New Gary Hayes interview with Country Music Today

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Gary Hayes - He Knows Country

Gary Hayes knows country music. He has been places and met people many only dream of. He is practically a walking country music encyclopedia, brimming with knowledge of not only legendary singers and songwriters but of the musicians that backed them as well. He takes pride in knowing what's country and is quick to point out that there is no difference between modern country music and what many consider more traditional country music.

"There's no such thing as modern or traditional," states Gary. "It's either country or it isn't."

So what does Gary define as a country song? For him, it's not a sound or a definition. It is a format. The fiddle and steel guitar are essential to a good country song according to Gary. He believes lot of what is played on the radio today lacks the two staples of good county music, leaving younger listener unexposed to them. The may reason for the lack of fiddles and steel guitar? "The good, skilled pickers are gone," Gary says.

Gary believes in giving the steel guitar and fiddle solos, their sounds even overshadowing the singer's voice. He also believes the "rock and roll guitars" that are hot in country music right now have no place in true country music. Drums too can be left out most of the time. Gary himself plays with a fiddle player, banjo player, a guitar player, and himself on guitar.

It may seem as though Gary is not a fan of today's country music. That's not the case at all. He sites Josh Turner, Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Mark Chestnutt as artists he is a fan of as well as Brad Paisley who he respects for his efforts to bring Jimmy Dickens back to the country crowd.

Gary is primarily a songwriter, saying he prefers it that way when asked about becoming an artist.

"I'm too old, too fat, and don't to travel," he says of the lifestyle of a travelling musician.

When asked who his musical influences are, Gary is quick to point out the great Hank Williams.

"Hank Williams is, was, and will always be one of the greatest artist of all time," Gary states. He also gives Hank Williams Jr. a lot  of credit for doing what he does, even though it is not always 100% country. Keeping it in the Williams clan, Gary adds that Hank III, also known as Sheldon, is talented himself, despite the fact that country radio often overlooks him. Skip Ewing, David Allen Coe, even Metallica are also influences for Gary.

As a songwriter, Gary's songs are pieces of his own personal art. For someone with a love of country music as Gary's, only the 'right' person would be allowed to record one of his songs. If Kenny Chesney for instance approached Gary about recording a song he had written, Gary would be quick to tell him no. However an artist like JW Carpenter would be someone Gary would consider allowing to record his song. In fact, JW has one of Gary's songs on hold right now.

Gary draws inspiration from his songs from the life that he has lived. He jokes that his biggest influence is "alcohol."

"I have written some of my best stuff I don't even remember writing," Gary says of his liquid inspiration, a joking quality to his voice.

Gary's future plans are to more or less continue what he is doing now - promoting country music. It is his goal to expose the younger generations who are now deciding that country is cool to the great artists of yesterday such as Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, George Jones, and Rivers Rutherford. Gary knows what those who have never heard of some of country music's legendary figures are missing. If they are willing to listen, Gary is a vault of music knowledge, gathered from years of living and breathing country music. Listen to Gary when he speaks. He knows what he's talking about.

To check out Gary Hayes' music - and maybe in pick his brain about country music - visit him on MySpace.