UCN Interview: Jimmy Wayne – Living Life with a Purpose

14 years ago Liv Carter 3

We have been keeping an eye on Jimmy Wayne‘s career since his debut album and recently had the powers-that-be at firefly music entertainment set up a great opportunity to talk with Jimmy. What resulted was an insightful look at the man behind the music, living his life with a purpose with no signs of slowing down. Down to earth, gifted and filled with passion and dreams, Jimmy opens up about his new cd, ‘Sara Smile’, his purpose in life and his inspirations.

UCB: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. How is your day going?

JW: Oh, it’s fantastic. You know, when I am in Nashville, my time is utilized up to the very last minute, it seems. When I’m out on the road there is not much time to do business work. When I’m here, they have me signing and meeting, signing and meeting and meeting and signing.

UCB: Looking back on 2009, what an incredible year this has been for you. When the year started out, did you have any idea it would ever end up like this?

JW: No, I didn’t. It went down in my journal as one of the most incredible years of my life. To go out on tour with Brad Paisley on the ‘American Saturday Night Tour’ with Dierks Bentley, that was an amazing experience and to be able to record my 3rd album and get it out before the year was over, that was incredible. Not only that, but to record one of my all-time favorite songs, ‘Sara Smile’ with the guys who wrote it, Daryl Hall and John Oates; it was just incredible!

UCB: Would you say that this year has surpassed the dreams you had for it?

JW: It surpassed my expectations, for sure! But it has always been my dream to record this song and sing with these guys. It was kind of a shocker!

UCB: As you look forward to 2010, what are some of the goals and dreams you have set for next year?

JW: More of the same. My work ethic is to just continue to work hard and keep my options open. Writing more songs, more songs about where I came from, and I’d like to get a book started in 2010 and work on that.

UCB: I’ve read you’ve been keeping a journal since you were 12 or 13 years old. Were you thinking of writing something autobiographical or writing fiction, based on your story?

JW: It is kind of a combination of both ideas … maybe writing something about the Angel Tree Program, since I was a recipient of that program. I would like to just get that out there more; the importance of taking care of the kids out there. Even during times like this, it is incredibly tough for families but the kids shouldn’t suffer, regardless. I would just challenge people out there who get their friends and some of their family members presents, to do what I did and tell people, friends and family, “Don’t get me a gift for Christmas. Get a kid a coat or a pair of shoes, because they need that stuff. I don’t need that stuff.”

UCB: You’ve mentioned your dream of building a home for older teens. What can you share about the status of that?

JW: My goal is to build a home for teens who have aged out of the system. A place where they can come and find refuge, help and assistance to get on their feet. As a kid growing up in those facilities and homes, I know for a fact that when you are one of those kids who ages out, you are considered “on your own”. There are some programs that help these kids, but sometimes the kid, unfortunately, falls back into the system whether it is in jail, the streets, living with family members and having to quit school just to provide for themselves or teenage girls falling for some guy – like my sister did, a guy who promised her the world and ended up taking advantage of her for many years and just practically ruined her life at an early age – believing that these guys really love them and really what they are doing is preying on them. Let’s protect these young girls from these guys that are doing this stuff to them, these older perveted men, and help them find a place where they don’t have to depend on some creep for that kind of security. They will now have a safe place to go.

UCB: Is this something you’d be building in Tennessee or in your home state of North Carolina?

JW: I’d love to do it back home. I’d like to do it at home. I’ve got tons of people who want to get involved. I’ve put the word out and there are fans all over the United States that have volunteered their time, said they would fly in, drive, do whatever I needed them to do to be there to help lay the groundwork and help build this place. I’ve even had fans offer up their barns saying, “I will donate the wood from my barn; if you need anything, just let us know.” It’s just so kind, such generous folks. You know, back in the old days they had a thing called “Barn Raisings” where the whole community would get involved and help out. That’s another thing, when we start breaking ground on this thing, I hope that the whole community gets involved and realizes that we are not putting up a dangerous facility, a prison or anything like that. We are putting up a home that is going to help kids out. That’s what we are going to do and we need everybody’s help.

UCB: It’s awesome that you are already getting responses from people to volunteer! It goes to show that people are willing to help, they just need to hear about a cause.

JW: Right. And, to know that it is really going to go somewhere. It’s not just a scam. It’s going to be done right. I promise you. The books will be open.


UCB: I’ve gone back and read some early 2003 interviews and you are very consistent in what you said then and what you say now. Perhaps people see that sincerity and they can respect that and it makes it easier for them to repond?

JW: I think when you’ve been there and you don’t use it as a crutch or an excuse; it’s a real thing for me. I’m not using my past as a crutch. I’m really pulling from that and taking that stumbling block and using it as a stepping stone. I’m really trying to do something with it because I know that statistically this life ends in 82 years. I’ve lived 37 of them. I want to leave something behind, not just a fancy car and all that stuff. I want to leave a legacy behind that I was used for this purpose. This is my purpose. I lived the life of a homeless kid and a kid that grew up in these kinds of facilities. But I’m not the only one. But what I did with my story is, I became successful and I took my success and I turned it around and gave it back to help other kids just like that family did for me when I was 16 years old. None of this would have happened without them. I was lost and homeless and had nothing. They started it all back in 1989. It all started there. So, all I’m doing is picking up where they started. They helped me and it’s my job to continue doing what they did for me. It is what they did for many kids that I didn’t even know about until I was at the funeral. I wondered who the strangers were in the room and people told me that they were the kids, now adults, that the Costners helped a long time ago. I thought I was the only kid. They never told me about that or shared that story with me at all. When both of the Costners passed away and their house was being cleaned out, I found calendars of facilitie
s and homes that they donated money to, that helped these kids in orphanages. I never knew about these people and couldn’t believe it! The Costners were all about helping out.

UCB: Let’s talk a bit about the new album, ‘Sara Smile’. You’ve got multiple producers on there and that’s not very common for Nashville. How did each of the producers get involved in the project?

JW: Well, the cd was recorded by three different producers because there were several recording phases. I recorded a couple songs with Mark Bright and then there was a time period between Mark Bright and Nathan Chapman. Then I recorded some songs with Nathan. There was a huge time period between Nathan and Dann Huff. In the middle of that time period, I found the song ‘Do You Believe Me Now‘, which became my 2nd cd, and that song was recorded by Joe West and Joe’s sound was so different than any of these guys, so we had to basically record an entire album built around ‘Do You Believe Me Now’, because of the sound and production. We released that album, my 2nd album, while these other songs sat on the shelf for a while. When Dann Huff recorded ‘Sara Smile’,we realized the sound of this record complimented the songs that Nathan Chapman and Mark Bright had recorded. So, we basically put an album together and it is seamless. You’d never know it if you didn’t know there were three different producers.

UCB: You mentioned recently you have a lot of songs “in the can”. How do you select what you put on a cd? Is the cd a snapshot of where you are in your life?

JW: It is and it is also finding those songs that are just great songs. I think it comes down to that. What is a great song here? Which of these is the best song? If you have a flagship song like ‘Sara Smile’, then you ask, “How do we build around this thing to round this record off?” I’ve got a lot of story songs but I felt that we can’t put too many story songs on one record because then it becomes too heavy. Granted, I want to write a concept album with my book, but right now is not the time for that. I still have more songs to write about those stories. We just try to break it up, spread it out.

UCB: I’ve heard you use the term “crossword puzzle song.” Can you define that for us?

JW: I think a crossworld puzzle, figuratively speaking, is just a song that you basically have to really think about. ‘I Love You This Much’, to me, us a crossword puzzle song. It’s one of those songs that if you listen to it from the beginning, you understand it. But if you turn the radio on somewhere in the middle of the song, then you’ve missed it. You have to hear the whole song. It’s a puzzle, you have to put it together. I’ll put it together for you, you just gotta listen! (laughs) ‘Elephant Ears’ is a crossword puzzle song. With that song you have to hear it from the very beginning to the very end in order to understand that song. You may even have to listen to it a couple of times to really understand what’s happening.

UCB: How do you come across a good song? Do you have people looking for songs for you?

JW: Nashville is a small town. Everybody knows everybody. When someone writes a great song, it’s like wildfire; people hear about it instantly. The bigger the artist you are, you get the first dibs on the song and sometimes you get lucky, like I was when I found ‘Do You Believe Me Now’. I found that song in a writing session with two guys that didn’t have anyting going on in town so, therefore, no one was listening to their songs. I took the opportunity to listen to their music and when they played ‘Do You Believe Me Now’, I said, “Ut oh! This is a great song! Don’t play that for anyone else.” So, I recorded it. I know that if they did play it for anyone else, it would be cut and recorded. The minute it became a hit, everybody and their dog has been at their steps!

UCB: What is your writing process? Do you set an appointment time or do you just write whenever the mood strikes?

JW: Yes, both of those. Sometimes it is by appointment, sometimes I’ll just think about stuff around the house and then just write it down. When I’m in an appointment, I’ll share my thoughts with the writer I’m writing with that day.

UCB: Are you someone who writes based on events, emotions of highs and lows, or just when you need to get the words in your head written down on paper?

JW: Oh, yeah. All of it!

UCB: Recently on your web chat, you responded to a question that asked, “When did you know that you made it in Nashville?” You said you knew when you heard your song on the radio. Are there any other benchmarks or ways to measure your musical success?

JW: I’ve heard this same question asked of may artists who give answer like, “Well, I don’t think you ever really feel like you’ve made it.” I think, personally, it is a false answer. I think people generally feel that when you get a song on the radio … radio is king! It’s hard to get a song on the radio. So when you get a song on the radio, with all due respect, pay your respects to radio because by them playing your music, it means you’ve made it! This is it, this is the top, this has been your dream your whole life to hear your song on the radio. So don’t say you haven’t made it when your song is played on the radio. Basically it is saying that it doesn’t count. Whenever my song is on the radio, I know I’ve made it because that’s the top of the mountain right there! I think some people try to be too humble.

UCB: Vocally, you have a gift. How do you take care of your voice and keep it so strong and clear?

JW: I drink a lot of water. To be honest with you, talking is the worst thing for your voice. It is more harmful than singing. So, I just try to text a lot – Twitter and text. I’m notorious for both and for short answers. I know that sounds hokey and sounds like I’m being a wimp, but really it’s your instrument and you have to take care of it and be cautious. No smoking, no drinking, no hanging out after shows. I don’t hang out after shows at all. I make sure I shut it down. I drink some water and I get ready and go to bed. I don’t hang out in smoky places, I prefer not to. If I have to sing there, that’s one thing, but hang out – absolutely not.

UCB: You seem to have a keen eye for photography, drawing and art. Is that something you enjoy doing in your spare time or do you try to make time for it?

JW: Oh yeah! Love it. I love it.

UCB: Maybe you can illustrate your own book?

JW: Well, that’s a little bit of the plan.

UCB: Frequently, you mention your close bond with your sister, Patricia, and what an inspiration she is in your life. Aside from her, is there any other person or any belief system that inspires you and keeps you going?

JW: There are a lot of people that play a role in my life … teachers that I’ve had over the years, foster parents and social workers. As far as religion goes, I’m spiritual. I’m not very religious as far as a particular denomination. I just know what the Bible says and that is to help widows and orphans in their time of need – that’s what it says. So, why are there so many, so many, so many Christians and there are still so many, so many orphans? It doesn’t make sense to me. There are more Christians than orphans so it doesn’t make sense because if they were doing what they said they were going to do, or supposed to be doing, then there wouldn’t be any orphans and kids living on the street and in these homes looking for a home. Granted, my hat is off to churches that get out there and seriously get involved and help out those families. We are getting into a very touchy subject. To me, if every church helped someone within a ten mile radius, and don’t go outside of that – just stay within 10 miles of your front door, think of ho
w many people we could help!

UCB: They say it takes a community to raise a child.

JW: Yup. I know I saw 5 churches on one road the other day and I’m thinking, “Why are there 5 of these on one road?” There are so many things and that is what makes me feel the way I feel. But God knows my heart, he knows what I’m trying to do. I’m not trying to be seen at church, I’m just really trying to help. That’s my goal, my mission.

UCB: You’ve been in Nashville for 11 years now. Do you see any differences in yourself from back then to today?

JW: Yeah, I think so. I think you outgrow things. I don’t necessarily know exactly what they are, but I think you outgrow things and you grow into other things. I realize the more I succeed, the more I realize it is not impossible to succeed. It’s your dream. It’s yours. You can go after it and go get it. If I knew then what I know now, I would have left long before I did.

UCB: Going after your dreams … that’s the message you want to get across to the kids, isn’t it?

JW: It’s your dream. Just chase it. Chase it! And not only chase it, but chase it until you catch it.

UCB? You always seem so upbeat when you are twittering and when we hear you on the radio and in your shows. Does Jimmy Wayne ever have a bad day?

JW: Of course. Yeah, definitely.

UCB: Are you the type of person who isolate or likes to be around other people when that happens?

JW: I pretty much isolate. I like to go hiking and get away from everybody.

UCB: If you could put together your dream tour, without any limits, what would that look like?

JW: My dream tour …. I think that getting my message out there and being able to be on a platform, the biggest platform I could possiby be on, in order to get the message across to the masses, would be the ultimate … regardless of who it was with.

UCB: With the increase in social networking, Twitter, MySpace, etc… how much has that helped your career?

JW: It’s helped quite a bit because it is so accessible to the fans out there that follow you in real time. You don’t have to wait until you get home to your computer to sit down and log on. You can do it from your phone. You can take pictures. It allows the fans to see exactly where you are. You can share the world with people. Folks that may never get a chance to see outside their small town, now they can see it through your message.

UCB: Does any of that ever get out of control, where you are thinking, “Woah, I shouldn’t have put that out there?”

JW: I don’t think so. I think I cut up quite a bit and people understand that!

UCB: As you mentioned on your web chat, aisde from cutting your hair, is there anything else you’d like to do that you’ve been outvoted on?

JW: You know what? I think I’ve pretty much done everything I’ve wanted to do. I really just went for it and did it and then asked for forgiveness afterwards! (laughs)

UCB: Like the expression, “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!”

JW: That’s exactly what it is!

UCB: Jimmy, on behalf of UCB, thank you for talking with us today. Safe travels and and have a blessed holiday with your family.

JW: Great! Thanks!

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Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
Liv Carter

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