About
From the London Palladium to Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Café, Wayland Patton’s songs have been heard around the world. As a writer, he’s enjoyed sales of over 14 million records, and three decades of hits.
Raised on a farm near Fort Worth, Texas, Patton paid his dues like many before him, singing in church, and at talent shows but he paid his bills by selling cars. He was named “Salesman of the Month” but soon lost his title, and his job, when he began leaving the lot to jot down song ideas.
Luckily for him an up-and-comer on the music scene named Ricky Skaggs liked what he heard and offered Patton a publishing deal with his company. Not only did he sign him to a writing contract he also recorded several of his songs and asked Patton to join him on the road. That same year the Ricky Skaggs Band was named Academy of Country Music’s Touring Band of the Year.
Shortly after teaming up with Skaggs and relocating to Nashville, Patton was chosen to be among a select group of musicians known as “The Nashville Masters.” The group, which featured Mark O’Connor and Jerry Douglas, toured extensively throughout Eastern Europe, Turkey and Portugal.
It didn’t take long to capture the attention of Music City executives. Patton was signed to a recording contract by Capitol Nashville and released his solo debut album Gulf Stream Dreamin’ in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The debut featured eight self-penned compositions and was produced by Jerry Crutchfield. In support of the release, he toured the UK as the opening act for the legendary Don Williams.
Aside from his solo career Patton enjoyed great success writing songs for some of Nashville’s biggest stars. Artists such as Pam Tillis, Ricky Skaggs, Dolly Parton, Dwight Yoakam, and George Strait all recorded songs inked by Patton. He also lent his vocal talents to other Music Row recording artists. Patton sang on albums recorded by Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, Emmylou Harris, Chris LeDoux and Lee Greenwood.
Patton also went on to tour with CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Patty Loveless on her Long Stretch Of Lonesome Tour as well as hitting the road with Rebecca Lynn Howard, Neal Coty and Eric Heatherly. And he is one of the featured songwriters in the book The Soul of a Writer.
