Gene Watson, Don Williams at Choctaw
Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer
Don Williams
Two greats, emissaries from another era of country music, played to a sold-out house, Choctaw Event Center in Durant, Saturday night, (Nov. 15). The gentle giant, Don Williams, returning from health problems, and Gene Watson, who had his own minor health problems that night – a sore throat – were mellow/manly crowd pleasers.
The creamy-voiced Williams sat behind his mic stand, a table with water beside him, as he sang hit after hit, including “If Hollywood Don’t Need You (Honey, I Still Do).” and “Tulsa Time.” He does have a new album out, called And So It Goes, and Williams presented a song or two from that, as well.
Watson — a Texan — maybe the most famous for his “Love in the Hot Afternoon” hit song of 1975, sang it, his signature song “Farewell Party,” plus numerous others from his decades on the music charts. His first album, Love In The Hot Afternoon, earned him four charted songs; his last highly-placed song on charts was in 1997, “Change Her Mind.” And, he said, his last CD, A Taste of the Truth, featured duets with Trace Adkins and Rhonda Vincent and was released in 2009. Gene sang songs from all those decades in between.
It was when he sang his famous “You Gave Me A Mountain” that 4,500 sets of ears held their
Gene Watson
respective breaths across the event center, waiting for that challenging, strong conclusion. And Gene Watson pulled it off, beautifully, in spite of that tacky, aching throat.
For many area music fans, it was a treat again to see Chad Phillips on stage, playing guitar in Gene Watson’s Band. Phillips formerly was with the Chase Sanford Band and put down some harmonies on the upcoming Chase Sanford Band’s EP.
Here’s a YouTube video of Gene Watson singing that same song a year ago, and he laughs afterward saying, “I got that tough part over with.”
Watch Choctaw Casino’s Website (Click here) for future shows, or keep coming back to Scene In Town’s Live Music Calendar (Click here).
For more Gene Watson photos, click here
For more Don Williams photos, click here
Category: *- Features, Choctaw Casinos
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In the music production business, including event production, booking, photography, reporting, and other such essentials, since 1980.Subscribe
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