Wayne Hancock
American singer-songwriter known as the King of Juke Joint Swing.
Last updated
via Wikipedia: Wayne Hancock · see source
Wayne Hancock, born Thomas Wayne Hancock III on May 1, 1965, in Dallas, Texas, is an American singer-songwriter known as "The King of Juke Joint Swing." His music blends jazz, blues, western swing, country, and rockabilly, styles he absorbed from his parents' record collection, which included Jimmie Rodgers, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Hank Thompson, Hank Williams, and Hank Snow. He began writing songs at age twelve, influenced initially by Hank Williams.
After winning the Wrangler Country Showdown at eighteen, he served four years in the United States Marine Corps, writing "Cold Lonesome Wind" during a deployment in Okinawa, Japan. Moving to Austin, Texas in 1990, he met Joe Ely in 1994, which led to a role in the play Chippy and his debut album Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, produced by Lloyd Maines. His marathon-length shows earned him the nickname "The Train."
Background
Hancock's path to music started early. At twelve, after discovering country music, he began writing songs. His vocal style was initially shaped by Hank Williams, a comparison that followed him through his career. At eighteen, he won the Wrangler Country Showdown contest.
Instead of pursuing music immediately, he joined the United States Marine Corps, serving for four years. During a six-month deployment at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, he wrote one of his most well-known songs, "Cold Lonesome Wind," which later appeared on his debut album. In 1990, Hancock moved to Austin, Texas. In 1994, he met Lubbock native Joe Ely at the Continental Club.
That meeting led to a role in Terry Allen and Jo Harvey Allen's play, Chippy. Jimmie Dale Gilmore had originally played Hancock's character, Mr. Jukebox, but when Gilmore couldn't do the second run, Ely brought Hancock in, saying, "This guy sounds just like Hank Williams, he'd be perfect." Hancock joined the cast and recorded "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" for the soundtrack—his first recording of the song. There, he met producer Lloyd Maines, who has produced all of Hancock's albums since his 1995 debut.
Did You Know?
- His debut album Thunderstorms and Neon Signs sold 22,000 copies in its first year.
- Hank Williams III covered two songs from Hancock's debut album on his 1999 album Risin' Outlaw.
- Hancock's nickname 'The Train' comes from his marathon-length shows that last 3, 4, or even 5 hours.
- In April 2014, Hancock survived a serious motorcycle accident that fractured his elbow and collapsed his lung.
More in Bloodshot Records Artists
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Wayne Hancock (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced