Wade Hayes photo courtesy of artist.
In 2000, after releasing four albums and touring for six years, Wade decided to take a break. "The plan was to write, rest and bring myself back as someone renewed," Wade explains. "I didn’t realize how hard it would be to get back on everyone’s radar screen."
But Wade’s turning heads again in Nashville with his self-produced fifth album, A Place to Turn Around. He continues to showcase his strengths as an incredible vocalist, a super-talented guitar player and a people-reaching songwriter. Nine of the 11 tracks were written by Wade.
When asked how songwriting works for him, he explained that it can come from any direction - a guitar riff, a phrase in a book, a thought from a television preacher, life experiences and even some wisdom from his Mom. You can credit all of those sources in his newest work. Getting lost on a country road inspired the title cut; "Good Day to Go Crazy" began with a guitar riff. "She Knows Me" received its stimulus from his favorite television preacher, Charles Stanley; and Mom ignited ideas for "The Best Part" and "What’s a Broken Heart For You." Taking from life and translating into heart-reaching music is what Wade Hayes, the songwriter, does best.
On this album he adds another dimension to an already well-rounded musical career - that of producer. And he’s been delighted to see the response to his independent efforts. Nashville Country.com included it in its list of Top 10 albums for 2009 and declared it the "most under-rated" album of the year. Asked about the role of producer, Wade acknowledged it was hard.
"What you have to understand is that I was playing on every track, singing and keeping up with everyone else. Would I do it again? You bet! It was a great experience." Wade brought top quality musicians into the studio with him to make this album, including teaming up with acoustic guitar marvel Brian Sutton and A-list performer Brent Mason on the novelty song "Every Time I Give the Devil a Ride." Every track features superior musicianship.
True to every album he’s released, Wade has included a cover of one of his favorite traditional songs. On this one, it’s Gary Stewart’s "Drinkin’ Thing." This is the second song of Gary’s that Wade has covered. The CD Tribute to Tradition album released in 1998 included his cover of Stewart’s "She’s Actin’ Single, I’m Drinkin’ Doubles."
"Gary Stewart is a pretty obscure artist," says Wade. "You have to be a hard-core, dyed-in-the-wool country fan to know his work. I know that as a kid, I loved to listen to and sing his music. He, like others, wrote some pretty dark stuff. You knew that they’d lived it. I didn’t understand what it was all about, but I loved it."
Listeners recognize that Wade has brought his stage charm, a love of traditional country music and intenseness to this album, and it is fast becoming a favorite of his long-time fans and earning him new converts daily. "I feel like my core audience consists of those who have loved the traditional music, but I believe there’s a new audience out there that will connect to my music."
