by Debi Champion

Nashville native, Don Wayne, began writing songs as a teenager with the help and encouragement of his older sister, Nellie Smith. Nellie introduced him to song publisher, Hillous Butrum, who later recorded Don singing one of his own songs, “Poor Little Jimmy.” “Poor Little Jimmy” wasn’t a big hit, but it turned out to be a good start. It was recorded by Canadian artists Hank Snow and Hal Willis and was included in an album by the great actor and folksinger, Burl Ives. It was the year 1964 when Don scored his first major breakthrough with “Saginaw, Michigan,” recorded by the legendary Lefty Frizzell. In the same year, a Don Wayne song called “Walk Tall, Walk Straight” became a huge European hit by an Irish artist named Val Doonican. For the next several years, Don wrote hits for a number of artists: “Belles of Southern Bell” by Del Reeves, “If Teardrops Were Silver” by Jean Shepherd, “Birmingham Blues” by Jack Barlow, “Marriage Bit” by Lefty Frizzell and “Nashville” by David Houston. One of the major songs in the Wayne catalogue is the tune, “Hank” recorded by Hank Williams, Jr. In December 1973, Don pitched “Country Bumpkin” to MCA Records producer, Walter Haynes, for Cal Smith. “Country Bumpkin” won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards in 1974 from the Country Music Association and Record of the Year and Song of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music. Later, Cal Smith had a number one recording of “Time To Pay The Fiddler” and a top ten recording of “She Talked A Lot About Texas”. Cal proved to be a great artist for Don Wayne songs, releasing a total of 7 singles and 10 album cuts. Don is still writing and recently had a song cut by the great Loretta Lynn. He says he feels blessed and honored by all the wonderful singers who have recorded his songs, especially his two great heroes, Ernest Tubb and Tex Ritter.
Q: How long have you been writing?
A: 62 years
Q: Tell us about the first song you wrote and what inspired you to start writing?
A: I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. I think writing and wanting to sing just came natural. My first effort was a comical song about a man chasing his neighbor’s wife, “Yonder Goes Old Joe”.
Q: Who are your biggest influences?
A: Hank Williams/Ernest Tubb/Eddy Arnold
Q: What was your first big break?
A: My sister, Nellie Smith, pitched some of her songs to Hillous Butrum at Be/Are Publishing. I was singing the demos and he liked my voice and wanted to hear me doing some of my songs. I had a song “Poor Little Jimmy” Hillous thought was an absolute smash, so he recorded me on “Look” Records. The song didn’t become a big hit but it was later recorded by the world famous folksinger and actor, Burl Ives.
Q: How long did it take to get your first publishing deal and how did you get it?
A: I signed with Be/Are Publishing in 1959. I started writing about 1949.
Q: Where are you currently writing at?
A: Don Wayne Music
Q: Do you believe you need a publishing deal to get a major cut?
A: Being with a successful publishing company is helpful.
Q: What was your first major cut and how did it come about?
A: My sister, Nellie Smith, started writing about the same time I did, and in the very early fifties, was pitching songs to veteran songwriter, Vic McAlpine. She introduced us and Vic and I wrote “Lonesome Waltz”. Vic got the song cut by a great singer, George Morgan.
Q: Is it true that after you get your first cut, it is easier to get other cuts?
A: I think so.
Q: What do you believe is the secret to getting your songs recorded by major artists?
A: I’m not sure there is a secret, matching your songs up with the right artist might be the key.
Q: What is one of your greatest moments in your career?
A: There’s two - The Country Music Association’s “Song of the Year” award for “Country Bumpkin” in 1974, and being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association, Int. Hall of Fame in 1978.
Q: What is one of your worse moments in your career?
A: As a youngster, I had a bad experience at a talent show. It haunted me for a long time and it might have hampered my progress to some degree. But all in all, it turned out okay.
Q: What do you think of writers nights, and do you think they benefit the writers? In what ways?
A: I like the writers nights and I do think they benefit the writers, even if it’s just a gathering place for kindred spirits and if the mood and music’s real good, it benefits the audience as well.
Q: Do you co-write with other writers and how do you choose who you write with?
A: I’m not a very good co-writer so I’m trying to find my way back to the seventies when I was mostly working alone and turning out some pretty good stuff.
Q: Do you co-write with aspiring writers?
A: Not at this time.
Q: Have you ever had writer’s block, and if so, how did you get over it?
A: Yes, I’ve had writer’s block, back during my most productive years, I was working on 3 or 4 songs most of the time, so if I stalled on one, I’d go to another.
Q: Do you think you need to have a fully produced demo of your song to be able to pitch it, or can you use a work tape (guitar-vocal)?
A: Producers, publishers and artists know that demos are expensive. I think most of them would be wiling to listen to a good quality guitar-vocal demo.
Q: What “tips” do you have for writers when they are going to a meeting with a publisher or someone in the business?
A: Find out as much as you can about the publisher or talk to someone. Are they old and established or new to song publishing? Are they well financed or not at all? When you find out as much as you can, go ahead to the meeting. Be pleasant, prompt, positive and prepared to play some good songs, but don’t make any deal if it doesn’t feel right.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say to aspiring writers that you feel will help them?
A: Stay upbeat and positive as you can and don’t let the nature of the business beat you down. Rejection is hard to handle. Try to not take it personally. Join Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Q: Are you playing anywhere or have any current projects you would like to tell us about? Do you have CD’s for sale?
A: No.