Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“The fact that Dallas Wayne, one bodacious country singer/songwriter, is still laboring in semi-obscurity is a sin.” ~ Ray Waddell, Billboard
“Wayne continues to write songs that better-known players in the world of country music should bow before.” ~ David Greenberger, No Depression
“Even if Wayne never earns the kind of widespread exposure he so richly deserves, it's awfully hard not to be a big fan of what he's done here.” ~ Dan MacIntosh, Country Standard Time
“This is a disc that every lover of real country music will want in their collection.”
~ Bill Groll, Country Roots Music
“… a reason to celebrate, since there aren't many country singers this good nowadays.”
~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide - various
"This one would be worth it just for the fine-form George Jones take on 'She's All I Got'; the genuinely burnt takes on 'I Did The Right Thing' by Dallas Wayne ..."
~ Barry Mazor, No Depression
"... and the great Dallas Wayne's stirring tremolo on 'I Did the Right Thing' ..."
~ Ray Waddell, Billboard
"Dallas Wayne fits perfectly in the Paycheck tradition of pure honky-tonk."
~ Steve Pick, Riverfront Times - various
"In case anyone forgot what country music sounds like, search no further."
~ Ray Waddell, Billboard
"Wayne has one of the best honky-tonk voices in America today... If Nashville still valued grit and twang this guy would be a major star."
~ Radney Foster, www.purespunk.com
"…Wayne's brand of honky-tonk is strong and durable, making Here I Am in Dallas easily one of the most enjoyable country albums of the year."
~ Kurt Wolff, No Depression
"There's an irony in Wayne's cover of Faron Young's 'Here I Am in Dallas'... Here he is, indeed, and country music is so much better for it."
~ Brian Baker, Country Standard Time
"I'm telling you, this old boy should be in the f***ing Country Music Hall of Fame."
~ Crispin Sartwell, New York Press
"When his rich baritone acquires a beer-soaked twang, the attitude seems earned, not borrowed."
~ Geoffrey Himes, Washington Post
"Missouri-born Dallas Wayne is to hardcore honky-tonk what 110 proof corn whiskey is to hard liquor. Wayne's sterling originals … shine with exquisite hillbilly wit and poetry."
~ Bob Allen, Sonicnet.com
"It's tough to follow up a critically acclaimed record like Wayne's 2000 HighTone release Big Thinkin', but Here I Am in Dallas shows he's definitely up to the challenge."
~ William Michael Smith, RockzillaWorld
"Wayne plays reverent, hardcore honky tonk, and this is another strong release… Genuine stuff indeed."
~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide
"From the first notes on Here I Am in Dallas, (he) decries country music's wayward ways with a deep and soulful voice."
~ Justin Hopper, Pittsburgh City Paper
"Imagine a burlier-sounding Randy Travis -- stripped of varnish and steeped in the hard-twang influence of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard -- and you'll have some sense of the rough-hewn gem that is Dallas Wayne."
~ Don McLeese, Amazon.com
"With his deep, rich voice ... Dallas Wayne stands alongside the likes of Dale Watson and Wayne Hancock as one of the premier standard-bearers in contemporary honky-tonk music."
~ CD Universe
"Commercial country's loss is insurgent country's gain."
~ Buzz McClain, The Washington Post
"This collaboration ... is a blast. Tough, witty, reverent and sad, Big Thinkin' is big country."
~ Billboard Country Critics Choice
"Classic roadhouse sound… Flat-out vocal performances for the ages."
~ Jim Musser, No Depression
"Everything about Dallas Wayne is big -- his size, his deep voice, his musical scope and vision."
~ Chet Flippo
"Wayne's debut was a major event in alternative country… a gifted singer-songwriter who sounds like no one but Dallas Wayne."
~ Buddy Siegal, Orange County Weekly Top Ten of 2000
"Dallas Wayne has the right kind of voice to put this stuff back on the radio. Hard-core honky-tonk."
~ Blue Suede News
"A big dose of real honky-tonk… a welcome respite from the utterly banal Nashville hatboys."
~ James Kelly, Creative Loafing
"His floor-rumbling low notes recall singers like Vern Gosdin and John Anderson -- in timeless honky-tonk that ranges in mood from barn burning to tear-jerking."
~ Peter Margasak, The Chicago Reader
"Dallas Wayne: A newcomer today, one of tomorrow's greats."
~ Musicnet
"In a world of pretenders ... Dallas Wayne is the real deal."
~ Michael Ross, Amazon.com
"…a real winner… the Bakersfield twang of Buck Owens and the grit of Merle Haggard."
~ The Express, Berkeley, CA
"You truly believe the guy could put a restaurant menu to music and make it sound great. This is easily one of the best discs I've listened to all year. A new force to be dealt with in country music."
~ Christopher Thelen, The Daily Vault
"This guy has talent to burn."
~ Big John Howell's Big Picks, US99 radio
"A terrific, honest record. True honky-tonk."
~ The Onion, Madison, WI
"… a voice that hovers somewhere between the dusky tones of Waylon Jennings and the stylistic flair of George Jones ... a true country singer."
~ Rob Patterson, CD Now
"In a field where mimics abound, Dallas Wayne blazes his own trail."
~ Buddy Siegal, San Jose Mercury News
"Big Thinkin' is the breath of fresh air that fans of real country music have been craving."
~ Michael Miller, The State Newspaper
"One of the best country albums of the year. Wayne and Fulks can turn a phrase as well as Hank Cochran. Big Thinkin' is that good."
~ Howard Owens, Ventura County Star, Ventura, CA
"Not since Merle Haggard and Tammy Wynette were washed up on shore by Hurricane Garth has country music sounded this authentic."
~ Chris Jorgensen, The Gazette, Billings, MT
"Conjures memories of George Jones, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Waylon Jennings… this is a hard-core country experience."
~ John F. Butland, Toast Magazine
"Wayne's barroom weepers and roadhouse stompers are a breath of fresh air."
~ Michael Gray, Country.com
"No one with taste could dislike this album."
~ Fish Griwkowsky, Edmonton Sun
"Big Thinkin' is much needed relief for alt-country… proof that authentic country is alive and well."
~ Marty Jones, Westword.com Playlist
"You want country? This guy is hard-core, undiluted roadhouse country."
~ Province Newspaper, Vancouver BC
"Wayne has a voice that was made to sing real country … His traditionalism is darn refreshing."
~ Ray Hogan, The Greenwich Times
"There has to be a place in music for someone who honors, understands and continues valued traditions. Meet Dallas Wayne."
~ Charles Schroeder, ATS Sounding Board
"Dallas Wayne put some needed honky-tonk back into country."
~ Scott Cronick, At The Shore - various
Discography
I'm Your Biggest Fan (2005)-- Originally available only in Europe, this critically acclaimed, all-original new CD was released throughout the U.S. on Koch Records Nashville in February 2005. Striking the perfect balance between traditional country, honky-tonk and humor, this CD was hailed by Billboard as "another killer record" by "one bodacious country singer/songwriter".
Touch my Heart: A Tribute to Johnny Paycheck (2004)-- Dallas received rave reviews for his contribution to this CD, about which Billboard wrote: “Tributes rarely get better than this, a country music masterpiece.” Produced by Robbie Fulks, this tribute includes such artists as George Jones, Buck Owens, Mavis Staples, Radney Foster and Bobby Bare.
Chowdogs: Not the Same (2004)-- An all-star bluegrass project recorded in Prague by current and former Special Consensus members Greg Cahill (banjo), Slavek Hanzlik (guitar), Ollie O'Shea (fiddle) and Dallas Wayne (bass).
26 Days on the Road (2002)-- The HighTone TwangBangers recorded this live album during their 2001 USA tour. This much-praised CD features songs by Dallas, as well as Joe Goldmark, Redd Volkaert and Bill Kirchen, backed up by bassist Johnny Castle and drummer Jack O'Dell.
Here I Am in Dallas (2001)-- Further proof why Dallas is the "real deal" in Americana/Country music with his second HighTone release, Here I Am in Dallas. A mix of strong, reverent originals and classic covers, this hardcore honky-tonk album was hailed as "pure country bliss".
Big Thinkin’ (2000)-- Co-produced and co-written with Robbie Fulks, these songs bring to mind classic country the way it used to be. This project marked Dallas' debut as a HighTone recording artist.
Freight Train Boogie compilation (2000)-- The title cut from Dallas' album Big Thinkin' is also featured on this compilation CD of Americana music. Other artists on this project include Stacey Earle, Split Lip Rayfield, Duane Jarvis, The Waybacks, and Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel. To order this CD, visit the Freight Train Boogie website.
Invisible Man (1999)-- Recorded in both the U.S. and Finland, this project is an eclectic collection of all-original songs.
Screamin' Down The Highway (1997)-- The single "Stone By Stone" remained number one on Finland's country chart for two months. This album was re-released in 1999 as Motorman on the Deansville label in the UK.
Part of the Crew (1994)-- Declared the best country album of 1994 by Vinyl Mania magazine.
Buckle Up Baby (1993)-- This CD yielded a hit single on the charts in Finland, "She".
Lucky 13 (1992)-- The first of four projects by Dallas Wayne and The Dimlights, released in Finland. The album features songs by blues legend Willie Dixon and Jim Lauderdale.
Hey Y'all (1990)-- Dallas was the lead vocalist and bass player on this Grammy-nominated recording as a member of the Special Consensus bluegrass band.
Georgia Dreamin' (1989)-- Solo country album, features songs by Dallas Wayne, Dennis Morgan, Tony Arata, Charles Quillen and a co-write with Robbie Fulks.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
A native of Springfield, Missouri, Dallas began performing professionally in 1975, and by the age of 18 he had toured throughout the entire U.S. and Canada. After moving to Nashville, he further developed his vocal style singing demos for many of the top publishing houses in the music industry.
While touring Europe in 1991, Dallas forged a deal with Texicalli Records in Finland and was signed to record an album. One album soon became six, and Dallas decided to move to Scandinavia in 1996, where he was contracted as a staff writer for Warner/Chappell Music.
After four years living and touring in Europe, Dallas returned to the U.S. and settled in northern California. Within one month of his return, he signed a record deal with HighTone Records. In addition to recording two albums of his own on the HighTone label, Dallas was a part of the honky-tonk supergroup, the TwangBangers.
In early 2003 Dallas moved to Austin, Texas, where he has enjoyed a vibrant country music scene. In addition to playing around Austin, he continues to tour the U.S. and Europe.
In early 2005, Dallas released his new CD I'm Your Biggest Fan, marking his debut on Koch Records Nashville.
Links
