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 during 2021, 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 Rick Huckaby, which he submitted to this site on Wednesday 10 March 2021.

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





Rick Huckaby
This quote was submitted on Wednesday 10 March 2021.

'Gene Watson is one of the finest country singers to ever hold a microphone.

He does not get near enough credit for shaping the careers of so many stars.



When I played guitar for Tracy Lawrence, one of the highlights was the many times he would add 'Fourteen Carat Mind', which was written by Dallas Frazier (Friday 27 October 1939 - Friday 14 January 2022) and Larry Lee Favorite (Saturday 6 January 1940 - Saturday 26 May 2001), to the show.

It was a reminder of how special Gene Watson is to us all'

Thank you, Rick Huckaby, for your support of Gene Watson.



About Rick Huckaby...



Rick Huckaby, or 'Huck' as he is referred to, is a Nashville singer, songwriter, and guitar player.

His sound is like none other heard in country music today, combining influences as rare as Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 - Wednesday 6 April 2016), Ronnie Milsap and Keith Whitley (Thursday 1 July 1954 - Tuesday 9 May 1989).

His lyrical honesty and vocal integrity is something of a rarity these days and his ability to incorporate such a wide variety of musical genres inspires those who take the time to listen.

Rick Huckaby was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as the son of the legendary basketball coach, Richard David Huckabay Sr. (Sunday 25 November 1945 - Friday 10 March 2006) (Rick took the silent 'a' out at the end of his last name as not to confuse the pronunciation).

In 1983, Coach Richard David Huckabay Sr. (Sunday 25 November 1945 - Friday 10 March 2006) left his position as the assistant men's basketball coach at LSU and moved his wife and two children (Rick and his brother Andy) to Huntington, West Virginia to take the head-coaching job of the men's basketball team at Marshall University.  It was here where Rick Huckaby's musical journey would begin.

Rick Huckaby started out as a drummer and began playing in bands when he was a freshman in high school.  One night at a local talent show, the lead singer got cold feet and 'no showed' on the gig, ironically introducing Rick Huckaby's voice to the world for the first time.

After high school, Rick Huckaby fronted several bands, but his group, 'Front Page', was the most successful and, on the strength of Rick Huckaby's original compositions, the band won The Jimmy Dean True Value Hardware Store Regional talent competition.  After this achievement, Rick Huckaby knew he needed to be in Nashville and moved there in 1996.



After two years of working construction for an asphalt company, Rick Huckaby landed a dream gig as the acoustic guitar player for country music superstar, Tracy Lawrence.

Rick Huckaby was in Tracy Lawrence's band for five years and wrote ten songs which were included on various Tracy Lawrence albums during that time.



On Tuesday 1 February 2000, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of 'Lessons Learned' (Atlantic Records, 2000), which was produced by Flip Anderson, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'Lessons Learned' (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Tracy Lawrence) (No.3, 1999)

'Lonely' (written by Robin Lee Bruce and Roxie Dean) (No.18, 2000)

'Unforgiven' (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Bobby Pinson) (No.35, 2001)

Tracy Lawrence's 'Lessons Learned' (Atlantic Records, 2000) also included the following tracks:

'The Holes That He Dug', which was written by Tracy Lawrence, Flip Anderson and Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 - Sunday 1 October 2017)
'Long Wet Kiss' (written by Tracy Lawrence, Flip Anderson and Rick Huckaby)
'From The Inside Out' (written by Lee Thomas Miller and Rick Huckaby)
'The Man I Was' (written by Mark Nesler and Tony Martin)
'Just You & Me' (written by Flip Anderson and Rick Huckaby)
'Steps' (written by Monty Criswell, Michael White and Rick Huckaby)
'From Here To Kingdom Come' (written by J.D. Souther)
'Up All Night' (written by Mark Nesler and Tony Martin)

Personnel involved in the recording of Tracy Lawrence's 'Lessons Learned' (Atlantic Records, 2000) included the following:

Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, lap steel guitar)
Jack Gavin (drums, percussion)
Rob Hajacos (fiddle)
Tony Harrell (keyboards)
Rick Huckaby (acoustic guitar, background vocals)
Tracy Lawrence (lead vocals)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
Gary Lunn (bass guitar)
Liana Manis (background vocals)
Brent Rowan (electric guitar, acoustic guitar)
Joe Spivey (fiddle, mandolin)
John Willis (acoustic guitar, mandolin)
Kristin Wilkinson (string arrangements on 'Just You & Me', 'From Here To Kingdom Come' and 'Unforgiven')
Kristin Wilkinson, David Davidson, David Angell and John Catchings (string performance on 'Just You & Me', 'From Here To Kingdom Come' and 'Unforgiven')

Tracy Lawrence's 'Lessons Learned' (Atlantic Records, 2000) reached No.9 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2000, No.69 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2000, and No.37 on the Canadian RPM Country Albums Chart in 2000.

 

On Tuesday 23 October 2001, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of 'Tracy Lawrence' (Warner Bros. Records, 2001), which was produced by Tracy Lawrence and Flip Anderson, and included two tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart:

'Life Don't Have To Be So Hard' (written by Casey Beathard and Kenny D. West) (No.36, 2001)

'What A Memory', which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 - Sunday 1 October 2017) and Jeff Bates (No.53, 2002)

Tracy Lawrence's 'Tracy Lawrence' (Warner Bros. Records, 2001) also included the following tracks:

'Crawlin' Again', which was written by Kenny Beard (Thursday 26 February 1959 - Sunday 1 October 2017)and Michael White
'It's Got You All Over It' (written by J.B. Rudd, Jerry Salley and Lance Miller)
'Getting Back Up' (written by Marla Cannon-Goodman and Bobby Pinson)
'It's Hard To Be An Outlaw' (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Bobby Pinson)
'Meant To Be' (written by Tracy Lawrence, Flip Anderson and Rick Huckaby)

'That Was Us' (written by Craig Wiseman and Tony Lane) / this track was also recorded by Randy Travis, who included it on 'Passing Through' (Word Records / Warner Bros. Records / Curb Records, 2004)

'She Loved The Devil Out of Me' (written by Eric Clark, Tracy Lawrence and Rick Huckaby)
'Whole Lot of Lettin' Go' (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Tracy Lawrence)
'God's Green Earth' (written by Billy Yates and Monty Criswell)
'I Won All The Battles' (written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone and Tracy Lawrence)

Personnel involved in the recording of Tracy Lawrence's 'Tracy Lawrence' (Warner Bros. Records, 2001) included the following:

Alison Brown (banjo on 'She Loved The Devil Out of Me' and 'God's Green Earth')
Eric Darken (percussion)
Sonny Garrish (steel guitar, Dobro on 'Life Don't Have To Be So Hard' and 'That Was Us', pedabro on 'Crawlin' Again')
Owen Hale (drums)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin on 'Whole Lot of Lettin' Go')
Wes Hightower and Liana Manis (background vocals)
Tracy Lawrence (lead vocals)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
Gary Lunn (bass guitar)
Brent Rowan (electric guitar, banjo on 'I Won All The Battles')
Gary Smith (keyboards)

Tracy Lawrence's 'Tracy Lawrence' (Warner Bros. Records, 2001) reached No.13 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2001, and No.136 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2001.



In 2002, Paul Worley signed Rick Huckaby to a record deal with Warner Brothers and, after four years, Rick Huckaby cut ties with the major label.



On Tuesday 30 March 2004, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of 'Strong' (DreamWorks Records, 2004), which was produced by James Stroud, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'Paint Me A Birmingham' (written by Gary Duffy and Buck Moore) (No.4, 2003)

'It's All How You Look At It' (written by Rivers Rutherford, Dave Berg and Georgia Middleman) (No.36, 2004)

'Sawdust On Her Halo' (written by Monty Criswell and Rick Huckaby) (No.46, 2004)

Tracy Lawrence's 'Strong' (DreamWorks Records, 2004) also included the following tracks:

'Strong' (written by Bob Regan and Jimmy Ritchey)
'Stones', which was written by Jimbeau Hinson (), Kim Tribble and Jon Michaels
'Everywhere But Hollywood' (written by Jason Sellers, Bobby Pinson and Jimmy Ritchey)
'A Far Cry From You' (written by Tony Lane, Jess Brown and Robin English)
'Bobby Darwin's Daughter' (written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson and Rick Huckaby)
'What The Flames Feel Like' (written by Marty Dodson and George Teren)
'When Daddy Was A Strong Man' (written by Casey Beathard and Kendell Marvell)
'Think of Me' (written by Paul Nelson and Lewis Anderson)
'The Questionnaire' (written by Aaron Barker, Phillip Douglas and Ron Harbin)

Personnel involved in the recording of Tracy Lawrence's 'Strong' (DreamWorks Records, 2004) included the following:

Dan Dugmore and Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Shannon Forrest (drums)
Aubrey Haynie (fiddle, mandolin)
Tracy Lawrence (lead vocals)
Gary Lunn (bass guitar)
Liana Manis and John Wesley Ryles (background vocals)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Steve Nathan (piano, keyboards)
Biff Watson (acoustic guitar)
Bergen White (string arrangements, conductor)

Tracy Lawrence's 'Strong' (DreamWorks Records, 2004) reached No.2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2004, and No.17 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2004.



On Tuesday 30 January 2007, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of 'For The Love' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2007), which was produced by Flip Anderson, Julian King and Tracy Lawrence, and included three tracks, which were hit singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'Find Out Who Your Friends Are' (written by Casey Beathard and Ed Hill) (No.1, 2006) / this track featured guest vocals from Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney

'Til I Was A Daddy Too' (written by Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence and Paul Nelson) (No.57, 2007) / this track was re-released in 2008 and reached No.32

'You Can't Hide Redneck' (written by Casey Beathard and Dan DeMay) (No.56, 2008)

Tracy Lawrence's 'For The Love' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2007) also included the following tracks:

'Just Like Her' (written by Wil Nance and Odie Blackmon)
'For The Love' (written by Paul Nelson and Rick Huckaby)/ this track was a duet with Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down
'As Easy As Our Blessings' (written by Tony Martin and Mark Nesler)
'Speed of Flight' (written by Tracy Lawrence)
'Rock & A Soft Place' (written by Mike Brown, Flip Anderson and Rick Huckaby)
'You're Why God Made Me' (written by Billy Yates and Wil Nance)
'Just Like That' (written by Mike Brown and Flip Anderson)

The following tracks were not included on Tracy Lawrence's 'For The Love' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2007):

'I'm Gonna Finish Leaving You' (written by Tony Martin, Mark Nesler and Tom Shapiro) / this track was the B-side of 'Til I Was A Daddy Too'
'What You Want' (written by Casey Beathard) / this track was the B-side of 'You Can't Hide Redneck'

Personnel involved in the recording of Tracy Lawrence's 'For The Love' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2007) included the following:

Brad Arnold (guest vocals on 'For The Love')
Eddie Bayers and Gregg Stocki (drums)
Mike Brignardello, Patrick Lassiter and Glenn Worf (bass guitar)
Joe Caverlee and Aubrey Haynie (fiddle)
Kenny Chesney (guest vocals on 'Find Out Who Your Friends Are')
Dan Dugmore, Paul Franklin and Loren Nelson (steel guitar, Dobro)
Tony Harrell, Steve Nathan and Steve Poole (piano, keyboards)
Tracy Lawrence (lead vocals)
B. James Lowry and Dennis Parker (acoustic guitar)
Brent Mason and Darryl Preston (electric guitar)
Tim McGraw (guest vocals on 'Find Out Who Your Friends Are')

Tracy Lawrence's 'For The Love' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2007) reached No.6 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2007, No.53 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2007, and No.3 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart in 2007.

In 2007, Rick Huckaby and his brother Andy formed the independent record label and publishing company, HeadCoach Music, in honour of their father who passed away from cancer in 2006 - Richard David Huckabay Sr. (Sunday 25 November 1945 - Friday 10 March 2006).



On Friday 25 May 2007, Rick Huckaby saw the release of 'Call Me Huck' (Headcoach Records, 2007) which received significant critical acclaim, and included the following tracks:

'I Got You Covered' (written by Cleo Anderson, Monty Criswell and Rick Huckaby)
'She Gets Me High' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Sing It To You' (written by Rick Huckaby and J.P. Pennington)
'Ain't Enough Blacktop' (written by Cleo Anderson, Larry Boone and Rick Huckaby)
'City Life' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'My Bad' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Diggin' At My Scars' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Mash The Gas' (written by Monty Criswell and Rick Huckaby)
'Never Needed A Woman' (written by Rick Huckaby and J.P. Pennington)
'Can't Miss Kid' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Call Me Huck' (written by Rick Huckaby)



Trace Adkins recorded Rick Huckaby's 'Muddy Water' (co-written with Monty Criswell) and included the track on 'Ten' / 'X' (Capitol Nashville Records, 2008); the track reached No.22 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2008.



Craig Morgan recorded Rick Huckaby's 'Every Red Light' (co-written with Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby) and included the track on 'That's Why' (BNA Records, 2008).



On Tuesday 9 June 2009, Tracy Lawrence saw the release of 'The Rock' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009), which was produced by Julian King and Tracy Lawrence, and included one track, which was a hit single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart:

'Up To Him', which was written by Tim Johnson (Friday 29 January 1960 - Sunday 21 October 2012) and David Kent (No.47, 2009)

Tracy Lawrence's 'The Rock' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009) also included the following tracks:

'Dear Lord' (written by Flip Anderson and Tracy Lawrence)
'Every Prayer' (written by Michael Dulaney and Greg Johnson)
'I'm Done' (written by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin)
'The Book You Never Read' (written by Michael T. Post and Fred Wilhelm)
'The Rock' (written by Jeff Batson, Aaron Scherz and Thom Shepherd)
'Somebody Who Would Die For You' (written by Mark Narmore and Adam Wheeler)
'Jesus Come Talk To Your Children' (written by Rick Huckaby and Paul Nelson)
'I Know Where Heaven Is' (written by Dave Berg, Annie Tate and Sam Tate)
'Say A Prayer' (written by Jimmy Melton, Craig Morgan and Phil O'Donnell)

Personnel involved in the recording of Tracy Lawrence's 'The Rock' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009) included the following:

Gregg Stocki (drums)
Joe Caverlee (fiddle, mandolin)
Melodie Crittenden, Wes Hightower and Kim Parent (background vocals)
Patrick Lassiter (bass guitar)
Tracy Lawrence (lead vocals)
B. James Lowry (acoustic guitar)
Brent Mason (electric guitar)
Steve Poole (keyboards)

Tracy Lawrence's 'The Rock' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009) reached No.20 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart in 2009, No.104 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in 2009, No.19 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart in 2009, and No.4 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart in 2009.

'The Rock' (Rocky Comfort Records / Co5 Records, 2009) garnered Tracy Lawrence his first Grammy Award nomination, which was in the 'Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album' category.



In 2010, Rick Huckaby saw the release of 'Hittin' My Stride' (CD Baby, 2010), which included the following tracks:

'Broken Promiseland'
'Devil On A Good Day'
'Nothing But A Thing'
'Saving Savannah'
'Out From Under You'
'Lies Little Lies'
'Friendly Advice'
'Tell Me Again'
'Steady Peace'
'Traveling Light'
'Hittin' My Stride'
'I'll Look For You'



Thomas Rhett recorded Rick Huckaby's 'Beer With Jesus' (co-written with Thomas Rhett and Lance Miller) and included the track on 'It Goes Like This' (Valory Records, 2013); the track reached No.26 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart in 2012.



In 2013, Rick Huckaby saw the release of 'Pistols & Diamonds' (Lawrence Music Group, 2013), which included the following tracks:

'Pistols & Diamonds' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Closer To You' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Gasoline Shoes' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'In My Room' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Rubbin' It In' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'James Taylor Song' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Last One To Leave' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Some Place In The Sun' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Mountains On My Mind' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Sharp Edges' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Undefeated' (written by Rick Huckaby)
'Muddy Water' (written by Rick Huckaby)



Frankie Ballard recorded Rick Huckaby's 'Southern Side' (co-written with Monty Criswell) and included the track on 'El Rio' (Warner Bros. Nashville Records, 2016).

Rick Huckaby also loves working with his Nashville based blues band, Big Shoes.





• Visit Rick Huckaby's official site at rickhuckabymusic.com
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