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 Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson, which he submitted to this site on Saturday 8 February 2014.

Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say 'thank you' to Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson who made a special contribution to this unique part of this online 'celebration of a Lone Star Hero'.





Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson
This quote was submitted on Saturday 8 February 2014.



'I have been a Gene Watson fan ever since I heard 'Love In The Hot Afternoon'.

I was lucky enough to see several live performances by Gene and his band over the years.

Always outstanding!

Gene Watson has always sung real country music, straight from the heart.

One of my all time favourites!'

Thank you, Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson...



Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson's distinctive, soulful style of harmonica has earned him critical acclaim, numerous awards, and a place among Nashville's top session musicians.

A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson's career has spanned thirty-five years.  Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson began playing harmonica at the age of nineteen in Cleveland, Tennessee.  After touring with several rock, blues and country music groups, Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson settled in Knoxville to work with The Tommy Cole Band.

From 1979 to 1989, Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson played concerts and club dates all across America with Warner Brothers recording artist Con Hunley.  The group opened for a number of artists, including Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Loretta Lynn (Thursday 14 April 1932 - Tuesday 4 October 2022) and Emmylou Harris.

Since moving to Nashville in 1984, Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson has recorded with a number of acclaimed music artists, including Trisha Yearwood, Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020), Etta James (Tuesday 25 January 1938 - Friday 20 January 2012), Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 - Tuesday 17 May 2016), Lee Ann Womack, Travis Tritt, Shania Twain, The Judds, and Alan Jackson.

Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson's unique sound has been heard on over fifty 'Gold' and 'Platinum' albums, including three Grammy Award-winning albums by Randy Travis.

Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson has made numerous television appearances with various artists, including Faith Hill on 'Late Show With David Letterman', Alan Jackson and Jamie O'Neal on 'Tonight Show With Jay Leno', Trisha Yearwood and The Judds on 'Country Music Association Awards Show', and Con Hunley on 'Austin City Limits' and 'Soundstage'.

In 1998, Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson won the Nashville Music Award for 'Best Wind Instrumentalist'.  After receiving nominations for 1998 and 2000, Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson won the 'Best Specialty Instrument Award' for 2003 and 2008 from The Academy of Country Music (ACM).

Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson regularly performs at Nashville's world-famous Bluebird Cafe with hit songwriters J. Fred Knobloch, Thom Schuyler, Tony Arata and Don Schlitz.

Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson has added his distinctive sound to a large, and impressive, number of recordings by the following artists:

Alabama
Pat Alger
Gary Allan
Bill Anderson
Tony Arata
Suzy Bogguss
Bob Carlisle
Kim Carnes
Peter Cetera
Kenny Chesney
Mark Chesnutt
Mark Collie
Guy Clark (Thursday 6 November 1941 - Tuesday 17 May 2016)
Jessi Colter
Ronny Cox
Lacy J. Dalton
Billy Dean
Kevin Denney
Dean Dillon
Nokie Edwards
Michael English
Skip Ewing
George Fox
Jeff Foxworthy
Gaither Vocal Band
Gatlin Brothers (Larry Gatlin, Steve Gatlin & Rudy Gatlin)
Crystal Gayle
Bob Gibson
Vern Gosdin (Sunday 5 August 1934 - Tuesday 28 April 2009) (duet with Randy Travis)
Josh Gracin
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 - Friday 13 August 2021)
Jennifer Hanson
Wade Hayes
Eric Heatherly
Bertie Higgins
Malcolm Holcombe
Rebecca Lynn Howard
Con Hunley
Sylvia Hutton
Randall Hylton
Alan Jackson
Etta James (Tuesday 25 January 1938 - Friday 20 January 2012)
Jamey Johnson
Michael Johnson (Tuesday 8 August 1944 - Tuesday 25 July 2017)
George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 - Friday 26 April 2013)
The Judds
Sammy Kershaw
Hal Ketchum (Thursday 9 April 1953 - Monday 23 November 2020)
B.B. King (Wednesday 16 September 1925 - Thursday 14 May 2015) (duet with Randy Travis)
Sean Keane
J. Fred Knobloch
Alison Krauss
McGuffey Lane
Lonestar
Kathy Mattea
Tim McGraw
Reba McEntire
Pat McLaughlin
Jo Dee Messina
Victor Mecyssne
Buddy Mondlock
John Michael Montgomery
Craig Morgan
Nicole C. Mullen
Joe Nichols
The O'Kanes - Kieran Kane and Jamie O'Hara (Friday 18 August 1950 - Thursday 7 January 2021)
Jake Owen
Tom Paxton
Suzi Ragsdale
Kenny Rogers (Sunday 21 August 1938 - Friday 20 March 2020)
Jim Rooney
Tom Rush
Darrell Scott
Dan Seals (Sunday 8 February 1948 - Wednesday 25 March 2009)
T.G. Sheppard
Charlie Sizemore
Skid Row
Red Steagall
Doug Stone
Marty Stuart
Barry & Holly Tashian
Verlon Thompson
Pam Tillis
Randy Travis
Travis Tritt
Josh Turner
Shania Twain
Phil Vassar
Bobby Vinton
Susan Werner
Don Williams (Saturday 27 May 1939 - Friday 8 September 2017)
Hank Williams Jr.
Jack Williams
Trent Willmon
Lee Ann Womack
Darryl Worley
Trisha Yearwood
Steve Young





• Visit Kirk Jelly Roll Johnson's official site at jellyrolljohnson.com