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 2014, 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 Burton, which he submitted to this site on Thursday 12 June 2014.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Eddie Burton who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.
Eddie Burton
This quote was submitted on Thursday 12 June 2014.
'I only saw Gene in concert one time and that was at a club in Athens, Georgia which was a large place where many of the prominent country acts worked.
I was there with TNN (The Nashville Network) star Tom Grant and we opened for the great Gene Watson.
There was a high stage about eight feet off the dance floor and I went and stood right in front and watched Gene's first set and was mesmerized by his range and his tone and the overall performance he gave that night.
This was sometime in the mid-1980s.
When I think about that night, I can still feel the electricity that Gene had flowing in the air.
Years later, in the late 1980s, I was blessed to play on a four song session for Gene, which was produced by Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 - Thursday 8 June 2017), and which led to Gene's recording for Warner Bros. Records'
Thank you, Eddie Burton, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Eddie Burton...
In 1975, Eddie Burton met Kent Westberry; Kent's wife, Dale Turner, and Eddie's wife, Pat McKinney, had been friends from the early 1960s. They both had recording contracts with Columbia Records / Epic Records.
Eddie Burton and Kent Westberry were songwriting partners for many years.
In 1977, Eddie Burton met Dennis Knutson (1949 - Saturday 1 September 2018) in Nashville and they were both signed to ATV Music.
Eddie Burton was the studio band leader for Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 - Thursday 8 June 2017) and he played acoustic guitar.
Norro Wilson (Monday 4 April 1938 - Thursday 8 June 2017) pitched the recording session to Warner Bros. Records, which led to Gene Watson signing with the label.
In 1978, Eddie Burton saw the release of his own Christian album; 'I Can Hardly Wait To See Your Face' (Third Day Records, 1978) was released by Third Day Records.
In 1987, Eddie Burton did some studio work with Gene Watson, which led to his recording contract with Warner Bros. Records.
Gene Watson recorded two albums for Warner Bros. Records, 'Back In The Fire' (Warner Bros. Records, 1988) and 'At Last' (Warner Bros. Records, 1991).
Eddie Burton and Kent Westberry relocated to Lakeland in Florida where they continued to write songs and play music together.
Billy 'Crash' Craddock recorded Eddie Burton's 'Ain't No Easy Way To Lose', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'Changes' (Capitol Records, 1980).
Conway Twitty (Friday 1 September 1933 - Saturday 5 June 1993) recorded Eddie Burton's 'Night Fires', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'Heart & Soul' (MCA Records, 1980).
Tammy Wynette (Tuesday 5 May 1942 - Monday 6 April 1998) recorded Eddie Burton's 'Dancing Your Memory Away' (co-written Thomas Grant) and included the track on 'Soft Touch' (Epic Records, 1982).
Charly McClain recorded Eddie Burton's 'Dancing Your Memory Away' (co-written with Tom Grant) and included the track on 'Too Good To Hurry' (Epic Records, 1983); the track reached No.2 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
Eddie Burton's 'Dancing Your Memory Away', which was co-written with Tom Grant, has been recorded over thirty times in the years between 1982 and 2017.
David Frizzell recorded Eddie Burton's 'Survivor', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'On My Own Again' (Viva Records, 1983).
David Frizzell & Shelly West recorded Eddie Burton's 'You Still Do It For Me', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018) and David Frizzell, and included the track on 'David Frizzell: In Session' (Viva Records, 1983).
In 1983, Ed Hunnicutt recorded Eddie Burton's 'My Angel's Got The Devil In Her Eyes', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018) and Dave Burgess; when released by MCA Records as a non-album single, the track reached No.59 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1983.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Eddie Burton's 'Daisy Chain', which was co-written with Roger Allan Wade and Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'Ladies Choice' (Epic Records, 1984); the track was a duet with Barbara Mandrell.
In 1985, Narvel Felts recorded Eddie Burton's 'Hey Lady' (co-written with Timothy Sharp and Jacqueline Sharp); when released by Evergreen Records, as a non-album single, in December 1984, the track reached No.51 on the Billboard country music singles chart in 1985.
In 1985, Narvel Felts recorded Eddie Burton's 'If It Was Any Better (I Couldn't Stand It)' (co-written with Tom Grant and Melanie Morris); the track was released as a non-album single on Evergreen Records in April 1985.
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013) recorded Eddie Burton's 'If Only You'd Love Me Again', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes' (Epic Records, 1985).
Jan Howard (Friday 13 March 1929 - Saturday 28 March 2020) recorded Eddie Burton's 'I Spent All My Love On You', which was co-written with Dennis Knutson (1949 - Saturday 1 September 2018), and included the track on 'Jan Howard' (Dot Records / MCA Records, 1985).
Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Eddie Burton's 'You Need A Lady In Your Life' (co-written with Tom Grant) and included the track on 'I Feel Good About Lovin' You' (Epic Records, 1985).
Janie Fricke recorded Eddie Burton's 'Don't Put It Past My Heart' (co-written with Tom Grant) and included the track on 'Black & White' (Columbia Records, 1986).
Buck Owens (Monday 12 August 1929 - Saturday 25 March 2006) recorded Eddie Burton's 'Forever Yours' (co-written with Kent Westberry) and included the track on 'Kickin' In' (Capitol Records, 1991).
The track was pitched by Eddie Burton and Kent Westberry to Buck Owens while they were visiting Ray Pillow's office at Capitol Records in Nashville; it was produced by Jimmy Bowen and was Buck Owens' last single on Capitol Records.
Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 - Monday 16 December 2013) recorded Eddie Burton's 'You Need A Lady In Your Life' (co-written with Tom Grant) and included the track on 'Sometimes A Rose' (Columbia Records, 1992).
Mickey Gilley (Monday 9 March 1936 - Saturday 7 May 2022) recorded Eddie Burton's 'The Last Dance With You', which was co-written with Arthur Leo 'Doodle' Owens (Friday 28 November 1930 - Monday 4 October 1999) and Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'Make It Like The First Time' (Branson Entertainment, 1993).
The Moffatts recorded Eddie Burton's 'Mama Never Told Me 'Bout You', which was co-written with Robert Byrne (Saturday 10 July 1954 - Monday 27 June 2005) and Tommy Dennis, and included the track on 'The Moffatts' (Polygram Records / Polydor Records, 1995).
Tony Booth recorded Eddie Burton's 'Losing You Just Dawned On Me Today' (co-written with Kent Westberry) and included the track on 'Is This All There Is To A Honky Tonk' (Heart of Texas Records, 2008).
Wade Hammond recorded Eddie Burton's 'Bitter Harvest' (co-written with Tommy Dennis) and included the track on 'Rainbow's End' (Independent Release, 2009); the track reached No.1 on the Inspirational Country Chart in 2010.
Cory Walker recorded Eddie Burton's 'Every Mother's Nightmare, Every Schoolboy's Dream' (co-written with Kent Westberry) and included the track on 'Cory Walker' (Walker Records, 2010).
Tony Booth recorded Eddie Burton's 'Bridge To Memory Lane' (co-written with Kent Westberry) and included the track on 'Old School' (Heart of Texas Records, 2012).
Curtis Potter (Thursday 18 April 1940 - Saturday 23 January 2016), Tony Booth and Darrell McCall recorded Eddie Burton's 'Forever Yours' (co-written with Kent Westberry) and included the track on 'The Survivors' (Heart of Texas Records, 2012).
Roger Alan Wade recorded Eddie Burton's 'Naturally Stoned' (co-written with Roger Alan Wade) and included the track on 'Southbound Train' (Johnny Knoxville Records, 2012).
Roger Alan Wade recorded Eddie Burton's 'She Loves Me, I Love You, You Love Him', which was co-written with Roger Alan Wade and Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018), and included the track on 'Southbound Train' (Johnny Knoxville Records, 2012).
In 2013, Wade Hammond recorded Eddie Burton's 'She Loves Me Lord' (co-written with Tommy Dennis); when released as an independent single, the track reached No.12 on the Inspirational Country Chart in 2013.
Roger Alan Wade recorded Eddie Burton's 'Years Ago' (co-written with Roger Alan Wade) and included the track on 'Bad News Knockin' (Johnny Knoxville Records, 2014).
Cliona Hagan recorded Eddie Burton's 'Dancing Your Memory Away' (co-written with Tom Grant) and included the track on 'Straight' (Sharpe Music, 2017).
Eddie Burton, Roger Alan Wade and Dennis Knutson (Tuesday 3 November 1942 - Monday 27 August 2018)
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