Well folks ALOT has been happening here on the website and next week I’ll be
taking two days off to attend the Wayne Mills Benefit in Nashville.
We all have to come together and financially support this widow and child.
Especially during the holiday seasons.

Lineup For Benefit:

7:50 PM – Welcome from Brandyn Steen & JR Roberson

8:00 – 8:15: The Southern Boys (Full Band)
8:20 – 8:40: Jared Wade, John Riggins, Jason Lawlor, Brian Warner
8:45 – 9:05: Zac Hacker, Rhean Boyer, Anthony K Culver, James Austin
9:10 – 9:30: Chad Wilson, Billy David Sidwell, Benjamin Phillips, Garrett Walker
9:35 – 9:55: Sean Rivers, Daryl Aldridge, James Williams, Tom Ghent
10:00 – 10:20: Rexton Lee, Brad Cotter, Hunter Lawley, Steve Owen
10:25 – 10:55: Tim Scott, Craig Wayne Boyd, Joshua Morningstar, Brandon Atwell
11:00 – 11:30: The Darlins, Jon Cook, Bernie Nelson, Dave Gibson
11:35 – 12:15: Shannon Lawson, Trent Tomlinson, Tom Tex Perkins, Dustin Bogue, Randall Clay
12:20 – 12:35: Bert David Newton (Full Band w/ Wayne Mills Band)
12:40 – 12:55: Joey Allcorn (Full Band w/ Wayne Mills Band)
1:00 – 1:15: Jesse Keith Whitley (Full Band w/ Wayne Mills Band)
1:20 – 1:35: Kyle Wilson (Full Band w/ Wayne Mills Band)
1:40 – 1:55: Eric Lee Beddingfield (Full Band w/ Wayne Mills Band)

2:00 AM: Closing Remarks from Brandyn Steen and JR Roberson

YOU CAN donate items for the silent auction by contacting me
at Garyhayes2@yahoo.com or on my Facebook.

Folks I’ll post a picture of Mr. Ray Lawrence Jr. so you will know what he looks like
but this is NOT ABOUT MUSIC!
If you arent a regular reader that’s OK PLEASE READ THIS!

You need to READ CAREFULLY: This is about a lost young girl 14 whom is a runaway from
her foster family in Arizona.

I’ll post a link to the Official Facebook page where you can contact for information
or share ANY information you have concerning her whereabouts.

You can learn,share and leave information HERE.

RAYANNA LYNETTE LAWRENCE AKA: “ANNA”
APPROX HEIGHT: 5’2″ APPROX WEIGHT: 100 LBS.
EYE COLOR: BLUE. HAIR COLOR: SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO AVOID DETECTION.
Description
Rayanna, Lynette Lawrence AKA: “Anna” is my youngest daughter. She is 14 years old. DOB: 2 SEPTEMBER 1999. She is a runaway from her foster family. She was last seen in Peoria , Arizona at the Boys and Girls Club, Peoria, Arizona, SATURDAY,23 NOVEMBER 2013. Please call Phoenix Police if found or if you know of her whereabouts.

Oh my goodness folks I been working on this project for a few days now.
I’m always in contact with Mr. Jason Galaz and what’s going on for
the field in 2014.
I always am so blessed to get the goodies and I never expected the
loop he just threw at us all!
IT IS CONFIRMED Bobby Bare will play a FULL SET at Muddy Roots 2014!

Bobby Bare is strongly considered by many to be THE ONE that
started Outlaw Country Music in it’s entirety.
He’s recorded 38 albums and had numerous number one hits
and top ten chart songs.

Along with welcoming Bobby Bare there will be MORE great music
in store for you and I GOT THE FULL LINEUP as it was announced
and I was allowed to do so!
Here’s the whole show poster.

NOW THIS IS NOT THE SPRING WEEKENDER WITH DR.RALPH STANLEY
Do not get the two events confused, OK?
ANY questions please feel free to inbox me.

There is a BUNCH of information he shared with me privately and I
want to report on it for you if you plan to attend the event.
It seems as Mr. J.D. Wilkes will indeed perform BOTH a Dirt Daubers set
AND a Shack Shakers reunion.
This year they have 2 main stages and a third “Community” stage.
There are 15 confirmed acts for the third stage and you CAN sign up to play
at the festival ticket office.
NO band overlap this year on the two main stages…THAT MEANS YOU can see whole sets
this year and not have to flip=flop…and I can report better.

Early bird tickets will sell out at $85 a ticket. Next price tier is $125 for pre-sale and $150 at the gate. Price includes free camping, free hot showers, and although there are 2 beer bars on site you are permitted to B.Y.O.B. if you are legal drinking age. And this year children of ANY age MUST HAVE a ticket.
I’m NOT sure about pets…PLEASE do not quote me on any pet info.

MRMF is held in Cookeville, TN. Aug 29th-31st, 2014.
There are mini cabins available on site for rent, tents for rent and hotels just 10 miles away in town. We encourage you to bring your vintage campers, buses, and trailers. There are no rv hookups but you may bring generators.

You can have all the order information on cabins
HERE.

If your’e like ME you CAN stay in a hotel. They are all about 10-12 miles out and NOT a bad drive.
LaQuinta Inn is where I stay and I’m hoping Mr. Jason cuts me a deal this year again…hint hint.
I’ll be there reporting LIVE with the Rusty Knuckles guys, hanging out with them.

I’ll be updating this event information MORE SOON.
You can get your tickets HERE
and tell them I sent you!

My Goodness! Am I halfway through this series already?
I so greatly enjoyed sharing my rare finds and my loved
legends I study so frequently. See,THIS IS WHY I love this job!
Sometimes it seems a funeral or a wedding are the only reasons
all of Nashville converge in one spot..it used to be the Opry.

As always here is a recap of my past people who earned spots
in this series. ONCE AGAIN IT IS NOT IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE!

20.Little David Wilkins
19.Glenn Douglass Tubb
18.Autrey Inman
17.Ralph Mooney
16.Elton Britt
15.Grant Turner
14.Johnny Russell
13.Bobby Edwards
12.Sonny Burns
11.Big Al Downing
10.Riley Puckett

Well Well Well…whom do you think is number 9?
I’ll give you a hint…the Opry.
Number 9 is the very man who created the whole thing and one of country music’s
first characters ‘the Solemn Old Judge” George D. Hay.

George Dewey Hay was born November 9th 1895 in Attica Indiana and he founded the WSM-AM based
show The Grande Ole Opry. Today it is the longest running radio show in history and most likely
will never be dethroned.

On his birthday in 1925 he moved to Nashville and began working for WSM. Hay soon announced WSM
would begin featuring “an hour or two” of old timey music every saturday night and thusly
the Opry was born.

It was originally called WSM Barn Dance and he created the Solemn Old Judge and began the
show with “Let Er Go Boys” and blew a trademark train whistle every show.

One of the first performers on the Opry was Harmonica Wizard Deford Bailey largely
overlooked as the first black country star in history.

During the 1930’s he worked on involving the show with NBC and it finally aired
on television for the first time in 1955.
He made a movie about the Opry in 1940 and in 1947 he brought the Opry to
Carnegie Hall.

He was inducted into The Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1966, and shortly after
On May 8th 1968 Country Music lost him at age 72.

Anybody can write a news story on the loss of a musician.
I WRITE ARTICLES FROM MY HEART on what my eyes have seen.
I am a “disciple” of country music and I write like Luke and John did.
From what I saw with my OWN EYES and heard with my OWN EARS!

I met Wayne Mills last October in Altamont Tennessee for the Outlaws
And Icons benefit show for Mr. Troy Rector.
I met MANY people that weekend and did ALOT of work while admiring
my heros both young and old.
I had heard some of his music but to be honest up until then I hadn’t
delved into it as deeply as I did during the festival.

He was an absolute behemoth of a man, much taller and larger than me.
Not fat…but large! My first question “OK you get this alot..who’s bigger
you or Trace Adkins?” He said Trace is but not by much.
His hand covered my face almost! But with size and looks came something
bigger yet…his heart.

When he spoke to me he looked down at me every time and addressed my eyes,
a trait not many artists have today. He opened doors for ladies the two days
I met him, (something I actually enjoy doing when and if I do date).
He offered me the last chair available because of my medical problems
but I was so busy gathering information.
It was COLD that weekend.

We talked firearms and hunting (I been known to like the outdoors).
This man was a firearms safety advocate like myself and we spent
alot of time talking about our teaching young adult firearm safety classes.
I can wholeheartedly assure you…he respected firearms.
He had a degree in education and was telling me his future
plans to open a firearms safety school in Tennessee.

He had the tightest firmest handshake I ever encountered in the music
buisness, and he was very soft spoken and mild mannered.
He moved with a slow demeanor and was a very clever songwriter.

He may have indeed been an Outlaw country music performer
but he was a big hearted hero in my eyes.

Goodbye Mr. Wayne…say hello to Roy Acuff for me will you?
Wait for me, I’ll be along when the world has no more need for
my articles no more and my body is wore out.

Go support these artists…he is proof…they may not be around forever!

You can make a financial donation HERE
Also my good friend Kenneth Marr will sell his artwork of Wayne Mills and all
proceeds will go to the family.

Early this morning 3:30 in Sulphur Springs Texas on I-30 Country Legend Willie Nelson’s
slammed into a bridge pillar hospitalizing three members of his band “Family”.

It was confirmed about an hour ago Drummer Paul English has a broken ankle
and Billy Jean English and Thomas Hawkins has a cracked rib and sustained minor
cuts and bruises.
Willie himself was not on board during this crash because he travels
in a seperate bus than his band.

Reportedly there are high winds and wet and icy conditions in both
Texas and Oklahoma which were the causing factor for this.
No alcohol or any other factors were reported.

There were seven people total traveling on the bus and the three were
taken to a Suplhur Springs E.R.

This has made the possibility of Willie Nelson postpone some tour dates.
But as of now all 14 remaining dates are planned.

You heard it everybody Scott H. Biram AKA The Dirty Old One Man Band
will release an ALL NEW ALBUM in Feb of 2014.

BUT FIRST Here’s some dates for his quick shot across the south:

Nov 22 The Jinx Savannah, GA
Nov 23 Underbelly Jacksonville, FL
Dec 27 Sam’s Burger Joint San Antonio, TX
Dec 31 North Door Main Stage Austin, TX

Then he’s traveling all over with Black Pistol Fire and finishing up in early 2014.

AND ALSO he has an ALL NEW Gospel single coming out on Black Friday for download
called ‘When I Die” and the B Side will be called ” John The Revelator”.

Now YOU WILL GET A CHANCE to pre-order this album and I’ll SOON tell you how!
COULD THAT BE THE COVER OF THE NEW ALBUM?…….We shall soon see!

It was announced today on the Evening news that country star Alan Jackson, restaurateur Tom Morales, owner of the Southern Steak and Oyster, former Country Music Association CEO Steve Moore, George Boedecker, founder of Crocs, and music industry executive Nancy Russell have been planning for some time to open the once booming
Acme Farm Supply building that has been vacant on lower broadway since 1990.

The facility dates back to the 1800’s and has been saved from destruction several times
by historical societies in Tennessee.

It will feature a restaurant a bar and a game room,and will open in June 2014
before FAN FAIR..(I REFUSE to call it CMA fest!)

I also have MORE NEWS SOON about Skull’s Rainbow Room RETURNING!
IT IS HAPPENING!

As my most awesome series so far almost comes to half a close, I would like to reflect
on the past 9 choices for subjects.

20.Little David Wilkins
19.Glenn Douglass Tubb
18.Autrey Inman
17.Ralph Mooney
16.Elton Britt
15.Grant Turner
14.Johnny Russell
13.Bobby Edwards
12.Sonny Burns

My choice for number 11 is Big Al Downing.
In my opinion the every time people regard Charley Pride as one of country music’s only black
superstars I feel they have forgotten Big Al.

He was born Al Downing in Oklahoma on January 9th 1940 and he was an entertainer, songwriter, publisher
and pianist. He did more than just country however country was what he was mostly noted for doing.
He was a frequent performer on the Grand Old Opry and American Bandstand, Hee Haw and many more.
He received the Billboard’s new artist of the year in 1979. And best new artist by the Acadamy
Of Country Music.

Downing began his career doing piano and vocals in Bobby Poe and The Poe Kats, who were an early backing band for country entertainer Wanda Jackson. His piano playing contributed to the single “Let’s Have A Party”, which was released in 1960. The song reached #32 on the UK charts and made the Top 40 on the U.S. pop chart.

Downing reached the U.S. Hot 100 with “You’ll Never Miss the Water (Till the Well Runs Dry)”, a duet with Little Esther Phillips. After the release of this single, he was signed by Warner Brothers. His 1974 single, “I’ll Be Holdin’ On”, made the Disco charts in America and Europe, reaching number one on the U.S. dance chart

In 1978 his most popular hit “Mr. Jones” rose to fame and he rose in popularity quickly.
, followed by “Touch Me (I’ll Be Your Fool Once More)” in 1979. That same year, Downing produced “Midnight Lace,” which reached the 50s on the charts, and “I Ain’t No Fool,” which peaked at the upper 70s. In 1980, the “Story Behind The Story” reached the Top 40 and “Bring It On Home” reached the Top 20.

During the next few years he had several top 40 hits and in the 1980’s “There’ll Never Be A Better Night For Being Wrong” was his last song for the team label.

In 1987, “Big Al” was signed by the Vine Street label, which released the “Oh How Beautiful You Are” (To Me) and “Just One Night Won’t Do,” both of which hit the Top 70. Two years later, he was signed by Door Knob Records, with whom he produced the 1989 Top 100 hit, “I Guess By Now.”

Multi genre music legend Fats Domino recorded two songs written by Downing: “Mary, Oh Mary” and “Heartbreak Hill”. Bobby “Blue” Bland and Tom Jones have also recorded Downing’s songs.

In 2003 One Of A Kind was his last album of 14 new songs that were met with moderate commercial success.
He continued to be a regular performer on the Opry and many other shows.
He was hospitalized and diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Soon after, he commenced chemotherapy treatment. country music lost Big Al Downing on July 4, 2005.

I try not to begin a series type article upon having another active however I couldn’t wait
to begin this series. I feel it needs to be published badly, and now is the time to do so.
Nashville is full of them…songwriters…open mic nights…and songwriter showcases.
It has stages EVERYWHERE, you get off the plane at the airport…there’s a stage.
Hell there used to be a stage at the Kmart on Harding Place!

I have been down here 14 years now, I was adopted at a late age. I have played every
darn place Nashville has. And I have spent years doing open mic writers night and
going to listen to other folks…studying…learning.
Here’s a rule down here: If you cannot enjoy and support OTHER PEOPLE’S SONGS
as much as your own…you WILL fail.

Country music has three major “building blocks” that make up it’s foundation.
The writer, The Publisher and the Steel Guitarist.
Those three together (or separate) make up the backbone of country music.

These articles will tell you the story of the artist and post a video
and how to find them and support them if you like what you hear.
IN NO ORDER OF IMPORTANCE! PLEASE do not feel offended and send me a nasty letter
if your song is above/below someone else in “rank” on the list!
Numbers 10 and Number 1 are BOTH EQUALLY good!
With that being said let’s delve into number 10.

Chris Miller: Goodnight Ruthie Wilson Goodnight.

Mr. Chris is from Minnesota and he plays out at songwriter night quite
frequently. He’s actually one of my favorite people to talk with
in the bar settings of Nashville.

The first time I ever heard this song was at Douglas Corner
off Haywood Lane in Nashville. Across from Zanie’s comedy club it is one of the city’s BEST
tuesday night hotspots hosted by Donnie Winters. Donnie and I have been friends for many years.
Mr. Chris is no exception we became friends real quick, and trust me you’ll enjoy his songs.

I like songs that make me paint a mental picture really fast and really well.
I like songs that describe the scenario or event taking place. This song does more
than that. It has comedy and it has darkness, it has a piece of “normal” everyday life to it.
And I had the pleasure of enjoying this song at many many different venues.
You MUST go out and see him play the next chance you get!
The first time I ever heard this song I was quickly captivated by both the lyrics and
the melody of his playing.

As always in case you have just joined us on this or you would like to enjoy the others here they are.

20.Little David Wilkins
19.Glenn Douglass Tubb
18.Autrey Inman
17.Ralph Mooney
16.Elton Britt
15.Grant Turner
14.Johnny Russell
13.Bobby Edwards

I’ll tell you what I am really enjoying writing these and researching some great “possible people” to
put on further spots on the list.
And as always I’d like to explain that it will not be ALL JUST ARTISTS that earn spots.
I THINK the three pillars of the foundation should be equally loved on, the songwriters
the producers and the steel guitarists are the three I speak of.

At number 12 I choose Sonny Burns.
Clyde Burns Jr. was born in Lufkin Texas on Septmeber 19th 1930.
He became increasingly popular in Texas for being Eddie Noack’s sideman on lead guitar
however he decided to enlist in the Air Force.
In 1953 country music was given it’s largest blow in it’s history…it’s first big superstar
Hank Williams was found dead en route to Ohio on New Years Day.
Amidst the sorrow Sonny released an album on Texas based label Starday records.
One of his singles quickly fell off the charts after it was covered by Faron Young.

He was a frequent guest on Houston Hometown Jamboree (which is where I first heard of him from)
with a young George Jones.
It’s been said they began a fast freindship due to Sonny’s love for the same demons that
George had…alcohol.

They were set to record a duet together and Sonny never showed up for it and George Jones
ended up cutting “Why Baby Why” alone. A move that would begin a slope of bad luck for Sonny.
He soon became known as a rable rousing drunk who recorded great music but delivered
sloppy performances and untrustworthy showmanship.

In 1961 he re emerged on United Artists cutting several singles for the label over
the course of years but none had any chart success. And after recording some songs
for MGM in 1968 he reitred from music.

He later became a born again Christian and even became a pastor and paid his bills
by cutting hair.

On October 21st 1992 Sonny Burns passed away and after his passing many years later
his songs and albums became collector rarities that have graced many auctions
and sales.

Goal: Present, Preserve, Promote and Protect Country Music. By bringing country music to your community, we will be able to ensure a more visible traditional image, which will result in a positive appreciation of country music.

Those are the first words I read from these folks when I learned about them on Facebook from a local
friend of mine. And it QUICKLY caught my interest and I HAD to check it out further.
I’m a BIG supporter of local area songwriters and music in my Kentucky area..and in the future I
will be branching out to Texas, and Illinois and MORE PLACES!

But for now lets continue to focus on Kentucky area shows and venues.
One of their events takes place every third sunday at Vino’s restaurant is Bowling Green Kentucky.
And they feature songwriters from the area, and I hear they have been doing some
really awesome things for the community.

Now this is a FREE ALL AGES SHOW as far as I have concluded so HOW CAN YOU GO WRONG?
I’m not at liberty to release the phone number to call to perform YET,
I’ll be doing further articles on this organization and I have started to support
them in some small ways BUT I WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH THEM SOON!
And I’m going to inform you and tell you how to contact them to become
involved with them.

Will Gary Hayes be playing this event in the future?
I have a feeling the suit and tie will be venturing out that way SOON!
And I think I’ll bring some hired guns with me!
How would you readers like to see Jimmy Payne or Dallas Frazier out there?
Could possibly happen….you just never know with me involved!

Well like always in case you have just joined me in this series please take a moment to
enjoy the rest of the list thus far.

20.Little David Wilkins
19.Glenn Douglass Tubb
18.Autrey Inman
17.Ralph Mooney
16.Elton Britt
15.Grant Turner
14.Johnny Russell

And that will bring me to my 13th Icon that I think was important to country music. They will not all
be artists per se, we had writers and producers who were just as integral to it.
We had steel guitarists and backing musicians whom also were important to country music.
In fact, I SAY country music has three “building blocks” that make up it’s foundation:
Writers
Producers
Steel Guitarists

With that being said number 13 is an artist of historical obscurity.
Bobby Edwards.
Nobody is absolutely sure WHAT his REAL birthname was, it was either Robert Edward Moncreif or Burgan.
And he was born January 18 1926 in Alabama.
He first got into the spotlight with a Tex Ritter cover song Jealous Heart in 1959.

Shortly after he joined a group called the four young men, and he quickly became the front
man for the group. At first there were really four of them but they added another member after
Bobby joined to make it five.

Their first record together was “Your’e The Reason” which was their only top hit peaking at
number 4 and 11 in 1961 on the Billboard top 100. The song was later covered by Hank Locklin
Hank Williams 3, Joe South and a few more. It became one of my favorite covers Hank 3
ever did so far.

He later then labeled over to Capitol Records and released the sound alike version “Whats The
Reason” which peaked at number 71. His third single was “Don’t Pretend” which did not
peak.
Upon becoming unsatisfied with his accomplishments he retired from music in the 1960’s.

The Four Young men pressed on and changed their name to the Castaways and became a
really successfull act in the Vegas Casino Circuit.

He died July 31st 2012 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
It was never made public how he died.