Grammy Award-winning Producer and solo artist, Shooter Jennings, has released another previously unheard new track created in the past few years, this time celebrating a teacher, mentor, and friend with “Gene’s Song“. It’s one of a number of songs that he wrote and recorded for an unreleased album called Over A Cocaine Rainbow, many of which pay tribute to important figures in his life.
Jennings explains the origin of the song:
“In 2016 I wrote and recorded a series of songs for an album I called “Over A Cocaine Rainbow”. Like ‘Leave Those Memories Alone,’ which we released last month, many of these songs were tributes to people who touched my life in special ways. While the full album may never see the light of day, I felt it would be a disservice not to release the songs that paid tribute to my friends through my life. ‘Gene’s Song’ is one of my favorites from the sessions.
Gene Sizemore taught Art at the University School of Nashville, where I attended for my last two years of high school. Right off the bat, I loved Gene, but unbeknownst to me, we would forge a deep friendship that carried all the way until his death. When I came back to Nashville, I would visit Gene at the art supply store that he founded and ran. We would sit back and listen to music and talk about the world and catch up.
He provided a foundation and mentorship to some degree that really helped me in hindsight, especially after losing my dad as a young man. He was a great man, a funny man, and a blues man. He loved music, art, and life and always brought a smile to my face.
Before he died, Gene drew pictures for the folks that he had special relationships with. One day I received one of these drawings: a pistol with ‘Gene’ written below it. It touched me beyond words and inspired me to paint my own picture of him after he passed away.
I hope you enjoy the song. It really is a tribute to Gene Sizemore’s profound impact on my life and a celebration of his life and legacy.
Here’s to you, Gene!”
“Gene’s Song” follows the release last month of “Leave Those Memories Alone“, which is based on a title that Colonel Jon Hensley had given him and pays tribute to Hensley.
Jennings honed his production skills helming sessions from such iconic artists as Jamey Johnson, Wanda Jackson, Billy Ray Cyrus, and his mom, Jessi Colter. 2018 saw him team up with longtime collaborator Dave Cobb, to co-produce Brandi Carlile’s By The Way, I Forgive You. The album earned the 2019 Grammy Award for “Best Americana Album.” In 2020, Tanya Tucker’s While I’m Livin’, co-Produced by Jennings and Carlile, garnered her first-ever Grammy Awards for “Best Country Album” and “Best Country Song.”
