Country star Gene Watson to play at Albany Municipal Auditorium

ALBANY — Asked once by a reporter to name some of his favorite artists, country superstar George Jones commented, “Gene Watson is one of my all-time favorite singers.”

That’s high praise coming from one of the greatest Nashville stars ever, but native Texan Watson has certainly earned such accolades. Of his 75 songs that have made their way onto the country music charts, 23 have climbed into the Top 10, and six of those have gone all the way to No. 1.

Southwest Georgia music fans will have the opportunity to hear for themselves what Ol’ Possum was talking about March 2 when Watson performs at the Albany Municipal Auditorium.

Watson, who was named Entertainer of the Year by his peers at the Oct. 5, 2017 ROPE (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) Awards, released his 34th studio album on Dec. 8 of last year. The gospel album, titled “My Gospel Roots,” includes the single “Old Roman Soldier,” which was released to country and gospel radio stations as a follow-up to his 2017 No. 1 gospel hit “Help Me.”

Critics have heaped praise on Watson, one of the leading voices of traditional country music.

USA Today wrote in a review of the singer’s work: “Gene Watson is one of country’s finest and most underrated singers.” The Associated Press added, “He’s never sounded better, which is saying something.”

“What can you say about the most burnished and sensitive male voice on the planet except ‘listen’?” CMT personalities commented.

It’s not just critics and reviewers who sing Watson’s praises.

Asked to name his favorite country singer, the legendary Ray Price commented “I have too many to name, but Gene Watson would be right around the top of the list.”

Added Ronnie Dunn of superstar duo Brooks & Dunn, “To this day he is known as the singer’s singer in Nashville. Gene is a special artist. The trail that he forged made it possible for a lot of us to be where we are today.”

“I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t want to sing with Gene Watson; this man is a real country singer,” Vince Gill added.

Watson’s country classics include “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” “Paper Rosie,” “Farewell Party,” “Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy),” “When We Were Down to Nothing (Nothing Sure Looked Good on You),” and “Fourteen Carat Mind.” On his 2009 album release “A Taste of the Truth,” Watson and Bluegrass queen Rhonda Vincent scored a No. 1 for their single “Staying Together.” Vincent and Watson went on to record an all-duets album in 2010, which has proven to be a fan favorite.

Watson has recorded with Jones, Tammy Wynette, Gill, Alison Krauss, Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols, Mark Chesnutt and Connie Smith.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. Albany Municipal Auditorium show are $30 and $40 and are available by calling (229) 430-5200, online at http://bit.ly/2o0lqQi or at the Albany Civic Center box office.