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Macy Tabor opens to sold-out crowd

It was a packed house at the Coffee County Manchester Conference Center as longtime country singer and Grand Ole’ Opry member Gene Watson took to the stage Saturday, April 20.

Presented by On Fire Concerts, the show was opened by Manchester’s Own Macy Tabor, who opened her set with a cover of Jo Dee Messina’s “Heads Carolina, Tails California” before performing some of her original songs.

Backed by his “Farewell Party Band,” consisting of lead guitar, drums, piano, bass and the essential country music instrument, the steel guitar, Watson made his way through the smooth country sound he is best known for.

Known to some as “The Singer’s Singer,” longtime country singer Gene Watson will be bringing his hits like “Fourteen Caret Mind,” “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” and “Farewell Party.”

Watson, 80, joked with the audience throughout the evening, saying it was great to be in Manchester, but at his age, “It is good to be anywhere.”

During his performance of his 1977 song “Paper Rosie,” multiple members of the audience made their way to the stage to present Watson with roses.

Before singing his hit song “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” Watson provided the audience with a little background information.

“Back in 1974 that song kind of had some pretty spicy lyrics to it and we didn’t know if we were going to get played by all the radio stations or not, and we worried about that…for about five minutes,” Watson said.

The song went on to reach number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1975.

A Texas native, Watson released his self-titled debut album in 1969. To date, he’s released 34 studio albums, charted more than 70 songs and enjoyed 23 Top 10 hits and 11 Number 1 country and gospel hits. A member of The Grand Ole’ Opry since 2020, he was also inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of fame in 2002 and the Houston Music Hall of Fame in 2013.

For more information about upcoming On Fire Concerts, visit www.onfireconcerts.com.