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 Rob Ickes, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 3 August 2006.

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





Rob Ickes
This quote was submitted on Thursday 3 August 2006.

'I think Gene is awesome; he is one of my all-time favourite country singers'

Thank you, Rob Ickes, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Rob Ickes...



Rob Ickes, who was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay area, comes from a musical family.  Rob Ickes' grandparents played old-time fiddle music and Rob trained his young musical ear at their weekly jam sessions.

Although his family wanted Rob Ickes to play fiddle, the instrument didn't interest him.

At the age of thirteen, Rob Ickes was exposed to the dobro playing of Mike Auldridge and the sound immediately caught his attention.  Soon after, Rob Ickes got his first dobro and he has been playing music ever since.



In 1992, Rob Ickes moved to Nashville, where his career immediately took off.

Rob Ickes is a founding member of the bluegrass group Blue Highway, one of the fastest rising groups in the genre, of which Tim Stafford is also a member.

 

In 1994, Rob Ickes appeared on two Grammy Award-winning recordings: Alison Krauss & The Cox Family's 'I Know Who Holds Tomorrow' (Rounder Records, 1994) and the all-star dobro release 'The Great Dobro Sessions' (Sugar Hill Records, 1994), which was produced by Jerry Douglas.



In 1995, Blue Highway's first recording, 'It's A Long, Long Road' (Rebel Records, 1995), was released on Rebel Records.  Blue Highway swept the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards with wins for 'Album of The Year', 'Emerging Artist of The Year' and 'Dobro Player of The Year'.



On Tuesday 22 July 1997, Chris Jones & The Night Drivers saw the release of 'No One But You' (Rebel Records, 1997), which included the following tracks:

'Ribbon of Darkness', which was written by Gordon Lightfoot (Thursday 17 November 1938 - Sunday 1 May 2023)
'No One But You' (written by Chris Jones)
'I'm Not That Good At Goodbye', which was written by Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017) and Bob McDill
'Stream of Love' (written by Chris Jones)
'My Baby's Just Like Money', which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975)
'Sweetest Love', which was written by Carter Stanley (Thursday 27 August 1925 - Thursday 1 December 1966)
'Only My Heart' (written by John Pennell) / this track featured John Pennell on bass
'Model Prisoner' (written by Chris Jones)
'Close The Door' (written by Chris Jones)
'In A Mansion Stands My Love', which was written by Johnny Russell (Tuesday 23 January 1940 - Tuesday 3 July 2001)
'Shaky Ground' (written by Allen Jones)
'Whispering Now', which was written by Eddie Hill (Monday 4 July 1921 - Tuesday 18 January 1994)

Rob Ickes was a special guest on Chris Jones & The Night Drivers' 'No One But You' (Rebel Records, 1997); Rob played Dobro on all tracks.

 

 

Rob Ickes has also seen the release of four solo albums on Rounder Records; 'Hard Times' (Rounder Records, 1997), 'Slide City' (Rounder Records, 1999), 'What It Is' (Rounder Records, 2002) and 'Big Time' (Rounder Records, 2004), all of which have been landmark achievements for the Dobro.

Rob Ickes has performed with, and recorded with, a host of country music artists, including Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, Earl Scruggs (Sunday 6 January 1924 - Wednesday 28 March 2012), Steve Wariner, Marty Stuart, David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Marty Raybon, Jeannie Kendall, Mila Mason, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Douglas, Susan Ashton, Claire Lynch, Lynn Morris, John Cowan, Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 - Wednesday 30 March 2011), The Cox Family, Reba McEntire and Mary Chapin Carpenter.



On Tuesday 28 February 2006, Alecia Nugent saw the release of her breakthrough album, 'A Little Girl…A Big Four-Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006), which was produced by Carl Jackson, and included the following tracks:

'Too Good To Be True' (written by Larry Cordle and Leslie Satcher)
'Muddy River' (written by John Sheard)
'God Knows What', which was written by Jimbeau Hinson (Wednesday 29 October 1952 - Friday 4 March 2022)
'A Dozen White Roses' (written by Larry Alderman and Carl Jackson)
'Where His Wheels Left The Road', which was written by Max D. Barnes (Friday 24 July 1936 - Sunday 11 January 2004) and Leslie Satcher
'I Cried All The Way To Kentucky', which was written by Dixie Hall (Saturday 26 May 1934 - Friday 16 January 2015) and Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 - Friday 20 August 2021)

'When It Comes Down To Us (It's All Up To You)' (written by Carl Jackson) / this track was a duet with Bradley Walker

'You've Still Got It' (written by John Pennell and Jerry Salley)
'Breaking New Ground' (written by Carl Jackson and Jerry Salley)
'It Won't Be Me' (written by Roger Brown)
'Letter From Home' (written by Carl Jackson and Jennifer McCarter)
'Somewhere Else To Fall' (written by Morgane Hayes, Liz Rose and Jerry Salley)
'Meet Me In Heaven Someday' (written by Ronnie Bowman and Carl Jackson)

Personnel involved in the recording of Alecia Nugent's 'A Little Girl…A Big Four-Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006), included the following:

Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Jim Van Cleve (fiddle)
Andy Falco (acoustic guitar)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Cia Cherryholmes (background vocals)
Doyle Lawson
Alison Krauss

When Alecia Nugent showcased the tunes from her 'A Little Girl…A Big Four-Lane' (Rounder Records, 2006) album, in Nashville, she was proclaimed a 'hillbilly goddess' by Nashville music critic Robert K. Oermann; that off-hand nickname was transformed into the title track of her third Rounder Records album.



On Tuesday 12 September 2006, Bradley Walker saw the release of his debut album, 'Highway of Dreams' (Rounder Records, 2006), which was produced by Carl Jackson, and included the following tracks:

'Life Or Love', which was written by Harley Allen (Monday 23 January 1956 - Wednesday 30 March 2011) and Gary Cotton
Musicians
Clay Hess (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Ron Block (banjo)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Carl Jackson and Rhonda Vincent (background vocals)

'When I'm Hurtin' (written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell)
Musicians
Clay Hess and Andy Falco (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Ron Block (banjo)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Larry Cordle and Rhonda Vincent (background vocals)

'Love's Tombstone' (written by Carl Jackson and Jenny Yates)
Musicians
Clay Hess and Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Ron Block (banjo)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Larry Cordle and Rhonda Vincent (background vocals)

'Payin' Your Dues' (written by Chris Austin and Carl Jackson)
Musicians
Clay Hess and Andy Falco (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Ron Stewart (banjo)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Jim Van Cleve (fiddle)
Russell Moore (background vocals)

'If I Hadn't Reached For The Stars' (written by Carl Jackson)
Musicians
Clay Hess and Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Vince Gill and Sonya Isaacs (background vocals)

'Price of Admission' (written by Glenn Garrett and Craig Market)
Musicians
Clay Hess (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Ron Block (banjo)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Jim Van Cleve (fiddle)
Carl Jackson and Alecia Nugent (background vocals)

'He Carried Her Memory' (written by Jim McBride and Jerry Salley)
Musicians
Clay Hess (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddles)
Jerry Salley and Alecia Nugent (background vocals)

'A Little Change' (written by Carl Jackson, Mike Ward and Jared Ashley)
Musicians
Clay Hess and Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Carl Jackson and Sonya Isaacs (background vocals)

'Lost At Sea' (written by Shawn Camp)
Musicians
Clay Hess and Carl Jackson (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Carl Jackson and Cia Cherryholmes (background vocals)

'Shoulda Took That Train' (written by Mike Ward and Ken Williams)
Musicians
Clay Hess (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Ron Stewart (banjo)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Vince Gill (background vocals)

'I Never Go Around Mirrors', which was written by Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 - Saturday 19 July 1975) and Sanger D. 'Whitey' Shafer (Wednesday 24 October 1934 - Saturday 12 January 2019)
Musicians
Clay Hess (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Randy Kohrs (Dobro)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Brandon Hickman and Alecia Nugent (background vocals)

'We Know Where He Is' (written by Shawn Camp and Buddy Cannon)
Musicians
Clay Hess (acoustic guitar)
Kevin Grantt (bass)
Tony Creasman (drums)
Adam Steffey (mandolin)
Rob Ickes (Dobro)
Jim Van Cleve (fiddles)
Carl Jackson and Cia Cherryholmes (background vocals)



On Tuesday 24 March 2009, Alecia Nugent saw the release of 'Hillbilly Goddess' (Rounder Records, 2009), which was produced by Carl Jackson, and included the following tracks:

'Wrecking The Train' (written by Mike Ward, Lonnie Levelle and Amanda Williams)

'Don't Tell Me' (written by Buddy Miller and Julie Miller) / this track featured guest vocalist Bradley Walker

'Hillbilly Goddess' (written by Alecia Nugent, Carl Jackson and Sonya Kelly) / this track featured James Dee (J.D.) Crowe (Friday 27 August 1937 - Friday 24 December 2021) on banjo

'Just Another Alice' (written by Don Goodman and Ladd Smith) / this track featured guest vocalist Valerie Storey

'The Last Greyhound' (written by Tim Stafford and Craig Market)

'Cryin' All The Way To The Bank' (written by Carl Jackson and Rebecca Lynn Howard)

'Dyin' To Hold Her Again' (written by Jerry Salleyand Joanie Keller-Johnson) / this track featured harmony vocals from Bradley Walker and Carl Jackson

'Nugent Family Band', which was written by Alecia Nugent, Tom T. Hall (Monday 25 May 1936 - Friday 20 August 2021) and Dixie Hall (Saturday 26 May 1934 - Friday 16 January 2015)

'Wishin' Hard' (written by Tim O'Brien)

'The Writing's All Over The Wall' (written by Larry Cordleand Connie Leigh) / this track was a duet with Bradley Walker

'Already Home' (written by Tanya Leah and Gregory Lynch) / this track featured guest vocalist Sonya Isaacs

Personnel involved in the recording of Alecia Nugent's 'Hillbilly Goddess' (Rounder Records, 2009) included duet partner Bradley Walker, Andy Leftwich, Tim Stafford, Rob Ickes, Adam Steffey, producer Carl Jackson, James Dee (J.D.) Crowe (Friday 27 August 1937 - Friday 24 December 2021), members of Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder, Blue Highway, The Dan Tyminski Band, and The Infamous Stringdusters.



On Tuesday 2 October 2007, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016) saw the release of 'The Bluegrass Sessions' (McCoury Music Records, 2007), the majority of which was recorded 'live' in the studio, over the space of one day, with very little overdubbing.  Guests on the album included Alison Krauss, Marty Stuart and Dobro virtuso Rob Ickes.

Merle Haggard's 'The Bluegrass Sessions' (McCoury Music Records, 2007) included the following tracks:

'Runaway Momma' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Pray' (written by Merle Haggard)
'What Happened?' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Jimmie Rodgers Blues' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Learning To Live With Myself' (written by Merle Haggard)

'Mama's Hungry Eyes' (written by Merle Haggard) / this track featured guest vocals from Alison Krauss

'I Wonder Where To Find You' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Holding Things Together' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Big City' (written by Merle Haggard and Dean Holloway)
'Momma's Prayers' (written by Merle Haggard)
'Wouldn't That Be Something', which was written by Merle Haggard and Freddy Powers (Tuesday 13 October 1931 - Tuesday 21 June 2016)
'Blues Stay Away From Me', which was written by Lionel Alton Delmore (Tuesday 19 March 1940 - Monday 20 May 2002), Rabon Delmore, Henry Glover and Wayne Raney

• Visit Rob Ickes' official site at robickes.com