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Aaron Watson

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Aaron Watson
Country singer Aaron Watson posing in front of a pickup truck
Watson in 2020.
Background information
Birth nameJames Aaron Watson
Born (1977-08-20) August 20, 1977 (age 47)
Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar
Years active1999-present
SpouseKimberly Watson
Websitewww.aaronwatson.com

James Aaron Watson (born August 20, 1977) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active since 1999, Watson has recorded several independent albums in his career. His 2015 album The Underdog reached No. 1 on Top Country Albums that year, and in 2017, Watson had his first major radio airplay hit with "Outta Style", which reached top 10 on Country Airplay.

Biography

[edit]

Watson was born in Amarillo, Texas, and graduated from Randall High School. He then attended Lubbock Christian University and Abilene Christian University, where he began learning guitar, after playing junior college baseball in New Mexico.[1] Watson's earliest musical influences were the classic country records by George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson his parents listened to, and the gospel hymns he sang with his family in church.[2]

Musical career

[edit]

He released his first album, Aaron Watson – Singers and Songwriters in 1999 and followed that up with Texas Cafe in 2000. It was not until this third album, Shut Up And Dance, in 2002, that Watson gained radio airplay and attention nationwide. Following that record's success, he released The Honky Tonk Kid, produced by Ray Benson and featuring Willie Nelson on guest vocals.

He worked various gigs around Texas before releasing his second album, A Texas Cafe. The follow-up, Shut Up And Dance, was a regional sales success.[1] His 2004 album, The Honky Tonk Kid, was produced by Ray Benson and features an appearance by Willie Nelson. Watson's band is called the Orphans of the Brazos; they appear on his 2005 album, Live at the Texas Hall of Fame. In 2006, his San Angelo release hit No. 60 on the US Billboard country charts and No. 50 on its Heatseekers chart.[3]

On March 20, 2007, Watson released his seventh studio album, a collection of gospel songs entitled Barbed Wire Halo, which includes readings by Billy Joe Shaver. On April 1, 2008, Watson's eighth album, Angels & Outlaws, reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Heatseekers chart, No. 28 on its Country Albums chart, and landed in the Billboard 200. The album's debut single, "Hearts Are Breaking Across Texas", reached the No. 1 spot on the Texas Music Chart. "Love Makin' Song" was released later that year, and "Rollercoaster Ride" followed in 2009.

On September 15, 2009, Watson released Aaron Watson LIVE: Deep in the Heart of Texas, a dual disc CD/DVD set recorded live at the Hog Creek Ice House in Waco, Texas on June 27, 2009.[4]

On July 7, 2009, Watson performed at the 81st Texas FFA Convention in Dallas, Texas.

Watson's 10th studio album, The Road & The Rodeo, was released in October 2010. This was his first record released under the independent record label, Big Label Records. The album peaked at No. 25 on the US Billboard Country Albums chart and reached No. 4 on the US Billboard Heatseeksers chart.

October 9, 2012, Aaron Watson released Real Good Time. It achieved national attention, and was the best performing album for Watson to date, peaking at No. 9 on the US Billboard Country Albums. It was also his first to break into the top twenty for independent albums. It had sold 32,000 copies as of February 2015.[5]

In 2014, Aaron Watson released "That Look," which served as the lead-off single from his album The Underdog, which was released on February 17, 2015. The single debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Country Digital Songs chart and went on to become one of the most successful-selling independent singles by the end of December 2014. The Underdog made him the first independent male artist to debut at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with a self-released and independently-distributed and promoted album.[6] The record sold more than 26,000 units in the first week.

Watson's eleventh studio album Vaquero was released on February 24, 2017. Its lead single, "Outta Style," was his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart. That single went on to win a BMI Awards for most radio airplay in 2017 and a BMI Millionaire Award. "Run Wild Horses" was released as the album's second single and was a minor top 40 hit on the Country Airplay chart.

In 2018, he released his first live record in ten years Live at the World's Biggest Rodeo Show on August 24, 2018[7] followed later that year by his first Christmas project, An Aaron Watson Family Christmas, which was released on October 5, 2018 and featured his wife and kids.

In 2019, Watson made a further play for national commercial success. On June 21, 2019 he independently released “Red Bandana”, a 20-song album which received mixed reviews from his fans.[8] Its lead-off single, "Kiss That Girl Goodbye," was released on February 4, 2019.[9] "Country Radio" followed as the second single in September 2019.[10]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Title Album details[11] Peak chart positions Sales
US Country
[12] 		US
[13] 		US Heat
[14] 		US Indie
[15]
Singer/Songwriter
  • Release date: 1999
  • Label: Sonnet
 — — — —
A Texas Café
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: Sonnet
 — — — —
shutupanddance
  • Release date: July 23, 2002
  • Label: Sonnet
 — — — —
The Honky Tonk Kid
  • Release date: March 30, 2004
  • Label: Big Label Records
 — — — —
Live at the Texas Hall of Fame
  • Release date: April 5, 2005
  • Label: Sonnet
 — — — —
San Angelo
  • Release date: April 4, 2006
  • Label: Sonnet
 60 — 50 43
Barbed Wire Halo
  • Release date: March 20, 2007
  • Label: Sonnet
 — — — —
Angels & Outlaws
  • Release date: April 1, 2008
  • Label: Big Label
 28 175 4 25
Deep in the Heart of Texas:
Aaron Watson Live
  • Release date: September 15, 2009
  • Label: Big Label
 47 — 24 —
The Road & the Rodeo
  • Release date: October 12, 2010
  • Label: Big Label
 25 150 4 28
Real Good Time
  • Release date: October 9, 2012
  • Label: Big Label
 9 81 — 19
The Underdog
  • Release date: February 17, 2015
  • Label: Big Label
 1 14 — 1
Vaquero
  • Release date: February 24, 2017
  • Label: Big Label
 2 10 — —
Live at the World's Biggest Rodeo Show[7]
  • Release date: August 24, 2018
  • Label: Big Label
 — — — 16
An Aaron Watson Family Christmas
  • Release date: October 5, 2018
  • Label: Big Label
 — — — —
Red Bandana[20]
  • Release date: June 21, 2019
  • Label: Big Label
 7 53 — 1
American Soul[22]
  • Release date: January 8, 2021
  • Label: Big Label
 — — — —
Unwanted Man[23]
  • Release date: June 17, 2022
  • Label: Adub Records
 — — — —
Cover Girl[24]
  • Release date: August 27, 2023
  • Label: Adub Records
 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

[edit]
Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
US Country
[25] 		US Country Airplay
[26] 		US
Bub.
[27] 		CAN Country
[28]
2008 "Love Makin' Song"[29] — — — — Angels & Outlaws
2009 "Rollercoaster Ride"[30] — — — —
"The Road"[31] — — — — The Road & the Rodeo
2010 "Walls"[32] — — — —
2012 "Raise Your Bottle"[33] — — — — Real Good Time
2013 "Summertime Girl"[34] — — — —
"July in Cheyenne"[35] — — — —
2014 "That Look" 41 47 — — The Underdog
2015 "Getaway Truck"[36] — — — —
2016 "Bluebonnets (Julia's Song)" — 60 — —
2017 "Outta Style" 24 10 5 20 Vaquero
2018 "Run Wild Horses" — 33 — —
2019 "Kiss That Girl Goodbye" — 52 — — Red Bandana
"Country Radio"[10] — — — —
2020 "Whisper My Name"[37] — — — — American Soul
2021 "Boots"[38] — — — —
2022 "The Old Man Said" — — — — Unwanted Man
2023 "Seven Year Ache"
(with Jenna Paulette) 		— — — — Cover Girl
"9 to 5"
(with Kylie Frey) 		— — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

[edit]
Year Video Director
2012 "Raise Your Bottle"[39] Zack Morris/Benjamin Ranzinger
2013 "Lips"[40] Paul De La Cerda
2014 "July in Cheyenne"[41] Timothy Allen/Benjamin Ranzinger
2017 "Outta Style"
2018 "Run Wild Horses"
2018 "Lonely Lonestar Christmas"
2019 "Old Friend"
2019 "Riding With Red"
2019 "Trying Like The Devil"

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Aaron Watson biography". Allmusic. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  2. ^ "Aaron Watson Biography". Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  3. ^ Billboard, Allmusic.com
  4. ^ LTD, BubbleUp. "Aaron Watson". Aaron Watson.
  5. ^ a b "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on February 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Thompson, Gayle. "Aaron Watson Makes History". The Boot.
  7. ^ a b Liptak, Carena (August 24, 2018). "Aaron Watson Gives Back to Home State With 'Live at the World's Rodeo Show'". The Boot.
  8. ^ LTD, BubbleUp. "News". Aaron Watson. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "AARON WATSON – KISS THAT GIRL GOODBYE". Play MPE. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "AARON WATSON – COUNTRY RADIO". Play MPE. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "Music". Aaron Watson. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  12. ^ "Aaron Watson Chart History - Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  13. ^ "Aaron Watson Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  14. ^ "Aaron Watson Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  15. ^ "Aaron Watson Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  16. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 5, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: March 6, 2017". Roughstock.
  17. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 5, 2018). "Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: March 4, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  18. ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 4, 2018). "The Top 10 Country Albums: September 4, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  19. ^ Bjorke, Matt (December 4, 2018). "The Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: December 4, 2018". Roughstock. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  20. ^ "Aaron Watson Opens up About Family Christmas Album". Country Music.
  21. ^ Bjorke, Matt (September 25, 2019). "Top 10 Country Album Sales Chart: September 25, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  22. ^ "Aaron Watson - American Soul". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  23. ^ "Aaron Watson - Unwanted Man". Apple Music. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  24. ^ "Aaron Watson Gives A "Million Reasons" to Check Out His New "Cover Girl" Project". Six Shooter Country. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  25. ^ "Aaron Watson Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  26. ^ "Aaron Watson Album & Song Chart History – Country Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  27. ^ "Aaron Watson Album & Song Chart History – Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  28. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  29. ^ Jacobs, Allen (September 16, 2008). "Aaron Watson - Love Makin' Song". Roughstock. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  30. ^ ""ROLLERCOASTER RIDE" IS THE NEW SINGLE". Aaron Watson. April 3, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  31. ^ ""THE ROAD" NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES!". Aaron Watson. November 3, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  32. ^ "BRAND NEW SINGLE "WALLS"". Aaron Watson. August 6, 2010. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  33. ^ "AARON WATSON'S NEW SINGLE RAISE YOUR BOTTLE IS NOW AVAILABLE". Aaron Watson. May 29, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  34. ^ "Aaron Watson - Summertime Girl". PlayMPE. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  35. ^ "Aaron Watson - July In Cheyenne". PlayMPE. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  36. ^ "Aaron Watson - Getaway Truck (Radio Edit)". PlayMPE. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  37. ^ Billboard charts
  38. ^ "Billboard charts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  39. ^ "Aaron Watson - Raise Your Bottle (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  40. ^ "CMT : Videos : Aaron Watson : Lips". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  41. ^ "Aaron Watson | Lips | Music Video". March 5, 2016. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
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