Alvis Wayne born 31 December 1937

Alvis Wayne (December 31, 1937 – July 31, 2013) was an American rockabilly singer.

Although he's not necessarily the most renowned rockabilly artist, Alvis Wayne was an early contributor to the scene. Born in Puduka, TX, on December 31st, 1937, Wayne was part of a large family, and grew up very poor during the infamous Great Depression era. Alvis Wayne’s first love was music.  He discovered country and 

blues via the radio, especially such artists as Jimmie Rodgers, the Mississippi Blue Yodler, Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold, and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys.

He worked on his aunt’s and uncle’s farm pulling corn to earn the money to buy his first guitar. He was 10 years old. He learned to play rhythm guitar and later drums and bass.  The High School that Alvis attended as a teenager was Sundeen High in Corpus Christi, although a fairly bright student, he had no interest in school whatsoever and he eventually dropped it to go out on the road.

When he was 20, he had joined a group called Tony Wayne & the Rhythm Wranglers, who issued a lone single in 1957. The group split up shortly thereafter, but Wayne continued to play with others leading to his own recording contract with Westport Records. In 1958, Wayne recorded an album's worth of tunes (although no full-length album was ever issued), and one of the tracks, "Don't Mean Maybe Baby," was a hit in South Texas where it held the number one spot for six weeks knocking off a certain Mr. Presley.  He later toured south Texas working five shows with Elvis.  He worked package shows from the Louisiana Hayride with Bob Luman, Johnny Horton, and Slim Whitman.

                            

In 1960 Wayne, then 22, joined the Air Force and spent the next four years training as a mechanic and obtaining his GED (General Education Diploma). Even while serving the country, though, Wayne continued performing when he could. He was stationed at 

Warner Robins air force base, which was about eighteen miles out of Macon, Georgia. While he was there he teamed up with Jimmy Harris and his band for a live, Saturday afternoon broadcast on WCRY radio and also played in Harris’s nightclub on evenings and weekends.

After being discharged from the AF, he worked many jobs including Car Sales, Braniff International and many different construction crafts from carpenter to Superintendent. Although he worked at many professions, his first love was music. Nevertheless, Wayne could see he was heading towards a dead end professionally and his personal life was tumultuous—he was married and divorced three times between the ages of 18 and 22

While stationed in Macon, Georgia he won a talent contest and was offered a contract with Capitol Records.  Unfortunately the Air Force would not let him sign it and after he was discharged no one seemed interested in his music.  He played country music over the next several years and cut a few more records but could never get the momentum he had in the 50’s with Rockabilly music. Over the next few years he devoted himself to raising a family but he always had a band on the side to fulfil his need to entertain.

In September 1994, Perry Williamson of Pink & Black Records issued the artist’s first long playing album. With the help of Ronny Weiser and John Beecher the LP gathered all of the Westport and Rollin’ Rock material.

A cult following began to grow (especially in the U.K.) due to his underappreciated '50s singles and in 1999 he received a call from a producer in England. He was asked if he would be interested in playing a show in England. He said yes and went on to perform shows in England, Sweden, Germany and Finland.  In the United States he performed at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, New Orleans, and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Wayne experienced a late-life career resurgence when Rockin’ Ronnie Weiser, founder of Rollin’ Rock Records, tracked him down in Texas. Weiser then produced and released two acclaimed Alvis Wayne albums, 2000’s 
Rockabilly Daddy and 2001’s I’m So Proud of My Rockabilly Roots, that brought the artist some measure of recognition denied him in his younger years.

During 2008 due to complications from being stung by fire ants, he had to have part of his left leg removed (according to his nephew on Myspace). Later when Wayne was diagnosed with liver cancer, emails came from all over the world brightening his last few days.  He passed away July 31, 2013 at the age of 75 at his home in Bacliff, Texas. 

(Edited from Deeproots mag, AllMusic  & Carnes obit)