Upon returning a rental suit, I discovered a Hall & Oates greatest hits CD in a bargain box sitting on a table outside a department store in the old Gaston Mall, in Gastonia NC. I purchased it for one dollar. My 81' Ford pickup truck didn't have an air conditioner or good tires, however the rickety old truck did have a cassette player. I used an adapter that looked like a cassette tape with wires connecting from it to a portable cd player that sat on the passenger side of the bench seat. I heard "Sara Smile" for the first time and immediately fell in love with it. I'd already been playing guitar several years but the chords to "Sara Smile" were unlike the average G,C & D chords I was familiar with. Therefore I could only sing "Sara Smile" without the crutch of an instrument, kinda like singing the National Anthem.

It was in the spring of 1996. I had a side job as a wedding singer and a full time job as a Corrections Officer. I was walking the midyard at the prison one night and a fellow officer by the name of Mr. Holloway overheard me singing "Sara Smile" and said "man you ought to record that song." I responded, "now how in the world am I gonna do that?" I was surprised to learn he even knew the song when I asked him. He laughed and said "boy, I've been singing 'Sara Smile' for many years." Officer Holloway was African American. He had a gospel singer's voice with more soul than six pair of shoes.

 On March. 23, 1998 I moved to Mt Juliet TN just outside of Nashville and began writing for Opryland Music Group. Mike Whelan signed  me to the publishing company, and is the person responsible for bringing me to Nashville. I lived in the basement of Lloyd and Deborah Kelso's house for two years. Once I settled in, it didn't take me long to realize that almost everyone on Music Row played an instrument and those who didn't paid someone to play for them. It was a struggle but I earned enough money digging fence post holes for Jerry Bradley at "Bradleys Barn" (a very famous recording studio) to pay rent and take guitar lessons. Jerry always paid me more than he owed me. Jerry's dad is Owen Bradley, who produced Patsy Cline and many other legends. I began taking guitar lessons from an amazing guitar instructor by the name of Ellen Britton ( www.ellenbritton.com ). Ellen told me to choose a song that I wanted to learn on guitar and bring it into our next guitar lesson. I brought in "Sara Smile."   I went straight home after that lesson and began practicing. I eventually moved from Mt. Juliet onto Music Row, into 806 18th Ave. South, apartment 109. I had developed a practicing routine in the basement of the Kelso's house and utilized it in my new apartment. I'd close the door to the small bathroom, turn out the lights, sit on the bath tub facing the wall and play guitar for hours. This technique taught me how to play guitar without staring at my left hand and to play with soul! There were great acoustics in the bathroom as well-- it's like singing in the shower. I'm sure my new neighbor Ryan, who lived upstairs, wanted to shoot through the floor. He was always studying and occasionally he'd stomp the floor when I'd sing too loud. Ryan is now a prosecuting attorney for the state of Arizona. He's also the one that gave me the blue bike I take on the road. He's one of my closest friends. It took me a while to learn how to sing "Sara Smile" and play it on the guitar at the same time. At first it was like speaking two languages simultaneously. I began performing "Sara Smile" around Nashville. I'd play it for janitors, bakers, the postman; it didn't matter. I'd just play for whoever would listen. On several occasions I was even told by a few music row executives not to ever play "Sara Smile" again because it would ruin my chances of having a career in the country music business.

On April 13, 2001 I walked into Scott Borchetta's office. He was the head of the promotion dept. for Dreamworks Records /Nashville. He was very nice and seemed like he was just one of the guys. Within minutes it was clear that he knew a lot about the music business and loved it. We chatted briefly and then he asked "play me something?" I took my Takamine guitar out of its case and played "Sara Smile." As soon as I finished, Scott look at me with that Italian smile and offered me a record deal. The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. The only thing that seemed missing was the swinging bright light that hung from the warehouse ceiling in the movie "Road to Perdition." I didn't even know what had just happened or how I even ended up in his office. It was all unplanned as far I knew.

Shortly afterwards I celebrated my record deal, alone, at a local Long Horn restaurant on Lyle Ave. right off of Music Row. I just wanted to go and think... As I was eating my sweet potato and drinking sweet tea, I looked up at the TV hanging above the bar and saw Kevin Millwood standing on a pitcher's mound, pitching for the Atlanta Braves. I thought about the times he and I use to sit outside in the parking lot of the Ingles grocery store in Bessemer City NC, waiting on our girlfriends to go on break. Bessemer City was a very small mill town. It had a caution light, a few farms and train tracks that ran smack dab through the middle of the entire city from one county line to the next. Kevin and I were in high school at the time and he was the baseball player who everyone knew would be "big" some day. One evening Kevin and I were sitting on the tailgate and he asked me what I wanted to be when I got outta school. I said "a country singer." Kevin said he wanted to be a pro baseball player. How ironic? Kevin currently pitches for the Texas Rangers.

It would be years though before I ever recorded "Sara Smile." After the success of my first CD (self titled Jimmy Wayne) with songs such as "Stay Gone" "I Love You This Much" and "Paper Angels," the Dreamworks Label sold to a bigger label. I spent the next year and a half waiting on something, just anything, to happen. I think I've seen continents moved faster. Eventually, I was let go from this record label and picked up within an hour by Scott Borchetta, who had already opened Big Machine Records. Scott had also signed a 14 year old girl to the same label. He was so excited about this young, talented girl. I remember one evening Scott called me and read the lyrics to a song that she'd just written about a boy and a song about Tim McGraw. Scott truly believed that she would become one of the biggest entertainers in the world. Taylor Swift proved him to be right.

I was finally back "home" and very glad to have Scott, along with a great team, on my side. I eventually made a lateral move to BMR's sister label, The Valory Music Company, which is also owned by Scott Borchetta. I spent the next three years creating my second CD, titled  "Do You Believe Me Now." It generated a 3 week #1 with the title track  and helped me land the opening slot on the American Saturday Night tour with Dierks Bentley and host Brad Paisley. It felt so good to be back on the radar. Scott came out to see one of the shows in Detroit MI. After the show he and I met in the dressing room with Mike Kraski to discuss the set. Scott said, "it was ok but something's  missing". (Crickets)........... (more crickets) Scott then said, "add Sara Smile to the set list." The meeting was over as fast as it started. A few days later Valory executive George Briner was at my show. I sang "Sara Smile." The entire crowd sang along and cheered like never before. George reported back to Scott immediately.   

I arrived into Nashville a few days later. I dropped into Scott's office to discuss what would be the fourth single off the current CD, "Do You Believe Me Now." Scott said, "what if we record 'Sara Smile' and release it?" That was the very last thing I expected to hear from him. I couldn't even think clearly! It was the same feeling I experienced when he first offered me a record deal. Two days later Scott called me and asked, "well, do you wanna record it or not?" Although I was saying yes, all I could think was "who is going to produce "Sara Smile?" I had this golden opportunity to finally record the song that's been my sword and my shield from the beginning of my career, but no producer. On Aug. 05, 2009 at 9:05 am CT Scott called me again. I was in the Nashville airport and he said, "Jimmy, what if we get Dann Huff to produce 'Sara Smile'?" It seriously felt like a million tons were lifted off of me instantly! Dann is a producer I'd been wanting to work with for many years. I'd met Dann at a Titans game on Sept. 02, 1999. He was just as nice to me then as he is now. On Aug. 16, 2009 Dann tracked "Sara Smile" at the Blackbird Studio in Berry Hill TN. I sang the vocals on Aug. 18, 2009. A few days later, Daryl Hall & John Oates sang the background vocals. Within a week "Sara Smile" was mastered for country radio!   

For the first time in my career I feel like I'm living my dream. Recording "Sara Smile" and hearing it on the radio after all these years has been one of the greatest accomplishments in my life! Please celebrate with me by getting your copy of my third CD, of course titled "Sara Smile," and set to be released on Nov. 23, 2009. 

It's your dream. Go get it.

On June 05, 2009 my Radio Band and I had the honor of joining Brad Paisley on his American Saturday Night tour - kicking the tour off in my hometown - Charlotte, NC at the Verizon Wireless Center. We, along with Dierks Bentley, toured the USA and Canada and unlike the small venues I was used to performing in, these arenas and amphitheaters held between 15,000 and 30,000 people. Our job was to open the show each night and get the crowd as pumped up as possible. However, that can sometimes be like trying to start a car in 10 degrees below zero weather. I had to come up with a strategy, and fast!

We began our 25 min set each night with "Cowboys & Engines," a song I like to refer to as "the can opener." It's a high octane, up-tempo song with big loud guitars, a screaming fiddle and a double bass kick drum. Its purpose is to "alert" everyone that the show has begun. We'd then go into "Stay Gone", a song from my first CD. I chose it because it was my first song on country radio,  the most played song of 2003, generated a half million sales in records and that meant people were familiar with it. Everyone sang along each night!  It was great to see that people still remember that song!

We then went into "Kerosene Kid," a rocking, up-tempo song with a ton of fuel (no pun intended). During the first half of this song I'd hold up handmade signs in front of the camera which then appeared on the big screen. They read "scream if you love beer," "if you love Dierks," or "if you're a country girl," etc. The last sign read "scream if you remotely know who the hell I am." The cheers drowned the music each time a sign was held up. I wanted to have a little fun and also get those who were still outside to think they were missing something big! Get on in here! It worked every show.

We'd then segue into "Trespassin'," another song from my first CD. This up-tempo locomotive kept the momentum moving forward. The Radio Band walked out to the edge of the right and left catwalks and jammed with the crowd. Towards the end of "Trespassin'," Jake walked out to the edge of the center catwalk and performed an unbelievable fiddle solo with the fiddle behind his head. He'd begin walking back toward center stage in perfect time. There he'd end "Trespassin" on a high note that sustained throughout the arena as the lights went down. Seconds later I would appear at the edge of the center catwalk with my acoustic guitar. The spotlight would be shinning down. This was a very pivotal moment of the show. Things could have easily taken a turn and to be honest, I was nervous most nights. All I had to do was get through "Sara Smile" and it was easy sailing from there on. (I'll never forget the night in Baltimore when John Oates walked out on stage and sang "Sara Smile" with me and the Radio Band. 15,000 people cheered. Cameras flashed. It was the highlight of the tour for me. You can watch some of this footage on youtube.com. After "Sara Smile," we'd coast into "Do You Believe Me Now," my first #1 record.  In fact. that one remained at the top of the charts for 3 weeks? Congrats to writers Dave Pahanish, Joe West and Tim Johnson.  What an incredible feeling.  The entire crowd sang along as I walked to each side of the stage and said my goodbyes. I could definitely feel the power of this song.  And then my portion of the show was done.  My nerves would began to settle down.  After my performance, most nights I'd towel off and run out to the sound board to watch Dierks and Brad.  Incredible.

On October 24, 2009 superstar Brad Paisley closed the 2009 American Saturday Night Tour in Uncasville CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena. That last night of the tour was really a bittersweet feeling for me. Touring with artists as talented as Brad and Dierks and all of the musicians in their great bands and getting to meet the huge teams of talented behind the scenes people who kept this show on the road was an amazing experience.

I'll never forget the day Jenny and Mike (my managers) called me and gave me the great news that Brad had invited me to go on tour with him. Every moment on that tour was a learning experience. I made some really great friends I know I can always call on. Brad's Dad was truly amazing. I miss that dude. Dierks is the coolest. The catering was off the hook! All I can say is "Thanks Brad for having me out there and if you need someone to crowd surf, just call me!"

Moms. We all have one. Aren't they incredible human beings? Aren't they fascinating creatures of mankind? Their genetic makeup is an amazing creation. How they multi-task is even more impressive. I saw a Mother at the park just the other day pushing a dual stroller and walking two labs simultaneously. That's five lives she's responsible for. What's my excuse for not making my bed this morning?

Speaking of Moms, I was walking in the front door of my house and a bird frantically escaped the bush that's growing up the wall by my walkway. After observing the bush I realized she'd built a home for three little blue eggs. I hope she'll get used to me coming and going, it is my home, well it was until "the woman" moved in, the momma bird that is. As I stood there observing the nest and how unbelievably perfect it was, I wondered how hard it must have been carrying three eggs in her belly while assembling that handsome nest. The only question I had was, "Where in the hell was the Dad?"

It also made me think of my Mom and our relationship. My Mom was a single parent our whole lives. She took care of my sister and I the best way she knew how. I remember her borrowing a TV from the preacher so my sister and I could watch the Wizard Of Oz for the first time. She never gave the TV back and stopped going to church. We kept the TV. I also remember her waking us up one school night around 1am and feeding my sister and I corn she'd taken from a preacher's garden nearby. We were very poor and had no food in the house. When I was nine, I hung myself on a cross because I wanted to know what Jesus felt like. Mom saw me from the kitchen window and thought I was making fun of Jesus. She ran out the house yelling as the screen door slammed behind her and began whipping me as I hung on that cross. By the time she exhausted herself from swinging like Babe Ruth, the traffic in front of our house had come to a complete stop. They just stared and finally they drove away. Mom loved God and I guess in some weird way she thought it was ok to "somewhat" borrow from a preacher and whip me like a Roman soldier as I hung on a cross! My sister and I spent many years in and out of foster care. As an adult, unlike the hostile boy I was then, I can understand better now why it was the way it was. It also makes me appreciate my Mom a whole lot more by knowing now and understanding the circumstances that were surrounding her and within her at the time. Regardless of anything, she's my Mom and the one that brought me into this world. I love her dearly and I know that she loves me.

Staring at this nest also made me think of my Sister. She and her husband just recently adopted a three year old girl. Although my Sister is one year older than I, she has been sort of a Mom to me growing up. I remember her setting the alarm clock every night when we were kids. I'd never get up first. She'd yell at me until I did. She even fought a boy at the bus stop once over me. She also shared her stash of Corn Flakes and powdered milk when mine was gone regardless if she didn't have enough to spare. That was the only food she and I had, and we had to make it last throughout the month (our stepdad at the time sold the food stamps for drugs). She also baked me a cake on my tenth birthday. She burnt it, however I scraped the charcoal topping off and ate the cake anyway. We were the only two there in the house that day, all day. Mom was gone!

I've had many Mother like mentors in my life: Carla Foy (my social worker when I was 14yrs old), Cindy Ballard (my guidance counselor), Miss Friday (who paddled me at least once a week for two consecutive terms in the 6th grade), Cheryl (my current business manager), Bea (my foster Mom), my sister Patricia and my biological Mom. They are the reason I'm here, right where I am in my life today! Without one of them, I don't know where I'd be? I'd have a record deal alright, a police record a mile long!

I walked inside my house and stared out the window. I thought about the eggs and how lonely they'll be without their Mom if she didn't return for a while. I thought about a time in my life when my stepdad didn't tell my Mom that I was on the line. I called her from a pay phone across town, wanting to come home. He hung the phone up on me then immediately picked the receiver back up and laid it down on the table. I could hear my Mom talking in the background, needless to say she couldn't hear me and didn't know I was on the phone. I never got a chance to talk to her that day. Soon afterwards I was placed in a receiving home by the county and spent the rest of my teenage years in and out of those homes until I met the Costners, Bea and Russell. They gave me a permanent home until I was on my own.

For some reason the bird also made me think about my manager Mike Kraski. Mike is from Pittsburgh, PA which gives him that smooth edgyness that a good manager needs, and I relate to and dig. I thought about how he's only one of three males that I've ever gotten close to in my life. He loves his family. He still talks good about his wife, after thirty something years of marriage. He's a good dude! Mike called me the other day and told me that his Mom had a brain tumor. Despite his mesomorphic physique, his firm demeanor and always professional attitude, I heard a little boy crying inside for his Mom.

I walked around inside my house thinking about him, her, the bird, the eggs, my Mom and everyone else I mentioned, and even the ones I didn't mention. I felt very sad for him. I immediately called my Mom and told her I loved her. I disturbed the bird from her nest several more times afterwards by going to my car. I started a song. I just couldn't get the thought of Mike and his Mom out of my head.

It's said that they are supposed to go before us. That's the principle of human evolution. However, no matter how you spell it out, it still spells MOM and losing her would almost be too hard to comprehend.

Blessings to all and thankfulness for the ultimate Dad who gave us these wonderful Moms.

Happy Easter everyone -JW

The sound of slot machines, a loud celebration from a blackjack table near by, bells ringing, loud music, and different dialects from all over the world fill the atmosphere at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas. There's also lions behind a glass cage by the entrance! Wow! Colorful lights illuminate the night from all over the city. You're most likely to see Vegas from outer space.

It's 10:52PM and I'm already in my bed with the TV on and a half bottle of purified water on the night stand, wondering if I packed enough clothes or even the right clothes to last me through Monday. I'm not high maintenance and I don't require a big suitcase but I will admit that I roll my jeans and pack them tightly in a big zip lock bag inside of a suitcase that has been sprayed with a water repellent made for shoes. I can get 3 pair of jeans in each zip lock bag. I do the same with t-shirts, etc. (I learned a lesson once when my suitcase sat on the tarmac in the rain). I always bring extra underwear and socks. I did forget my Brut cologne, dangit!! I brought shorts but no flip flops. I also forgot my workout clothes. Hmm.. not good! I was in bed around 9:30PM last night so I was well rested for today's Radio Remotes and should be rested up for the big day tomorrow. I certainly love to take advantage of these rare opportunities when I can just relax and stretch out in the bed and watch TV. Earlier today, after the Radio Remotes, I had dinner with some great ladies: Cynthia Sanz, the editor ("the Big Cheese") for PEOPLE magazine. Lori Berger, an editor for RED BOOK. Natalie Kilgore, the publicist for Big Machine and The Valory Music Company. Melanie Dunea, a photographer for many artist and actors. Anne Marie Cruz, a staff editor for PEOPLE magazine, and Jenny Bohler, one of my managers from TENACITY management. It was one of the coolest dinners I've had in a very long time, and considering I was the only guy amongst 6 ladies, I was taking notes! The topics were interesting and I got a few good song ideas! Ha! (Going to sleep)

(Sunday) I met up with Melanie Dunea for a mini photo session. I love this girl. It was unlike any photo shoot I'd ever been a part of. Melanie asked me just to show up in my everyday attire, almost as if I'd just rolled outta bed! There was no hair and makeup person. Melanie just began to shoot! The session lasted about 30 mins. All I'm going to say is that I was soaking wet at the end of the shoot. I'll keep ya posted when or if these pics surface in another book that Melanie is creating.

Just before the ACM awards, I did another photo shoot with the great people from PEOPLE magazine! Cynthia Sanz, and Anne Marie Cruz, along with other staff, invited me under the lens. I had a blast! They allowed me to be myself and of course, I cut loose! I'll keep you posted on those pics as well. What a great team of people at PEOPLE! :) Please pick up a copy of the PEOPLE COUNTRY magazine when you're out.

I hit the Orange Carpet early and towards the end I got a chance to speak to Reba. I told her that I was very honored to have her as a label mate. She is so beautiful and very nice! She's royalty!

Following the orange carpet, I headed to the green room and waited for my seat assignment. Carrot Top was hanging around in the green room as well. During the ACM's I got a chance to sit close to one of my favorite writers in Nashville, Don Sampson. Don and I have written a list of songs including "Paper Angels". A young lady stopped me in the casino earlier before the awards to tell me that "Paper Angels" is her favorite song. Don and I also wrote "I Love You This Much", "Kerosene Kid", and "Where You're Going", which are all on my current CD titled, "Do You Believe Me Now". Nathan Chapman was seated behind me. Nathan is Taylor Swift's producer. He's a good dude. I snapped a few more pictures from my seat of some of my artist friends on stage. It was exciting times for everyone!(View Jimmy's photos here. Click "next" to view all.)

After the awards I headed to the All Star Jam hosted by KUZZ. I performed "Do You Believe Me Now" and "I Will" with the house band. It was a bit rough on the front end because we never rehearsed either song, however, we pulled it off with a few scrapes and bruises. Kenny Chesney made a surprise appearance at the Jam and rocked the house as well as Carrie Underwood! The place was packed!

Speaking of scrapes, bruises, and Carrie Underwood, I happened to have a scratch on my neck. During my Orange Carpet interviews, every interviewer asked me how I got the scratch. Well here was my answer.. "I saw a bad guy approaching Carrie Underwood. I tackled him to the ground and only suffered minor bruises and a scratch on my neck". Carrie embraced me in her arms by the limo while cameras flashed. Everyone was like "for real"?? Of course after a few minutes I had to tell them "Na, it's a scratch that my drummer's dog 'TANK' gave me the other day during our band rehearsal" (for the Paisley tour coming up in June). They rolled with laughter, and most of them said, "I'm using that in my next article"... (whoa horsey)... So let me be the first to tell you that the story of Me, Carrie, and the bad guy isn't true at all:) Carrie is a friend and a very sweet girl, and of course I'd tackle a bad guy or take the wheel any day for Carrie if she needed me too.. lol!! BTW.. Congrats Carrie!!

Alright, I'm back in Nashville sitting in my truck in front of another famous spot.. "Virginia's". Everyone and their mother's mom have been here. It's really the only "convenient" store on Music Row. Virginia is the owner. When I lived on Music Row in apartment 109, I'd walk across the street to help carry produce into the store for her husband Don. His radiation treatments made him very weak, too weak to carry a box of lettuce. We all became great friends! Say hello to Virginia when you're in Nashville!

Aight everybody, I'm outta here.
Please don't forget to vote on GAC and CMT....... Love y'all- JW