There are people who sing and then there are the "singer's singers." One of them is Gene Watson, a "singer's singer" if one ever breathed. Ask Clint Black, Randy Travis, Marty Stuart, or any number of other stars.

"The world stops spinning when he sings," marvels Robert K. Oermann, the dean of country critics. "In his voice is all the ache of existence."

"I never did go looking for music," Watson recalls, "music found me." A widening circle of admirers led to recording contracts with such regional labels as Wide World, Stoneway and Resco. In 1974, his Resco single of the steamy "Love In The Hot Afternoon" was picked up for national distribution by Capitol Records, igniting a firestorm of national hits. "Farewell Party," Fourteen Carat Mind," "Paper Rosie," "Speak Softly," "One Sided Conversation," "Should I Come Home," and the rest of his timeless successes took Gene Watson into the hearts of country music lovers around the world.

Today Gene Watson's music has found a home on the power independent, Step One Records (SOR), which released his "Uncharted Mind," "Good Ole Days," his first ever gospel recording, "Jesus Is All I Need," and his most recent release, "A Way To Survive."

Country music fans will agree Gene Watson's voice and music have continued to improve throughout his successful career, as evidenced on his debut single, "Change Her Mind" from his last effort. Watson made country history with the single as he and George Jones are the only artists 50+ to chart in nearly a decade, proving country music fans still love the voice and music of Gene Watson.

Billboard Magazine said recently, "Gene Watson is singing better than ever; a fact that wasn't lost on those in attendance at the last Country Music Association's events in Nashville, where Watson received a standing ovation." His remarkable voice is given full rein on "A Way To Survive." Producer and SOR executive Ray Pennington has surrounded Watson with exciting arrangements that accentuate this country music master. As always, Watson has chosen his songs wisely and with consummate taste.

"I think this is a very versatile album," comments Watson. "It's got great material. I've always taken a lot of pride in that. I know what songs I can sell; I put every song I sing in a different perspective. I feel each one." Few could argue with that.

Born in Palestine, Texas, Gene Watson was one of seven children of an itinerant sawmill worker and crop picker. He was raised on manual labor and still isn't afraid to get his fingernails dirty. Gene Watson quit school in the ninth grade to help support his family, but he has more common sense wisdom than many folks with graduate degrees. Watson married his wife Mattie Louise at age 17. He became an auto-body worker to support her and their two children. On weekends in the 1960s, Gene began singing in the Houston honky-tonks, where Gene Watson was met with immediate popularity and was later discovered.

As a hobby Gene Watson continues to work on cars in his own shop, The Toy Shop, that has been featured on TNN: The Nashville Network. Because he is one of country music's most popular entertainers, he maintains a rigorous schedule. "I just sing and I"ll always be singing. Even if it's just for my own personal entertainment, I would always sing." And sing he does better than ever.