ArtistInfo

Don Wayne

US
Country
A.k.a. Donald William Choate Wayne Don Choate

American Country Music Songwriter (b. 30/05/1933 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.; d, 12/09/2011) "Some of the happiest times of my childhood were spent listening to country music on the radio or playing records on an old wind up victrola. Some of my favorite singers then were Eddie Arnold, Ernest Tubb, and Roy Acuff. One summer day when I was about eleven years old I was on my front porch pretending to play an old guitar someone had gave me. The lady next door called me over and asked me if I knew "Rainbow at Midnight" by Ernest Tubb. I said yes but I don't know if I can remember all the words. She went in the house and came out with an Ernest Tubb Song Folio, and we sat there having a great time singing a lot of those old Ernest Tubb hits. I suppose that was the beginning of my dream of someday doing something in country music. I think 'Country Bumpkin' is by far my best song and it will always be special cause "it" came along and picked me up at a very low point in my songwriting career. I love all my songs but I also feel a special affection for those recorded by the heroes I idolized as a youngster, among those are 'Don't Water Down the Bad News' by Ernest Tubb, 'What in Her World Did I Do' by Eddy Arnold and 'MacArthurs Hand' by Tex Ritter." --Don Wayne Career Milestones: 1953--first song recorded on major label, "Lonesome Waltz" (co-written with Vic McAlpin); recorded by George Morgan on Columbia Records 1959--first recording as an artist, "Poor Little Jimmy" on Look Records (owned by Hillous Butrum); song did not chart well but was later recorded by Hank Snow and Burl Ives 1963--signed exclusive writer agreement with Tree Publishing Co. 1964--first #1 song, "Saginaw, Michigan" recorded by Lefty Frizzell; was #1 for 5 weeks 1971--first and only appearance on the Grand Ole Opry 1974-75--made numerous appearances on the Ernest Tubb "Midnight Jamboree" Awards: 1974--CMA\Song of the Year\Country Bumpkin 1974--ACM\Song of the Year\Country Bumpkin 1974--NSAI\Song of the Year\Country Bumpkin 1974--NSAI\Songwriter of the Year