Dale Watson (singer)

Dale Watson (singer)
Background information
Birth name	Kenneth Dale Watson
Born	(1962-10-07) October 7, 1962 Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Genres	Ameripolitan
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1976–present
Labels	HighTone, Continental Song City, Audium, Koch, Hyena , Red River, Red House, Red House/Ameripolitan (current)
Associated acts	The Lone Stars
Website	www.dalewatson.com
Members	Chris Crepps (stand-up bass/background vocals), Don Pawlak (pedal steel), Mike Bernal (drums)
Past members	Herb Belofsky, Billy 'Dee' Donahue, Scott Matthews, Ricky Davis, Donnie Knutson (Road Manager), Preston Rumbaugh, Brian Ferriby, Mark Rubin, Scott Hinkle, Ron O'Rielley, Butch Brown, Dennis Vanderhoof, Craig Pettigrew, Dave Biller, Gene Kurtz, Kurt Baumer

Dale Watson (born October 7, 1962 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American country/Texas Country singer, guitarist, songwriter, and self-published author^[1] based in Austin, Texas. He champions "Ameripolitan" as a new genre of original music and has positioned himself as a tattooed, stubbornly independent outsider who is interested in recording authentic country music. As a result...he has become a favorite of critics and alt-country fans.^[2]

Biography

Watson grew up in poverty outside of Pasadena, Texas as one of four boys. Watson's father (after whom he is named) and his brother, Jim, were both musically inclined and guided what have become his longstanding musical influences. Watson began writing his own songs at age 12, making his first recording two years later. Soon after, Watson became an emancipated minor. By day he went to school and by night he played local Houston clubs and Honky Tonks with Jim in an aggregation called the Classic Country Bandin.^[3]

He moved to Los Angeles in 1988 on the advice of Rosie Flores and soon joined the house band at North Hollywood's now-legendary alt-country venue the Palomino Club. He recorded two singles for Curb in 1990, "One Tear at a Time" and "You Pour It On," and appeared on the third volume of the compilation series, A Town South of Bakersfield, in 1992. Not long after, he moved to Nashville and spent some time writing songs for the Gary Morris publishing company where his first daughter was born.^[4]

Watson relocated to Austin, TX, where he formed a backing band called the Lone Stars. He scored a deal with Hightone and released his debut album, Cheatin' Heart Attack, in 1995. It was greeted with enormous acclaim for the vitality Watson brought to his vintage-style material and performances and also featured a dig at mainstream country in "Nashville Rash." Follow-up Blessed or Damned appeared in 1996 and continued in a similar vein, as did 1997's I Hate These Songs. His next release, The Truckin' Sessions, appeared on Koch in 1998 and was devoted entirely to that distinct country subgenre of truck-driving songs. Soon after, his second daughter was born.

The singer is also featured in the Zalman King documentary Crazy Again, chronicling his (Watson's) breakdown after his girlfriend Terri Herbert died in a fatal car accident in September 2000. Every Song I Write is for You was released in 2001 as a tribute album.^[5]

After going on hiatus from music in 2004, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland to be closer to his daughters, Raquel and Grace. Grace appeared alongside Luke Wilson, Johnny Knoxville and Knoxville's daughter Madison in Watson's 2007 video for, "Hollywood Hillbilly".^[6] Raquel is a stage and film actress based in Austin.^[7]

Watson returned to Austin in July 2006 and resumed playing regular gigs, including Sundays at Ginny's Little Longhorn Saloon and a Monday night residence at The Continental Club. He is also a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry. He also was the focus of a 2007 bio-picture, Austin Angel.

In 2008 Watson released "To Terri With Love," an album dedicated to his late girlfriend, with all proceeds going to the Teresa L. Herbert Memorial Foundation.^[8]

In 2011 Watson released a video song about Tiger Airways Australia after the company charged him $500 to transport a box of CDs which they then lost and initially refused to pay compensation.^[9]

In 2012 he is slated to star in Stephen King and John Mellencamp's musical, "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" and released The Sun Sessions (Red House Records).

In 2013 he released El Rancho Azul via Red House Records which features the should have been hit single, "I Lie When I Drink" (which has become his signature song), helped launch Ameripolitan Music, made his first appearance on Austin City Limits (PBS), and he bought his first little honky-tonk, The Little Longhorn Saloon in Austin, TX (home of Chicken $#!+ Bingo).

In 2014 his segment on The Sun Sessions aired on PBS nationally all year starting in February. He appeared on The Late Show w/David Letterman Show (CBS), performing "I Lie When I Drink" in early February. In mid-February he took part in the 1st Annual Ameripolitan Awards Show, in July The Truckin' Trilogy was released by Red River Ent., this Summer he also bought his second small honky-tonk - The Big T Roadhouse in St. Hedwig, TX (where Chicken $#!+ Bingo is now a tradition, as well). In November he appeared on the NPR show Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me,

In 2015 he toured in January with The Reverend Horton Heat as part of The BADDEST of The BAD Tour, in February he took part in the 2nd Annual Ameripolitan Awards show at The Paramount Theater in Austin,TX. In March, he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) sitting in with the house band on a night the show broadcast from Austin during SXSW. In early April, his first performance on Mountain Stage (NPR) aired nationally. In late April his first appearance on The Woodsongs Olde Time Radio Hour (NPR) will air. In late May, The Truckin' Sessions, Vol. 3 will be released as a stand alone mid-line title in the US via Red River Ent. and in Europe via CRS. His new studio album, Call Me Insane was produced by Lloyd Maines (The Flatlanders, etc.) and will be released worldwide June 9th via Red House/Ameripolitan Records. Also in June, he'll appear as part of a segment on The Bachlorette (ABC) on June 15th. Segments/sessions for Daytrotter, Music City Roots, Music Fog, Sirius/XM Outlaw Country, and Texas Music Scene will also be posted/air beginning in June.

Discography

See also

• Music of Austin

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dale Watson (singer).

• Dale Watson
• Dale Watson at HYENA Records
• Dale Watson discography at MusicBrainz
• Dale Watson on AllMusic Guide
• Dale Watson - Interview and music from his Sun Sessions CD
• Dale Watson at the Internet Movie Database