Interview: Jimmy Wayne, Country Singer

Jimmy Wayne started out with nothing and ended up with everything. Even though he grew up in foster care, where many kids are considered "lost causes," Jimmy made something out of his life and became one of the more dominant country singers, proving that generalization completely wrong. His hit song, “Do You Believe Me Now?” was Number One for three weeks. And that’s only the tip of it.

Jimmy Wayne, whose song topics run from foster care to broken hearts, started his career at age 12 by writing songs, which he said, “Kind of sparked my curiosity.”

Surprisingly, Jimmy admitted, he never really studied any music program at school. “No, I was never really involved," he said. "I think I did one course. And I didn’t even know what was going on. I was too shy. I wouldn’t even sing.”

What won Jimmy Wayne over to country music was "the story telling. The fact that it seemed to be that country music spoke directly to the real people, the majority. I felt like I [had] something to say. I grew up listening to country music as well as other kinds of music. Being in a multi-cultural family, I was kind of exposed to a lot of kinds of music.”

And he doesn’t have just one musical influence. “I listened to all kinds of music being in the group homes, foster homes. Different genres. So, it’s kind of hard to pick just one person. It was all the music.”

Growing up in foster care has definitely affected his music. He agreed, “Oh yeah, it gives you something to write about. As an adult, I realize there’s a lot of kids out there growing up in the same homes. You can relate to them. It affected my music positively. It gives you something to say about my experience and it may give kids hope."

On the foster kids themselves, he said, “Just because they’re in there, doesn’t mean they won’t be successful or be somebody. A lot of those kids feel like they’re not special. And then there are kids in there that are very determined. They’ll be someone. I was one of them. I believed for some reason. I don’t know why. I just did.” He also said that he would love to get involved in charities benefiting children.

Article Author: Maddy Pumilia

Maddy (Formerly CallmeMaddy) is a sophomore at Cal State Northridge. Her major is Journalism. She has a twin and loves the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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