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DALE WATSON
www.dalewatson.com
Ask fans of legendary honky-tonker Dale Watson what they think of him, and they’ll say they were shocked when he announced that the release in March 2006 of WHISKEY OR GOD on Palo Duro Records was to be his musical swan song. He cited 25 years of hard-core touring and the desire to spend more time with his daughters in Baltimore, and no one could really blame him for the decision.
Hollywood director Zalman King (“91/2 Weeks,” “Red Shoe Diaries”) was set to world-premiere his unflinching documentary on Watson, “Crazy Again,” at South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin. The docu-drama, which combines performances by Watson and the horrific story of the singer-guitarist’s breakdown after his girlfriend died in September 2000, features tracks from WHISKEY OR GOD, a collection of classic, semi-autobiographical tunes brought to life by Watson’s rough-as-diamonds, cry-in-your-beer baritone.
The artist-performer had also signed up to star in King’s “Austin Angel,” a feature film about a country singer who sells his soul to The Devil (David Carradine) to save his daughter that is scheduled to start shooting this winter. And he was on to write a memoir, tentatively titled “I Wish I Was Crazy Again.”
But it was Life without a live show to look forward to that gave Watson addicts the big scare. They got their fixes at his regular gigs at Austin’s Continental Club and Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon and across Texas and the nation. Fans and music industry folks alike didn’t want to give him up.
Turns out, a scaled-back tour schedule suits everyone. Watson gets a lot of summertime with the girls, and fans from Nashville to Chicago and the Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wisc., to Austin get Watson, at least for a little while.
For Watson, who Hank Williams III called the new “savior of traditional country music” during an Orlando Sentinel interview, WHISKEY OR GOD will forever identify a change of life, the time he went on hiatus for his kids’ sake. Watson replies to Williams’ praise: “Hank III is a friend who understates his role in the future of country music, but I’m proud to be thought of as a torch bearer of real country music.” The new album reflects that.
“Don’t look for or expect anything remotely resembling crossover production or themes on any Watson number,” writes Ron Wynn of nashvillecitypaper.com. “Instead, the menu ranges from marvelous heartache tunes such as … ‘I Ain’t Been Right, Since I’ve Been Left’ to rousing, blues-tinged songs like ‘It Hurts So Good’ and ‘Tequila and Teardrops.’ … Watson adds an instrumental surprise on three songs, including trombone refrains in … ‘I Wish I Was Crazy Again’ and ‘Heeah!’ But hardcore country Texas style remains Dale Watson’s specialty, something repeatedly celebrated on WHISKEY OR GOD.”
Watson was born in Birmingham, Ala., and raised in Pasadena, Texas, and began performing at age 14. In 25 years, he has appeared in clubs and concert venues across the United States and Europe. He’s recorded hundreds of original songs — including a cut for the new A&E Network series “Rollergirls” and some that are part of major film soundtracks. His songs have been part of numerous compilation albums with country legends including Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Dwight Yoakam, and he has performed live with Nelson as well as Merle Haggard and Johnny Paycheck. His music videos have aired on Country Music Television, and he’s appeared on “Austin City Limits” and regularly performs at the Grand Ole Opry.
In “Naked Nashville,” a 1998 documentary that also starred Watson and focused on traditional country music’s struggle against the Nashville Pop Country machine, Nelson proclaims, “I’m one of Dale’s biggest fans.”
He is well-known in Europe, where he has won country music awards in Holland and Spain and British Country Music Awards’ Best International Artist on an Independent Label.
In the 2005 Austin Music Awards, Watson was named Best Songwriter and his band was chosen over that of Nelson’s to win Best Country Band for a third time. He is also a member of The Austin Music Hall of Fame.
For more information: www.dalewatson.com, www.palodurorecords.com
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Artist Information:
Bio
Fact Sheet
Press Release:
Feb. 28, 2006
Press:
Dec. 14, 2006
Jun. 16, 2006
May/June 2006
May 2006
Apr. 12, 2006
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Apr. 5, 2006
Apr. 4, 2006
Mar. 31, 2006
Dec. 22, 2005
Listen: "Whiskey or God"
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WHISKEY OR GOD
(Palo Duro Records) |
