Gene Watson Bio, Wiki, Age, Wife, Singer, Net Worth, and Salary

Gary Gene Watson is an American country music singer, known for his hit “Love in the Hot Afternoon” & signature 1979 song “Farewell Party”

Gene Watson Biography

Gary Gene Watson is an American country music singer. He is most known for his 1975 hit “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” his signature 1979 song “Farewell Party,” and 1981 No. 1 hit “Fourteen Carat Mind.” His long career has included 48 charted singles, 21 top tens, and five number-one hits.

Gene Watson Age

Watson is 80 years old as of 2023. He was born on October 11, 1943, in Palestine, Texas, United States. Watson celebrates his birthday on the 11th of October every year.

Gene Watson Height

Watson stands at an approximate height of 6 feet 0 inches.

Gene Watson Family

Watson was born in Palestine, Texas, United States to Nannie Bivins and E. Cummings. He was raised in Paris, Texas, but in 1963 he relocated to Houston. Watson has managed to keep his personal life away from the limelight hence he has not disclosed any information about his parents. It is also not known if he has any siblings

Gene Watson Wife

Watson is to his better half married Mattie Louise Bivins. They tied the knot in 1961. Together they are proud parents of their two children, Terry Lynn, and Gary Wayne.

Gene Watson Net Worth

Watson has an estimated net worth ranging between $8 Million which he has earned from his successful career as a country music singer.

Gene Watson
Gene Watson

Gene Watson Career

Watson’s musical career started in the 1960s  while working in a Houston auto body shop during the day. He would perform in local clubs at night. He recorded for only a few small, regional record labels having a regional hit”Bad Water”, until 1975. This was when Capitol Records picked up his album Love in the Hot Afternoon and released it nationally. In June 1975, the title track, a mid-tempo ballad in three-quarter time was released. It advanced to No. 3 on the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart.

Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, his national success continued. In addition to that, he recorded several Billboard top-40 hits including “Nothing Sure Looked Good on You,” “Should I Go Home (or Should I Go Crazy),” “Paper Rosie,” and “Where Love Begins.” Watson also released “Farewell Party” in 1979 which quickly became his signature song. It was also the namesake of his Farewell Party Band.

Watson celebrated his 50th year in the music business in February 2012. In 1962, he released his first single on the radio “If It Was That Easy.” The collection of songs was re-recorded to recreate the originals as closely as possible. Dirk Johnson produced the project and released it on Watson’s own Fourteen Carat Music label. Furthermore, he released an eleven-track CD, My Heroes Have Always Been Country in June 2014. He covered hits by some of his musical heroes including Lefty Frizzell, Ray Price, and Merle Haggard.

His career continued to grow day in and day out. He released his 33rd studio album titled, Real.Country.Music on February 26, 2016. The 13-track CD contained traditional country music. “Enough For You” was the first single to be released. It was a song written by Kris Kristofferson. Watson never gets tired of doing what loves the most. He released a gospel music CD titled My Gospel Roots in 2018. The first single from the 13-track release, “Old Roman Soldier” hit No. 1 on the Cashbox and Christian Servant Country Gospel charts in June 2018.

In 2002, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. Moreover, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Houston Music Hall of Fame in August 2013. Vince Gill invited him on January 17, 2020, to join the Grand Ole Opry.

Gene Watson Awards

He received the “Entertainer of the Year” Award in 2018 from the R.O.P.E. Awards. It was an honor he shared with singer, Jeannie Seely. In the history of awards, it became the first time to have a tie.

Gene Watson Cancer

Watson was diagnosed with colon cancer. He underwent the surgery and survived cancer. He had it from 2000 to 2001. Watson quit drinking and smoking in 1980 and began the journey of good health.

Gene Watson The Farewell Party Band

The Farewell Party Band is his long-time backing band. They were named after his 1978 hit single “Farewell Party.” Between 1982 and 1984, two studio albums were released credited to Gene Watson and the Farewell Party Band. The Farewell Party Band backed Watson on one of his solo albums, and they released one studio album on their own. Several notable musicians were members of the Farewell Party Band, such as Tony Booth.

Gene Watson Songs

  • Tracks of Disc 1
  • Hey, Good Lookin’
  • It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
  • Sixteen Tons
  • Why Baby Why
  • I Walk The Line
  • All I Have To Do Is Dream
  • Hello Walls
  • Walk On By
  • I Fall To Pieces

Tracks of Disc 2

  • God Bless The U.S.A.
  • Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses
  • Timber I’m Falling In Love

Tracks of Disc 1

  • Tender Years
  • King Of The Road
  • Make The World Go Away
  • Mama Tried
  • Hello Darlin’
  • Coal Miner’s Daughter
  • Help Me Make It Through The Night
  • Kiss An Angel Good Mornin’
  • Chantilly Lace

Tracks of Disc 2

  • The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A.
  • Eleven Roses
  • I Love
  • Jolene
  • Before The Next Teardrop Falls
  • Rhinestone Cowboy
  • San Antonio Stroll
  • Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)
  • Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
  • The Gambler
  • Do You Know You Are My Sunshine