for Grammy Awards in both the 'Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal' and 'Best Country Song' categories. Along with Eddie Bayers, the band consisted of Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Hank DeVito, Richard Bennett and Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 - Saturday 4 March 2023).
An all-star lineup was assembled to be the backing band at the 2010 Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which was dubbed The Medallion Band.
Eddie Bayers served as drummer and was accompanied by keyboardist and music director John A. Hobbs (Saturday 11 February 1928 - Wednesday 12 June 2019), pedal steel player Paul Franklin, electric guitarist Steve Gibson, bassist Michael Rhodes (Wednesday 16 September 1953 - Saturday 4 March 2023), fiddler Deanie Richardson, tuba player Larry Paxton, background vocalists Dawn Sears (Thursday 7 December 1961 - Thursday 11 December 2014) and Jeff White, and acoustic guitarist Biff Watson.
In the latter part of 2010, Eddie Bayers and a slightly revamped Medallion Band accompanied Shawn Camp in honouring Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Dean (Friday 10 August 1928 - Sunday 13 June 2010).
Eddie Bayers played the same role for the 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony with the band now dubbed The Medallion All-Stars.
Eddie Bayers received the Academy of Country Music (ACM) 'Drummer of The Year Award' thirteen times, Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of The Year' three times and one of the ten 'Greatest Session Drummers of All Time' by Drum! Magazine.
Eddie Bayers has also been nominated for the Country Music Association (CMA) 'Musician of The Year' on ten occasions, but has yet to bring home the prize.
In addition to his work as a musician, Eddie Bayers has contributed to the recording industry as a twelve-year member of the Board of Governors for NARAS.
Eddie Bayers is also the part-owner of the Money Pit recording studio. The Billboard No.1 singles, 'What I Really Meant To Say' (written by Cyndi Thomson, Tommy Lee James and Chris Waters) as recorded by Cyndi Thomson (No.1, 2001), and 'Blessed' (written by Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Troy Verge) as recorded by Martina McBride (No.1, 2001), were both recorded at Eddie Bayers' studio.
Eddie Bayers played drums on the following albums (this is a partial discography):
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013): 'My Very Special Guests' (Legacy Records, 1979)
Dolly Parton: '9 To 5 & Odd Jobs' (RCA Records, 1980)
John Denver (Friday 31 December 1943 - Sunday 12 October 1997): 'Some Days Are Diamonds' (RCA Victor Records, 1981)
Ricky Skaggs: 'Highways & Heartaches' (Epic Records, 1982)
George Strait: 'Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind' (MCA Records, 1984)
Reba McEntire: 'My Kind of Country' (MCA Records, 1984)
Rosanne Cash: 'King's Record Shop' (Columbia Records, 1987)
Tanya Tucker: 'Love Me Like You Used To' (Capitol Records, 1987)
Gene Watson: 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988)
Patty Loveless: 'Honky Tonk Heart' (MCA Records, 1988)
Rosanne Cash: 'Interiors' (Columbia Records, 1990)
Delbert McClinton: 'I'm With You' (Curb Records, 1990)
Trisha Yearwood: 'Trisha Yearwood' (MCA Records, 1991)
Tim Menzies' 'This Ol' Heart' (Giant Records, 1992)
Clay Walker's self-titled debut album, 'Clay Walker' (Giant Records, 1993)
Mark Knopfler: 'Golden Heart' (Vertigo Records / Warner Bros. Records, 1996) / Eddie Bayers played drums on the tracks 'Darling Pretty', 'Vic & Ray', 'I'm The Fool', 'Je Suis Désolé', 'Rüdiger', 'Nobody's Got The Gun and 'Are We In Trouble Now'
Garth Brooks: 'In The Life Of Chris Gaines' (Caitol Records, 1999)
• Visit Eddie Bayers' official site at eddiebayers.com
