The past decade has offered many case studies indicative of just what is wrong with Nashville country music today. One of the clearest is that of Wade Hayes. This Oklahoma-bred singer-guitarist would seem to have everything Music City wants and more: youthful good looks, a preternaturally mature baritone voice, musical authenticity, a modicum of songwriting talent as well as a fair measure of guitar picking flair. Yet after four albums and even a few hits (like the perpetually catchy “Old Enough To Know Better”), Sony Music unceremoniously dumped him. But having cut his teeth in the Okie honky-tonks, Hayes is the real deal and shouldn’t yet be counted out. In fact, if you favor commercial country with credibility, he’s a treat not to be missed.
This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2002.