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 2004, 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 Jack Greene, which he submitted to this site on Sunday 3 October 2004.

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





Jack Greene
This quote was submitted on Sunday 3 October 2004.

'Gene Watson has a great voice.

Gene has an individual style and he is an all round nice guy'

Thank you, Jack Greene, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Jack Greene...



Jack Greene was born on Tuesday 7 January 1930 in Maryville, Tennessee and first picked up the guitar at the age of eight.

Jack Greene made his professional debut in 1944, singing on radio station WGAP in Tennessee while still a high school freshman.  In 1948, Jack Greene took up the bass and, two years later, in 1950,after making a move to Atlanta, he learned to play the drums.

However, it wasn't until 1962 that Jack Greene got his first big break when Ernest Tubb (Monday 9 February 1914 - Thursday 6 September 1984) hired him as a member of The Troubadours.

Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 - Wednesday 7 January 1998) signed Jack Greene to Decca Records because of his vocal performance on 'The Last Letter', one of Ernest Tubb's hit singles.

 

In December 1966, Jack Greene saw the release of his debut album, 'There Goes My Everything' (Decca Records, 1966), which was produced by Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 - Wednesday 7 January 1998), and included three tracks, which were released as singles on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'Don't You Ever Get Tired (of Hurting me)', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010) / this track was released as a single in 1965, but it did not chart / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on 'In A Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007)

'Ever Since My Baby Went Away', which was written by Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982) (No.37, 1966)

'There Goes My Everything', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022) (No.1 for seven weeks in December 1966 / January 1967) / this track earned Jack Greene a 'Male Vocalist of The Year' Award from the Country Music Association (CMA)

Jack Greene's debut album, 'There Goes My Everything' (Decca Records, 1966), also included the following tracks:

'Walking On New Grass', which was written by Ray Pennington (Friday 22 December 1933 - Wednesday 7 October 2020)
'Almost Persuaded', which was written by Billy Sherrill (Thursday 5 November 1936 - Tuesday 4 August 2015) and Glenn Sutton (Tuesday 28 September 1937 - Tuesday 17 April 2007)
'A Wound Time Can't Erase' (written by Bill D. Johnson)
'Think I'll Go Somewhere & Cry Myself To Sleep' (written by Bill Anderson)

'Together Again', which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006) / this track was also recorded by Gene Watson, who included it on 'In A Perfect World' (Shanachie Records, 2007)

'The Hurt's On Me', which was written by Don Bowman (Thursday 26 August 1937 - Wednesday 5 June 2013)
'Make The World Go Away', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010)
'Here Comes My Baby', which was written by Bill West (1933 - Thursday 19 September 2013) and Dottie West (Tuesday 11 October 1932 - Wednesday 4 September 1991)
'Tender Years', which was written by Darrell Edwards and George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013)

Personnel involved in the recording of Jack Greene's debut album, 'There Goes My Everything' (Decca Records, 1966), included the following:

Harold Bradley (Saturday 2 January 1926 - Thursday 31 January 2019), Ray Edenton (Wednesday 3 November 1926 - Wednesday 21 September 2022) and Pete Wade (guitar)
Pete Drake (Saturday 8 October 1932 - Friday 29 July 1988) and Harald 'Hal' Rugg (Tuesday 21 July 1936 - Tuesday 9 August 2005) (steel guitar)
Jack Greene (lead vocals)
Buddy Harman (Sunday 23 December 1928 - Thursday 21 August 2008) (drums)
Roy Huskey and Bob Moore (Wednesday 30 November 1932 - Wednesday 22 September 2021) (bass)
The Jordanaires (background vocals)
Hargus ‘Pig’ Robbins (Tuesday 18 January 1938 - Sunday 30 January 2022) and Jerry Smith (piano)

Technical personnel involved in the recording of Jack Greene's debut album, 'There Goes My Everything' (Decca Records, 1966), included the following:

Owen Bradley (Thursday 21 October 1915 - Wednesday 7 January 1998) (producer)
Roy Buksbaum (photography)
Ralph Emery (Friday 10 March 1933 - Saturday 15 January 2022) (liner notes)

Jack Greene's debut album, 'There Goes My Everything' (Decca Records, 1966), reached No.1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in February 1967, and No.66 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in April 1967; the album won the Country Music Association's 'Album of The Year' Award.

Jack Greene earned the nickname 'The Jolly Green Giant' and, by the end of 1967, he had become, literally, a gigantic force within country music.



In June 1967, Jack Greene saw the release of 'All The Time' (Decca Records, 1967), which included one track, which was a single on the Billboard country music singles chart:

'All The Time', which was written by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017) and Wayne P. Walker (No.1 for five weeks in June / July 1967)

Jack Greene's 'All The Time' (Decca Records, 1967) also included the following tracks:

'Happy Tracks', which was written by Ray Pennington (Friday 22 December 1933 - Wednesday 7 October 2020)
'Crazy' (witten by Willie Nelson)
I'm A Lonesome Fugitive', which was written by Casey Anderson (Saturday 23 January 1926 - Monday 26 November 2018) and Liz Anderson (Monday 13 January 1930 - Monday 31 October 2011)
'Walk Through This World With Me', which was written by Kay Jeanne Savage (passed away on Friday 18 December 2009) and Sandra Noreen Seamons (Friday 31 May 1935 - Friday 22 Aug 2014)
'The Hardest Easy Thing' (written by J. Lane)
'I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)', which was written by Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 - Thursday 1 January 1953)
'Cryin' Time', which was written by Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006)
'She's Gone, Gone, Gone', which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 - Sunday 3 March 2002)
'Touch My Heart', which was written by Donny Young (Johnny Paycheck) (Tuesday 31 May 1938 - Wednesday 19 February 2003) and Aubrey Mayhew (Sunday 2 October 1927 - Sunday 22 March 2009)
'Room For One More Heartache', which was written by Harlan Howard (Thursday 8 September 1927 - Sunday 3 March 2002)
'Wanting You But Never Having You', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022)



Charley Pride (Friday 18 March 1934 - Saturday 12 December 2020) recorded Jack Greene's 'Why Didn't I Think of That' (co-written with Clay Allen) and included the track on 'Make Mine Country' (RCA Records, 1968).



Cal Smith (Thursday 7 April 1932 - Thursday 10 October 2013) recorded Jack Greene's 'Afraid To Care' (co-written with Ken Campbell) and included the track on 'Travelin' Man' (Kapp Records, 1968).

Jack Greene's long list of Billboard country music hit singles included the following:

'There Goes My Everything', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022) (seven weeks at No.1 in December 1966 / January 1967)

'All The Time', which was written by Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017) and Wayne P. Walker (No.1 for five weeks in June / July 1967)

'What Locks The Door', which was written by Vic McAlpin (Monday 4 February 1918 - Friday 18 January 1980) (No.2, 1967)

'You Are My Treasure', which was written by Cindy Walker (Saturday 20 July 1918 - Thursday 23 March 2006) (one week at No.1 in April 1968)

'Until My Dreams Come True', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022) (two weeks at No.1 in February 1969)

'Statue of A Fool', which was written by Jan Crutchfield (Saturday 26 February 1938 - Thursday 1 November 2012) (two weeks at No.1 in July 1969)

Other hit songs from Jack Greene included 'Back In The Arms of Love', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022) (No.4, 1969) and 'Wish I Didn't Have To Miss You', which was written by Hank Cochran (Friday 2 August 1935 - Thursday 15 July 2010) and Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004), and was a duet with Jeannie Seely (No.2, 1970).

Jack Greene remained with Decca Records, which later became MCA Records, until 1975, after which he recorded for a number of record labels, including Frontline Records and Step One Records.



Both Jack Greene and Gene Watson recorded Hank Cochran's 'He Little Thing'd Her Out of My Arms'; Gene Watson included the track on 'Beautiful Country' (Capitol Records, 1977).

Jack Greene and Gene Watson also recognised the talents of extraordinary country music songwriters and have both recorded songs by writers such as Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 - Wednesday 8 December 1982), Dave Kirby (Sunday 10 July 1938 - Saturday 17 April 2004), Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022) and Mel Tillis (Monday 8 August 1932 - Sunday 19 November 2017).



On Thursday 14 March 2013, Jack Greene, who was known affectionately within country music circles as 'The Jolly Green Giant', passed away; Jack Greene was eighty-three years old.

Jack Greene
(Tuesday 7 January 1930 - Thursday 14 March 2013)

Gene Watson, Michelle Capps & friends rehearsing 'There Goes My Everything', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022), backstage at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, on Wednesday 27 March 2013

A memorial service, 'A Celebration of the Life of Jack Greene', took place at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday 27 March 2013, commencing at 11:00am, and was open to the public.



Gene Watson, Vince Gill, Lorrie Morgan, Mandy Barnett, The Whites, Ricky Skaggs, Penn Pennington, Joe Rucker and members of The Opry Band, including Jimmy Capps (Thursday 25 May 1939 - Monday 1 June 2020), paid musical tribute to Jack Greene, who had been a member of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville since 1967.

Jeannie Seely, who recorded several hit duets with Jack Greene, was among those delivering a eulogy.

Eulogies were also given by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022), Keith Bilbrey, Charlie Ammerman and Roxanne Atwood.

• Visit Jack Greene's Wikipedia Profile