Wayne Willingham

After 26 years, Wayne Willingham walked away from music, talented and successful, but disillusioned, bored, jaded, aimless.  He changed careers, and achieved more than he ever thought possible.  In late 2014, after nearly two decades away, he decided to pick up his guitar and try to knock off some of the rust.  It worked.

The rust is gone; In its place, he rediscovered his own distinct sound, the passion of his earliest career, and most of all, his creative muse.  He's now writing his own songs and telling his own stories. With three previous albums since 2017, each carefully-crafted song is unique, deeply personal, and resonates with listeners. They're sincere, playful, serious, and some just make you feel good. Wayne was named as "One to Watch" by the Nashville Songwriters Association, for "The Ring", title song from his third album. "All That Matters is Love" has been included on the international compilation "Songs for Social Change".  And Thanksgiving 2020 brought the release of "The Stonehill Sessions" album - recorded mostly at his home during the pandemic. He's not slowing down.

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March 2022 will bring "Temptation Row", an eight-song album of story songs. One song, "Dancing with Him" has already won an award from The Fort Worth Songwriters Association.

Always a strong solo performer but not interested in night clubs or honky-tonks, Wayne returned to his roots - the coffeehouse/listening room atmosphere. He finally has the musical career he originally intended, and it's not for the applause or the ego or the money; This time, it's personal. Wayne tours to bring his music to listeners all over the country. The voice is still there - perhaps clearer and more expressive. The hands are back - and then some. The stage presence of a seasoned veteran, and that one thing that was missing before his sabbatical: The sheer joy.