JIMMY WAYNE

Jimmy Wayne has a public persona that is half right. He is determined, generous, serious-minded, talented, selfless and an activist. But those who know him well also see a different side: playful, self-deprecating, sometimes bawdy and off color and often a bit of a jokester — and they are perplexed by the oh-so-serious image that has followed Wayne since his breakthrough hit "Stay Gone" captivated country music fans and critics alike with its release in 2002. But Wayne himself gets it. His personal history dictates that there would be a serious air attached to him. And his story has been repeated enough that even he sometimes tires of hearing it. "I get why people might say, 'oh no, there's that Jimmy 'Wah' story again.' It's human nature — no one wants to hear sad songs ALL the time," he laughs. But while Wayne will sometimes downplay his turbulent childhood and the difficulties and challenges he faced, he will always give credit to those who gave him a hand up and helped him turn what could have been a bad ending at 16 years of age into just the beginning, which then led to a career filled with success. Jimmy Wayne grew up in Kings Mountain, NC. By the time he was 14, he had been in and out of the foster care system and attended 12 different schools in two years. His mother was in prison, and he had only his older sister, Patricia. It was not an easy life for a bright and gifted child. When he was 15 years old, he found himself in juvenile detention for running away from a group home. At 16, he was still surviving by his wits, and living on the streets, until one fateful day when he met Bea and Russell Costner. The older couple (they were in their 70s when they met Jimmy) gave him a home, the ability to complete his education, encouragement and most of all, stability and love. "If the Costners hadn't stepped up and given me a home, I would not have survived," Wayne says. "Every good thing that has happened for me, I owe to them taking a chance on a pissed off, long haired, tattooed kid. The day I rode my bike by their place, and stopped and asked if they had any work I could do was a turning point in my life." Wayne had always been a writer, journaling his experiences from a young age. He had always loved music, but never had the means to indulge that passion. With stability now a part of his life, and with the encouragement of Bea, Jimmy began learning guitar, and writing songs. He soon found that he was a natural storyteller, weaving complete tales into three-minute lyrics. Jimmy continued his writing while solidifying his education, getting a degree in Criminal Justice, and going to work upon graduation at the North Carolina Department of Corrections in Dallas, NC. "It was a natural step for me to work there, because I already knew a lot of the inmates," Jimmy jokes. "It was a tough place, but I had lots of encouragement for my music from some of the staff and inmates." When Wayne learned of a talent competition in the area that was being judged by Nashville executive Mike Whelan, he decided to give it a shot. While he didn't win the competition, he did attract the attention of Whelan, who encouraged him to move to Nashville and give songwriting a shot. So, a then 25-year-old Wayne packed up his few belongings and headed west to Music City. It didn't take long for others to hear what Whelan had heard. He quickly signed Jimmy to Acuff-Rose Publishing, where the budding writer soon had his first hit, a Top 10 single called "Put Your Hand In Mine," recorded by Tracy Byrd. Soon after, Jimmy signed his first label deal, based on his performance of the pop classic "Sara Smile" in the office of music executive Scott Borchetta. A self-titled debut album with the hit singles "Stay Gone," "I Love You This Much" and "Paper Angels" soon followed. And after that, his biggest hit to date, the three-week #1 hit single "Do You Believe Me Now." Wayne has never been one to stand by and remain silent when he felt something needed to be said. He has always spoken up and out through his music. Addressing society's downfalls has not been something he has ever shied away from. Songs like "Where You're Going," "Kerosene Kid" and "Paper Angels" deftly spoke to issues faced by young children, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. But in 2010 Wayne did more than write about it. He not only talked the talk, he walked the walk, literally. On January 1, 2010, he began a 1700-mile walk from Nashville to Phoenix, AZ to raise awareness of at risk youth in the Foster Care system who age out at 18, and without any support, often find themselves homeless. He walked though big cities and small towns. He joined politicians in capitol cities and the Nation's Capitol to rally Representatives for support. He joined organizations like CASA and FosterClubs of America to speak out for these kids. And he created an organization called Project Meet Me Halfway to keep the message going long after he crossed the finish line in Phoenix on August 1, 2010. Jimmy Wayne is all of the things the public sees. He is all of the things those closest to him see. He is a songwriter and advocate; a first-tier vocalist and an activist. He will be a published author on Nov 1, 2011 when his debut novella is released, a work of fiction titled "Paper Angels" and inspired by his own childhood. He is a much sought-after speaker. His live concert performances are filled with energy and passion. He is the youngest-ever recipient of the Salvation Army's William Booth Award. He is a neglected child and a concerned adult. Jimmy Wayne is the sum of his experiences — the good and the bad. And he will tell you he is grateful for every one of those experiences because they made him the complex man he is today. Biography courtesy of Jenny Bohler jballiance@comcast.net