Jimmy Wayne photo courtesy of the The Valory Music Co.

During his teens, Jimmy Wayne bounced around the North Carolina foster-home system and lived for a time as a homeless person. It was only when an elderly married couple took him in for six years that he found some stability and was able to set himself on a path toward his current stardom.

He’s not forgotten what it was like living without a home, and he hopes to make the rest of the nation aware beginning New Year’s Day when he begins a “Meet Me Halfway” journey. He plans to walk from Nashville to Phoenix, sleeping outdoors, navigating the harsh temperatures of winter and providing regular online updates that will call attention to the tragedy of teen homelessness.

“I’ve had a lot of friends who… I lived in group homes with that ended up dead,” Jimmy said during a press conference at Monroe Harding, a Music City facility for at-risk kids. “When I worked in prison as an officer, I had a lot of friends come in as convicts. I had a foster brother who I spent half of my life with come in as a convict. It was a very hard experience seein’ that stuff.”

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Danny Gokey photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen might have gone to the finals, but for much of the 2009 season of “American Idol,” Danny Gokey was right there in the running, eventually coming up at No. 3 on the nation’s favorite singing competition.

Plenty of “Idol” alumni — Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Kristy Lee Cook, Josh Gracin, Bucky Covington and Phil Stacey, among them — have used “Idol” exposure as a vehicle to a country recording deal. Even first-season victor Kelly Clarkson took a whirl on the country charts when she teamed up with Reba McEntire on a duet.

Danny is now taking a swipe at the genre with his first single in release and his debut album on the way in spring. He performed Monday at the Sony BMG offices in Nashville for Music Row executives and media, and he showed himself to be an adept vocalist who mirrors some of the best aspects of Rascal Flatts vocalist Gary LeVox. He’s a blue-eyed soul singer with a soaring upper register and from-the-gut power. Add in the stand-on-end hair style, his predilection for songs with a gospel/feel-good message and the fact that he covered “What Hurts The Most” during his “Idol” run, and it’s easy to see that country has indeed embraced a guy like Danny before.

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The title track of Jimmy Wayne’s new Sara Smile album is a remake of a 33-year-old Daryl Hall & John Oates hit, but it’s not the only song on the CD Jimmy picked up from another recording act.

In fact, Jimmy made the other song, “Things I Believe,” the opening track on the disc. He got it from Keith Urban but only after a phone call to make sure Keith really wanted to surrender it.

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Hall & Oates (l) sing on Jimmy Wayne's single, the Hall & Oates classic, "Sara Smile." Photos courtesy of The Valory Music Co.

When it came time to find a producer for his next single, Jimmy Wayne‘s label president, Scott Borchetta, knew just who to call — hit maker Dann Huff. Dann’s worked with some of country’s biggest stars, including Keith Urban, Faith Hill, Rascal Flatts and many others.

“I chose Dann Huff to produce ‘Sara Smile’ because I’ve paid close attention to Dann’s work over the past ten years and I’ve met him several times,” says Jimmy. “Each time he was genuinely nice and humble. I felt that I have the song that’s been my shield and my sword since the beginning of my career and the most incredible record label, mirrored by the image of Scott Borchetta, so why not have the best producer out there! It was like magic when Scott called me and suggested, ‘We should ask Dann Huff to produce ‘Sara Smile’.’ There was a million pounds lifted off of me instantly.” Continue Reading

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Jimmy Wayne photo courtesy of the Valory Music Co.

Jimmy Wayne got his first record deal because of the Hall & Oates 1976 classic, “Sara Smile,” after then-Dreamworks executive Scott Borchetta heard him sing it. He performs it in concert but he’s never recorded it — until now.

Jimmy’s label, Valory Music Co., announced he’s not only recorded the soulful ballad, he’s joined by none other than Darryl Hall and John Oates. “’Sara Smile’ has been my shield and my sword,” says Jimmy. “Over 13 yrs ago, I picked a Hall & Oates Greatest Hits CD out of a bargain box that sat outside the department store in the old Gaston Mall in Gastonia, North Carolina. Continue Reading

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