1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: The Michael Berry Show, six number one country hits, twenty 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: three top tens, and over seventy five charted songs. One 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 1: of my favorite guests, one of my favorite people in 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,840 Speaker 1: the whole wide world, and no doubt, one of my 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: favorite musicians of all time. Gene Watson. Glad to have you, 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: my man. 7 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 2: Man. It's good to be talking to you. Michael. You're 8 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 2: doing all right. 9 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: I am doing great. Listen, my mom and dad are 10 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: listening to me talk on the phone with Gene Watson. 11 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: That's that's That means I'm doing pretty well, buddy. Let 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: me tell. 13 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 2: You you better keep it straight in there. 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: Well. You know, I was so proud of you, Geene. 15 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: The Houston Press just did They've started their own Houston 16 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: Music Hall of Fame, and I'm gonna I don't know 17 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: if you've had a chance to read this. I know 18 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,440 Speaker 1: you've been on the road a lot, but I love 19 00:00:53,479 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: the opening is working in a Houston body shop by 20 00:00:55,880 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: day and singing in honky tonks at night. Gene Watson 21 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: became an overnight country music sensation in nineteen seventy five. 22 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 1: After a decade of independent releases, Capitol Records picked up 23 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: his independently recorded album Love and the Hot Afternoon. It's 24 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: title track, assaultry all rated ballad that quickly went to 25 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: number three, and it tells how big you got. But 26 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: listen to listen how they ended this. Now, this is 27 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: pretty big praise. Here. It said, with the passing of 28 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: George Jones, it is actually possible to say, with no 29 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: disrespect to Ray Price, Willie Nelson or Johnny Bush, that 30 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: Gene Watson, known in the industry as the singer's singer, 31 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: is now the greatest pure vocalist left among working auto 32 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: tune free country singers. 33 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: That's fantastic. 34 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: That's pretty high praise. 35 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: Brother, that's you know, that's great. I appreciate it so much. 36 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: And to come from you know, my hometown where I 37 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: live and everything and makes it even more special. Of course, 38 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: you know, all the awards and everything come and go 39 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: out of Nashville, and and that's that's well and good. 40 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: And I just feel like I owe it all to 41 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: to the people out there, the fans that you know, 42 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 2: that that have kept me working throughout the years, and 43 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: and uh, you know, like I've said so many times, thanks, 44 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 2: It's not a good enough word for you guys, and 45 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: all the fans out there too. I really appreciate it. 46 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: Well, you know, our show airs in in ten cities, 47 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 1: one of them Nashville, and when I'm out there, one 48 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: of the things people in Nashville always say is, well, 49 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: you know, Gene Watson's from Houston. And I'll say, well, 50 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: Geene Watson's a friend of mine, and that always kind 51 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: of gives me a little extra credibility, you know too. 52 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: You know they mentioned three singers in there that would 53 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: be in that conversation is as the vocalists, uh, you 54 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: know top vocalists alive today, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, and 55 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: Johnny Bush. You are actually filling in for as a 56 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: favor Ray Price at Schrader Hall Am I right, yeah. 57 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 2: And you know I talked to a lady yesterday, Michelle, 58 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 2: who was doing a piece on me. And you know, 59 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: I'm real quick to say that I hate, I hate 60 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: to get a job that way, you know, But I'll 61 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 2: tell you one thing. It's such a such a pleasure 62 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 2: to be working, you know, or be called upon in 63 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 2: the place of the great Rape Price. 64 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: You know, yes, it is. 65 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 2: That makes me feel so good and we're just looking 66 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: forward to it. I haven't been Trader in several years. 67 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 2: And we're looking forward to getting back down there and more. 68 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: Let's playing at our own backyard, you know what I mean. 69 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: That's that's gonna be fun. 70 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: Geene Watson will be at Schrader Hall August twenty fourth, 71 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: that's in Goliad and tickets are twenty five bucks in advance, 72 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: thirty dollars at the door, and it's going to be 73 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: a good time. I'll post that it's on their website, 74 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: Trader Dance Hall. I'll post that on my website as well. 75 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: But that'll be a fun show and you'll have the 76 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: farewell Party band with you. 77 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: We'll have a farewell Party band with me. We're gonna 78 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: be doing all of the old favorites and all the 79 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: old hits that people were so gracious to make kids 80 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: for us, and along with some new stuff and you 81 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 2: can't even tell westone happened. I'd like to say hello 82 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: to to my good buddies. Slater there too, that that 83 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: does work on my vehicles for him and everything. He's 84 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: a big Michael Berry fan and seemed like every time 85 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: I met there, Hey man, I've listened to Michael and 86 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: everything that he mixtionured your name and so I appreciate it. 87 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: That well S later first turned you on to my show. 88 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: So I owe him a big I owe him a 89 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:21,839 Speaker 1: big thank you for that. Well. Uh gee, do you 90 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 1: think that you're I'm not going to ask you to 91 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: criticize other musicians, and I'm not doing it now, But 92 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: do you think that the fact that you weren't created 93 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: out of a out of a studio, but you were 94 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: a working man by day? Do you think that that's? 95 00:04:37,640 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: I feel like people relate to you in a way 96 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: that maybe some, you know, pure vocalists, they don't. It's 97 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: like you're one of them that that that made it, 98 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:48,919 Speaker 1: and so they're more invested in you. 99 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: Absolutely, I would like to look at it that way, Michael. 100 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: I mean, let's let's face it. I'm a friend of 101 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: the common man. You know, I've been there and done that. 102 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: I've been poor, came up for I worked, and I'm 103 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: whining because I appreciate all that. I think it took 104 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 2: all that to appreciate where I'm at today. But I 105 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:09,839 Speaker 2: worked my way up. If there was a pebble in 106 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: the path, I stuck my toe on it. I learned 107 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: from mistakes and I learned by experience. And uh, you know, 108 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 2: you had to earn respect the way I came up. 109 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: And that's why it means so much to me when 110 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: I stand on the stage, microphone in hand and say, 111 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: you know, I really love you fans. I mean that 112 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: from the bottom of my heart because they made me 113 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 2: who I am what I am, and they're the reasons 114 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 2: that I'm still going. Who wrote Farewell Party A gentleman 115 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 2: of the name of Lawton Williams, the same guy that 116 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: wrote Frauleine. Yeah, he passed away a few years back, 117 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: but he was a He was a great writer and 118 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: and yes, and such a good friend. He gave me 119 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: his BMI Award on on Farewell Party. 120 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: Wow. Wow? Did he write that for you, Gene or 121 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: was I? No? 122 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: No, Actually I was probably the seventh person that recorded 123 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 2: that song, Michael, There was so many The first time 124 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: I ever heard the song, it was being sung by 125 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 2: leyl and Jennings. 126 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 1: I did not know that. Yeah, how did that become 127 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: your song? Because that's the song that everybody you know 128 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: obviously named your band for that. But how did that 129 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: become sort of your signature song? 130 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,039 Speaker 2: You know? That was one of those and I don't 131 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 2: want to say, you know, Flukes, but it was one 132 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:27,599 Speaker 2: of those things that happened because I was so determined 133 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 2: to record that song. I liked it so much. I 134 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 2: had sung the song in nightclubs around Houston there before 135 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: I ever recorded it, and I knew how people, you know, 136 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: liked the song. I knew how they related to it, 137 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 2: and so I would not take those for an answer 138 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 2: on recording it. And even to the point where we 139 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: were just about out of time on a recording session 140 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 2: and we had about twenty minutes left. And this story 141 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: has been told a lot of times, but I grabbed 142 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 2: the guitar and ran through the chords on the song. 143 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: We left the musician to the studio get their chord 144 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 2: charts together. We wrote tape to see if everybody had 145 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: their you know, their core change is right, and we 146 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 2: roll tape and record it. That's a first cut from 147 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: start to finish, even the background vocals. We cut that 148 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: song at about fifteen minutes wow. 149 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: August twenty fourth, Geene Watson will be at Straighter Hall. 150 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: You can go to hall Straighter Dance Hall dot com, 151 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:20,560 Speaker 1: Straighter Dance Hall dot com and I'll post it on 152 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 1: my website. But you know, people, you're coming to town 153 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: weeks ahead of time. They're going to take off their 154 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: work and to come out there. I think it's good 155 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 1: that you can remember that because it is it's a 156 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: special time for people. And when artists forget that, I 157 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: think the end is near for their career. 158 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 2: Well, Michael, I'm still one of the kind that after 159 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,400 Speaker 2: a show I signed autographs, I shake hands. After I 160 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 2: get through the autographs, I take pictures with the people 161 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: I do meet and greets. I mean, I'm a people's person. 162 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: Like I said, I'm a common man. I love the 163 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 2: association with my fans and all that, and I mean 164 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: it's because of them that I'm still active and on 165 00:07:58,320 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 2: the road. 166 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: I'm glad, glad you are. How many you and I 167 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,000 Speaker 1: talked last week and you were in Minnesota on your 168 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: way to Colorado and then over how many how many 169 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: tour dates do you play a year? 170 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: Well, you know, we try to set our signs on 171 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: eighty to eighty five days something like that. And when 172 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,520 Speaker 2: you factor in the road time, you know, the miles 173 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 2: and everything. Of course, I do some stuff in Canada, 174 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 2: I do some stuff in Europe, you know, UK. And 175 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: when you factor that end, well, it's it turns into 176 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: be a pretty ful job. 177 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: Yes, still going strong. I love it, Gene Watson. Thanks 178 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: for being with us, buddy, Michael Berry. 179 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 2: Thank you for everything you've done for country music. Thanks 180 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: for taking time to talk to me. And boy, I'll 181 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 2: tell you I'll talk to you as quick as I can. 182 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:42,640 Speaker 2: Look forward to seeing you again. 183 00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: And let me tell you the red in that country 184 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 1: club we are. We are speeding along in our in 185 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: our renovation project. I'm hoping to have you play. I'm 186 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,560 Speaker 1: hoping to have the inside, not just the outside, but 187 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: the inside ready by Thanksgiving. So I'm gonna be calling 188 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 1: you to book you. Buddy. 189 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 2: Hey, I will be expected it all right. 190 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: Please safe out there, Gene Watson. If you like the 191 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: Michael Berry Show and Podcast, please tell one friend, and 192 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: if you're so inclined, write a nice review of our podcast. Comments, suggestions, questions, 193 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: and interest in being a corporate sponsor and partner can 194 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: be communicated directly to the show at our email address, 195 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 1: Michael at Michael Berryshow dot com, or simply by clicking 196 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: on our website, Michael Berryshow dot com. The Michael Berry 197 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: Show and Podcast is produced by Ramon Roebliss, The King 198 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:46,360 Speaker 1: of Ding. Executive producer is Chad Nakanishi. Jim Mudd is 199 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: the creative director. Voices Jingles, Tomfoolery and Shenanigans are provided 200 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 1: by Chance McLain. Director of Research is Sandy Peterson. Emily 201 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: Bull is our assistant listener and superfan. Contributions are appreciated 202 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:10,040 Speaker 1: and often incorporated into our production. Where possible, we give credit, 203 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: where not, we take all the credit for ourselves. God 204 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: bless the memory of Rush Limbaugh. Long live Elvis, be 205 00:10:19,280 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: a simple man like Leonard Skinnard told you, and God 206 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: bless America. Finally, if you know a veteran suffering from PTSD, 207 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 1: call Camp Hope at eight seven seven seven one seven 208 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 1: PTSD and a combat veteran will answer the phone to 209 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 1: provide free counseling.