Post by Rob Durkee on Aug 28, 2012 19:23:20 GMT -5
Thanks to Ronnie Allen for tipping us to the news:
Gene Thomas, one-half of the duo of Gene and Debbe, passed away Sunday (August 26) in Houston, presumably from lung cancer, at the age of 74. The Palestine, Texas native began performing in Houston while still in his teens. His recording of "Sometime" (later cut by Sir Douglas Sahm) scored him a recording contract with United Artists. It reached #53 in 1961 but he wouldn't chart again until "Baby's Gone" (#84)in 1964. Gene moved to Nashville to become a songwriter for Acuff-Rose publishing, but continued to record with then-wife Debbe Neville, for San and the Hickory-subsidiary, TRX Records there. "Go With Me" peaked at #78 in 1967, but it was followed the next year by Gene's biggest hit, "Playboy", which got to #17. Their other tunes however-- "Lovin' Season", "Make A Noise Like Love" and "Memories Are Made Of This"-- failed to rise above the top 80. As a songwriter, his tunes were recorded by such artists as Don Gibson, Waylon Jennings, the Everly Brothers, Dean Martin, Tina Turner, Eddie Raven, Freddy Fender, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Kenny Rogers, Lonnie Mack, Roy Orbison, and the Gentrys.
Gene Thomas, one-half of the duo of Gene and Debbe, passed away Sunday (August 26) in Houston, presumably from lung cancer, at the age of 74. The Palestine, Texas native began performing in Houston while still in his teens. His recording of "Sometime" (later cut by Sir Douglas Sahm) scored him a recording contract with United Artists. It reached #53 in 1961 but he wouldn't chart again until "Baby's Gone" (#84)in 1964. Gene moved to Nashville to become a songwriter for Acuff-Rose publishing, but continued to record with then-wife Debbe Neville, for San and the Hickory-subsidiary, TRX Records there. "Go With Me" peaked at #78 in 1967, but it was followed the next year by Gene's biggest hit, "Playboy", which got to #17. Their other tunes however-- "Lovin' Season", "Make A Noise Like Love" and "Memories Are Made Of This"-- failed to rise above the top 80. As a songwriter, his tunes were recorded by such artists as Don Gibson, Waylon Jennings, the Everly Brothers, Dean Martin, Tina Turner, Eddie Raven, Freddy Fender, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Kenny Rogers, Lonnie Mack, Roy Orbison, and the Gentrys.
