The Catskill Chronicle

JIMMY WAYNE HEADLINES

MONTICELLO, NY — Thunder 102 Radio and The Town of Thompson present the 5^th annual ThunderBash at the Monticello Casino and Raceway on Saturday, May 8.

This free event will be headlined by Valory recording artist, Jimmy Wayne. Also appearing are Iron Cowboy and Somerville with special guest Alyssa Startup.

Last summer Wayne toured with Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley and played Bethel Woods Center for The Arts and Madison Square Garden.

Nashville Lifestyles magazine named him one of its "Beautiful People of 2009."

Wayne survived a turbulent, abusive childhood. His father abandoned the family. His mother went to prison, and he was shuttled to a series of foster homes. He was a homeless teen, living by his wits on the street when a North Carolina couple took him in and encouraged his evolving love of music.

Jimmy Wayne worked his way through school in a textile mill. Then he became a North Carolina prison guard. When talent scouts from Nashville’s Opryland theme park came through his area, auditioning potential performers, an audition led to an offer for him to write songs for the Opryland Music Group’s famed Acuff-Rose firm. He turned in his resignation at the prison, moved to Nashville to start writing songs full time.

Wayne co-wrote Tracy Byrd’s hit, "Put Your Hand in Mine," In 2003, His debut CD spawned the top ten hits "Stay Gone" and "I Love You This Much," plus the top-20 chart successes "You Are" and "Paper Angels." Paper Angels won him the William Booth Award from the Salvation Army and has since become a perennial holiday favorite.

“I don’t see myself as anything like a ‘star.’ I don’t think that I’m better than the person I’m singing to. I’m just doing what I love to do. And the fans are the reason I’m allowed to do it.”

Inspired by his experience with homelessness, Wayne is now walking halfway across America to raise awareness of the initiative he named “Meet Me Halfway.” Specifically, the campaign is designed to raise awareness of homeless teens and young adults who age out of the foster care system.

Wayne began his walk on January 1, 2010, and the endeavor has taken some interesting twists and turns along the way, including the unusually high number of snow and ice storms the artist has encountered, as well as temperatures that have been the coldest in decades. But according to Wayne, the people he has met along the way have more than made up for the unpleasant weather conditions.

“Walking through the small towns and farmlands in Tennessee and Arkansas has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Wayne said. “I have met some incredible and generous people who have offered me meals, a warm and dry place to sleep and companionship.

“When I started this walk, I really had no expectations. I thought I would be alone, sleeping in a tent at night. But as the saying goes, ’man makes plans and God laughs.’ There have been many times I’ve slept outside, but even more times that because of a kind and generous soul, I have had a roof over my head.”

Wayne is now logging about 20 miles a day. Phoenix is still quite a distance, but with every step Wayne takes, he continues to raise awareness and start conversation about the plight of these young people.

In addition to Jimmy Wayne, Pennsylvania’s hottest country band and Thunder Country favorite, Iron Cowboy, will open for Wayne bringing “Country Music With Horsepower” back to ThunderBash.

Sullivan County’s own Somerville, along with special guest Alyssa Startup will kick off ThunderBash.

Ken and Barry Somerville have been making music their whole lives, entertaining audiences all across the country from festival stages, concert halls, radio and television shows, intimate in the round gatherings to numerous night club appearances. Their sound has often been referred to as refreshing, seasoned, genuine music with lyrics reflecting stories of everyday life experiences. Ken and Barry are both signed to Nashville’s RPM Music Group, one of Nashville’s top publishing companies headed by Scott Simon, Blake Chancey and home to Curb recording artist Tim McGraw. With several CDs out to date, they continue to collaborate with hit songwriters on music row and perform with their band at various shows and venues. 

Performing as a special guest with Somerville is local singing sensation Alyssa Startup, pictured with Ken and Barry Somerville at left.

Fans who want to make a weekend of it can check out the Villa Roma for a Thunderbash weekend getaway package deal. Activities include music, entertainment, line dancing and more. Or call (845) 887-4880 or (800) 533-6767

ThunderBash is a FREE event, but you need a ticket to get in. Keep listening to Thunder 102 or checkout the ThunderBash page for ticket locations.

A requested donation of $1.02 will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the YMCA of Sullivan County. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the show starts at 7 pm.