FULL NAME: Wayne Allen Warner
BIRTH DATE: May 4th
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus
ASTRLOGIACAL SIGN TRAITS THAT YOU POSSESS: strong willed
BIRTHPLACE: Newport, Vermont
FAMILY HERITAGE: Irish, French and Indian
HOMETOWN: Lowell Vermont
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Northern Vermont
YEARS IN NASHVILLE: Made my first recording in Nashville at age 16, took some time off to live a “normal life” for a while then started commuting intensely from my Vermont home since 1992.

PHYSICAL
HEIGHT: 5 feet 9 inches
EYES: 2, both blue
HAIR: some, ash blond

INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY: I can stumble my way around on acoustic guitar, bass and drums.

FAMILY
SPOUSE: Sandy
CHILDREN: 2 boys - Kyle age 8 and Keenan age 3
PARENTS: Albert and Judy Warner
SISTER: Juanita Lee
BROTHER: Allen Warner
NEPHEWS & NIECES: 4 nephews, 6 nieces
GRANDPARENTS: Alvin and Marguerite Warner - Everyone in town calls them Grammy and Grampa / Earl and Liz Girard - both deceased
PETS: Angel - a black lab who likes to sleep on my side of the bed

EDUCATIONS: I quit school when I was sixteen and got my GED soon thereafter. I continue working for a degree on life from the “living it”university
PERSONALITY: (I had to get outside input on this one) determined and energetic, intensely private with an inner shyness
LEISURE ACTIVITIES / HOBBIES / SPARE TIME / RELAXATION: I like hanging around at home with the family / Gardening / Running / Sitting in my “Prayer Chair” by the garden / reading / I am hooked on jigsaw puzzles and refinishing old furniture as a hobby.
SPORTS YOU PLAY: Basketball with my boys and the town kids / Bowling
MUSICAL BEGINNING: My dad let me join his band when I was six years old. I thought I was king. My mom was putting records on the turntable for me back when I couldn’t reach the stereo cabinet.
PERSONAL INFLUENCES: Parents and Grandparents who live life doing all they can for their fellow man.
MUSICAL INFLUENCES: First and foremost, my dad and my Uncle Alden, Johnny Cash, George Hamilton III. Emmylou Harris. Rod Stewart,
FAVORITE SONG YOU DIDN’T WRITE: He Stopped Loving Her Today
FAVORITE SONG YOU WROTE OR CO-WROTE: God Bless The Children
RE: SONGWRITING…ON WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU WRITE FROM?: Acoustic guitar
PUBLISHER INFO: Warner Publishing Company BMI
FAVORITE ALBUMS (COUNTRY AND POP): Dan Fogelberg, High Country Snows. - Emmylou Harris, Profiles
FAVORITE ARTIST (COUNTRY AND POP): Emmylou Harris and Elton John -because they do it their way.
TRADEMARK: A serious jokester
MEMORABLE LIFE OR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Adopting our boys, taking over the family dance hall. Building my studio and the first time I hung out backstage at the Opry. Signing with producer Harold Shedd and Atlantic records
PET PEEVE: Can’t stand the word “can’t”

WAYNE WARNER FIRSTS…
CONCERT ATTENDED: It was a Doc Williams show from Wheeling West Virginia.
INTRODUCTION TO COUNTRY MUSIC: My Dad bottle fed it to me and made us watch Hee Haw
GUITAR: Montgomery Ward
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT: A small wooden guitar
BIG BREAK: making my first record at the age of 15. Signing with Atlantic Records
ALBUM BOUGHT: Emmylou Harris
INSTRUMENT PLAYED: an old organ at my grandparent’s house that we were “not supposed to touch” I did anyway
BAND: My dad’s band called “The Warner Band” It was the Saturday night house Band in the hayloft of a cow barn. The three of us kids would fall asleep on the stage to the rhythm of dad’s mandolin. I would dream about being in the band - It finally happened.
SOLO PERFORMANCE: I believe it was in front of my 3rd grade class. I was pretty cool for a while after that.
SONG FULLY LEARNED: Me and You and A Dog Named Boo. I played it until everyone begged me to stop. I still like that song.
SONG YOU WROTE: “We’ll Stay Together”
SPORT EVER PLAYED: Softball in graded school. I was the last person to be picked and still am.
CAR: I paid $500.oo for the ugliest yellow Pinto you ever saw. I think my dad still holds the mortgage on it.
CAR WRECK: My friends and I were out cruising and being pretty crazy. We flipped over and landed bottom side up. The car was the only thing hurt.
DAREDEVIL ACT YOU PERFORMED: Got hitched
AMBITION OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP: I was fortunate in that I always had the direction of the music biz to keep me focused.

WAYNE WARNER FAVORITES
ACTOR: Jackie Gleason
ACTRESS: Lucille Ball
AFTER SHAVE OR COLOGNE: allergic to all, which is why, I smell SO good
ALBUMS: Emmylou Harris, Profile - Fleetwood Mac, Rumors
ANIMAL TO WATCH AT THE ZOO: The Tiger because they usually get what their after.
ATHELETE: My sons Kyle and Keenan because they always play a game to bond with each other. To me, that is the main theme of all sports.
BEVERAGE: Ice water with lemon
BOARD GAME: monopoly
BOOK: Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth
CAR: Studebaker Avanti
CARD GAME: canasta
CARTOON: Bugs Bunny
CHILDHOOD BOOK: Watership Down
CHILDHOOD MEMORY: There wasn’t a lot to do in Vermont when we were growing up so we made our own fun. My sister (the instigator) and I always liked to have fun with our little brother Allen. We wrapped a bunch of spider webs on a stick one time and told him it was cotton candy. When he asked what all the black things were in the web, we told him they were chocolate chips. He couldn’t wait to munch it down.
CHILDHOOD SONG: Puff the Magic Dragon
CHILDHOOD GAME: monopoly
CHRISTMAS CAROL: Silent Night
CHRISTMAS MEMORY: My Mom would spend many long hours decorating the Christmas tree. Everything had to be perfect. One year when my brother and I were playing hide and seek, we tipped over the Christmas tree while mom was in the kitchen doing dishes. My brother and I sat in horror as we watched the ornaments start rolling towards Moms unknowing feet in the kitchen. She was not happy and picked up the whole tree - lights and all with a manner of strength that I had never seen her display, and threw the whole thing out the door. Everything was back in its place later that night.
CITY TO VISIT: New York
CLOTHES OR OUTFIT: An old pair of ripped Levi’s and a headband
COLOR: Gray
COUNTRY SONG: The last one I wrote
DANCE: Growing up on stage as I did. I never felt at ease on a dance floor and rarely put on my dancing boots.
DATE: January 1st because it’s the fresh beginning of a New Year with another years past as experience.
DOG: A German Shepherd named Dakota. He was my buddy and my running partner. He died a few years ago and I still miss him.
FEMALE ARTIST: Emmylou Harris, Celine Dion
FOODS: vegetable stir-fried rice, anything vegetarian.
FRUIT: Oranges
GUITAR: Gibson - Flattop
HOME DÉCOR: modern with a heritage attitude
ICE CREAM: Vanilla with peanut butter toping
JEWELRY: an antique diamond ring that my grand parents gave me. It was passed down throughout our family’s history.
LINE IN A SONG: Amazing Grace How Sweet The Sound
MOVIES - RECENT: End Of Days
MOVIES - CLASSIC: Poseidon adventure
NUMBER: 12, I have no clue why
PLACE TO SHOP: nowhere. I HATE to shop
PLACE TO VISIT: Home
PRACTICAL JOKE: Anything that’s clean, funny and unharmful
QUOTE: “Daddy, can you come lay down with me”? , Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself - Get Warnerized
SCHOOL SUBJECT: English but my mind was always on music. Through music I was able to get educated on things I never could have learned behind a desk.
SEAFOOD: none
SESAME STREET CHARACTER: Elmo
SOAP OPERA: none
SOFT DRINK: none
SONG: Amazing Grace
SPORTS TEAMS: Chicago Bulls
SPORTS YOU LIKE TO PLAY: Basketball, Bowling
TOY: Puzzles
TV COMMERCIAL: The one where Art Carney dances to wild thing.
TV SHOWS CLASSICS/RETRO: The Honeymooners
TV SHOWS RECENT: The Practice / Touched By an Angel
VACATION SPOTS: Home
WAY TO RELAX: Run, Garden, Reading and putting together puzzles
WORKOUT ROUTINE: Running and weight lifting

WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO THE MUSIC BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE: I guess I was born into it. There was always music and singing at our house. I always say I didn’t choose it, It chose me.
IF YOU COULD HAVE THREE PEOPLE FROM ANY TIME IN HISTORY OVER FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD IT BE: Jesus, Howard Hughes, and Abe Lincoln
STRANGEST FAN REQUEST: Someone requested a song and said that if I sang it - it meant that I wanted her to come home with me. I didn’t do the song.
FIRST PAYING GIG: My dad’s band, I got $5.00 a night. I still sing in his band whenever I can but now he doesn’t pay me at all.
FIRST NON-MUSIC JOB: Milking Cows on the farm
WORST JOB: I worked for a short time doing the night shift as a janitor at IBM
NEVER LEAVES HOME WITHOUT: My Faith, My little tape recorder that I use for song ideas and bottled water
CAR YOU WISH YOU WERE DRIVING: A charcoal gray Mercedes convertible that I am waiting for my label to buy for me when I sell my first million albums.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY: Live every NOW for all it’s worth / Treat others as you would like to be treated.
PROFESSIONAL GOAL: I always want to grow as an artist, writer and performer and always keep a keen eye and ear open for lessons that I can apply to my trade. I also hope to be able to enjoy something about my job every day and to always stay true to myself.
THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE: To enjoy one day at a time and to try to grow a little every day.
PERSONAL GOALS: To be a good dad, to have a successful career and grow as an artist, writer and performer and to someday play a political role in the State of Vermont.
INSPIRATION TO BECOME A SINGER: God
FAVORITE OUTFIT: Jeans and a T-shirt
DO YOU PREFER TO WEAR GOLD OR SILVER JEWELRY: I very seldom wear any but when I do, it’s a WWJD bracelet.
WHO’S YOUR HERO: I have many. First, my parents and grandparents who taught me so much about life. My sons Kyle and Keenan who have taught me so much more. And any one that is down on their luck and still cares about their neighbors. Our teacher’s who have the power to change the world and the children who brave cancer or medical treatments and still have a smile in their eyes.
ANY BAD HABITS YOU’RE TRYING TO BREAK: All negative thinking.
DREAM DESTINATION: To have a healthy and fun career with longevity, to be an inspiration to as many people as possible. To be as good a dad as mine is and to someday be active in the political arena.
DREAM DUET-PARTNERS: Emmylou Harris, Elton john
WHAT CITY DO YOU WANT THE KEY TO? Heaven

THOUGHTS…
ON HIS FUTURE: My desire is to continue growing as a person and as an artist. To teach my children to go for their dreams.
ON HIS MUSIC: I never have an easy time describing my music whenever I was asked so I’ve named it TURBO TWANG. I want to make music that makes radio better if they play it. To touch people when they hear it. I try to stay away from the beer slinging, heart broken hillbilly songs. Not because I don’t like them but because I feel that that my peers have that covered… I like my music to display myself as a “my cup is half full” type of guy. I think that music is like a painting for the ears. While I do not claim to be a Picasso, I do like to paint my own picture. As such, I always insist on being in the studio through a projects entirety. If I am going to sign my name to the picture, I have to be in the same room as the canvas.
ON HIS CAREER: I would like a healthy career with longevity and to grow as an artist and a songwriter. To use the gifts given to me to help the world in some small way.

WHAT WOULD THE TITLE OF YOUR MEMOIRS BE? Born To Win

WHICH ACTOR DESERVES TO PLAY YOU IN AN A&E BIOGRAPHY? Some unknown who needs a break.

IF YOUR LIFE PHILOSOPHY COULD BE SUMMARIXED ON A T-SHIRT, WHAT WOULD IT SAY: We were BORN TO WIN

WHICH ONE BOOK WOULD YOU WANT IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND: The Bible

ANY AWARDS OR NOMINATIONS IN YOUR LIFE? DURING CHILDHOOD OR IN HIGHSCHOOL: My favorites are the plaques from the area schools where I did concerts to raise money for their school events.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ACTING OR MODELING AMBITIONS: I did some modeling when I was a teenager and it was kinda fun. I respectfully declined to do a photo for Playgirl when they were doing a spread on American Businessmen (or some such thing). My only acting ambition would be to do a guest spot on Touched By An Angel.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS OR AMBITIONS FOR YEAR 2000: To become a better man and to have a new single and Video out. Oh ya, a #1 song would be nice.

HOW DO YOU STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR CAREER: By remaining to live in Vermont. In Nashville I focus on WHAT I’m doing and in Vermont I focus on WHY I’m doing it.

DESCRIBE YOUR HOMETOWN IN NORTHERN VERMONT. ANY TOWN HIGHLIGHTS OR FOND MEMORIES OF EVENTS OR PLACE TO VISIT: There are approximately 800 people here and everyone knows everyone and usually what they are doing. There is common concern here for everyone’s well being. This and the neighboring town are the places that my family grew up. The hot spot growing up was at the band stand (gazebo) Where most of us got our first kiss and carved our names in hearts on the benches. The center of town has the only two businesses, a dance hall/bowling ally that was built by my dad and grandfather in 1972. We had dances there every Saturday night until Dec. 1999. It is on that stage that I grew up. The town also boasts a small country store where everyone goes to catch up on the town news.

ANY ANNUAL EVENTS, FAIRS FESTIVALS OR LOCAL CHARITIES. CAUSES IN YOUR HOMETOWN THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR FUTURE PARTICIPATATION: As you can imagine, this is a very quiet area but here are a few highlights. Thunder Road is in a neighboring town and hosts the only racetrack in the state with much enthusiasm. Essex Fair (near Burlington) is the king of carnivals in the area and Johnson Field days hosted by my good friends at WLVB radio is something that I have always tried to be involved in as well.

DO YOU LIKE TO COOK: Yes, but only when I’m alone in the house. Once when I made tuna salad, I discovered that cat food and tuna cans look a lot alike.

FAVORITE RECIPES AND TYPE OF FOOD: Almost anything vegetarian.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU READ YOUR HOROSCOPE AND DO YOU BELIEVE IN ITS VALIDITY: Once in a while but only for fun.

WHEN AND WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST PERFORMANCE: Besides singing in my 3rd grade class, it was a place called “The North Hill Barn Dance” nicknamed “Buzzy’s”. My dad’s band was the house band every Saturday night. I was about 6 years old when they let me stand up there with them and strum my little guitar.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST NON-MUSICAL JOB: Working in our bowling alley and milking cows.

HOW WERE YOU DISCOVERED, HOW DID YOU GET SIGNED: I took the long way around the barn by developing myself as a person and as an artist and then, by being true to it without conforming. While this has in some way delayed my success, I think it will aid in its longevity. Producers Troy Lancaster and Harold Shedd helped me to get the sound that I heard in my head onto tape. Soon after I was proud to be among one of the first artist to be signed by new Atlantic label head Barry Coburn who is known for his innovation and willingness to take a step beyond the boundaries.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN: Hang out with my boys or have a quiet night out to dinner with Sandy. My vegetable garden is what I call my ‘soil of sanity” and I like to run.

WHAT WOULD YOU PROBABLY BE DOING IF YOU WERE NOT IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS: Politics, Plastic surgery or law enforcement always intrigued me. But I would probably just be enjoying a quiet life of sanity.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT ON STAGE: Going through puberty.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SAYINGS OR QUOTES: Let Go and Let God. To thine own self be true

DO YOU OWN ANY VINYLE RECORDS/ALBUMS: yes, I still have all the records I grew up on

CHARITIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH
KIDS CHARITIES: As many as possible
OTHER CHARITIES: as many as possible. Also, because my home State was founded by Vermont farmers I would love to get involved with “FARM AID” The family farms are missed everywhere.
WHAT OUTLETS WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT IN REGARDS TO CHARITY OR GOOD WILL? MILITARY TROOPS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, SHELTERS, CRUSADES, KIDS ORGANIZATIONS OR SCHOOLS: Country artist against drinking and driving. Any institution seeking a better America. To visit as many schools as possible and encourage children to follow their dreams.
CAUSES YOU’D LIKE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH: To reach as many children as possible BEFORE they become a cause.
HUMAN RIGHTS OR ISSUES YOU SUPPORT AND/OR WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT: I think of racism is a lazy mans example of thinking. I would love to be able to tear down a few bricks from the racial wall. I also believe that there are no reasons for anyone to be without a home or to be hungry in this Nation under God.

HOW DO YOU CONQUER STRESS: Running.

HOLIDAY QUESTIONS
CHRISTMAS
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Mom and Dad would always come and wake us up at about 5:00 A.M and whisper that Santa Claus was here. Then we would all tiptoe to the corner and peek at him putting presents under the tree. Then we would run back into our rooms so Santa wouldn’t see us. As soon as we heard him leave we would run for the gold. Mom and Dad would let us bring our Christmas stockings into our room so they could sleep for a few more minutes.
It seemed like those “minutes” would last forever until they would finally give in and let us tear open our presents.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU RECEIVED AS A KID: A blue drum set. I soon joined dad’s band as the full time as a drummer.
DESCIBE A TYPICAL HOLIDAY GATHERING IN THE PAST: We always get bundled up and plow through the snow to gather at grams and grampa’s on Christmas Eve. Gram would always be at the stove doing her famous cooking and you could always find grampa in the living room telling a story or a joke or two. After gifts for the children, the instruments come out for music, music and more music. Fortunately, none of that has changed and my boys still get grams cooking and grampas stories.
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE OR CARTOON: The Grinch That Stole Christmas
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL: Silent Night

NEW YEAR
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2001: To enjoy the growth of my success. To FINALLY take the time to get my pilots license.
ANY NEW YEARS EVE OR NEW YEAR’S MEMORIES: Bringing in the year 2000 was different because it the only one that I wasn’t on stage for.
ANY FAMILY OR FRIEND TRADITIONS FOR RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR:
I was always on stage playing ‘ Ole Langsyne” But that was always neat because my family and friends were also in the band or a part of the operation.

VALENTINE
MOST MEMORABLE VALENTINE RECEIVED: It was when I was in 4th grade and I had a broken leg. I was out of school for 2 months including the Valentines Day party at school. I felt left out because I couldn’t be there. The following day my sister brought home a big box of candy and a card from everyone in class.
MOST MEMORABLE GIVEN: My first son Kyle and I spent a day making a picture for mommy that still hangs on our wall. Also a big red heart filled with chocolates that us kids made when we were small for the most important woman in our lives - our Mom.
MOST ROMANTIC VALENTINE DATE: One year I cooked a surprise candle light dinner for Sandy. We had a good time and the food wasn’t all that bad.

THANKSGIVING
FAVORITE T-DAY FOODS: Hot homemade rolls and grams pies.
ANY FAMILY TRADITIONS: The whole family would say a prayer of thanks giving and sit around and play games or charades. This year we are going to start a new tradition and make a gratitude salad. Where everyone brings something for a salad and says something they are grateful for as they throw it into a big salad bowl. Then we all dig into it.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL T-DAY AT YOUR HOUSE: I start by shoveling the snow of the porch and plowing the driveway to get ready for the family crew. Sandy has the house filled with the smell of the turkey cooking in the oven and some of the family is in the woods deer hunting until dinnertime. The kids are usually watching the parade on TV in hopes of seeing Santa. The family gathers, eats plays games and visits well into the evening and we all swear that it’s back to our diets tomorrow.

BIRTHDAY
ANY BIRTHDAY TRADITIONS: The usual cake candles and Ice cream.
MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY: The most memorable birthday I had growing up was actually my brothers. He is two years younger than I and for his 4th birthday he got a brand new wagon. A bright red western flyer like I had always wanted. The next day I asked him if he wanted me to take him for a ride in his new wagon. He couldn’t wait for me to pull him around.
I took him to the top of “School house hill” the longest and steepest hill in town with a cement bridge at the bottom. I gave him the handle and a good shove and listened to him scream all the way down. I figure he was doing at least 35 mph when he hit that bridge. He was fine but that was the end of his wagon. I guess I should buy him a new one.
FAVORITE TYPE OF BIRTHDAY CAKE: White cake with Sandy’s peanut butter frosting.
PAST THEMES OF BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND CAKES: When I was a kid it was Evel Kneivel. He was my hero. Then it was always a music theme.
MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY GIFT: My boys singing happy birthday to me.
ANY BIRTHDAY WISHES THAT COME TRUE: I think that all wishes can come true but they come disguised as hard work and wearing shit kickers.

PRODUCERS
THOUGHTS ABOUT PRODUCERS, WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM, ANY STUDIO / RECORDING STORIES, TIDBITS, ANECDOTES YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE: The combination of Harold Shedds impeccable experience and expertise with Troy Lancaster’s non-conventional and energetic approach allow the magic happen in the studio.
At home, we always gather at my grandmother’s house for the holidays and everyone brings his or her instruments. The sound we created at grams house is a part of my heritage. To this day I still try to capture that “living room” feel in the studio. I like to fire up the mics and put the party on tape. For me, I’m in this for the music and if I couldn’t have control over mine I would run -FAST. The first time I worked with a Nashville producer I was fifteen years old. I remember making a suggestion in regards to one of the tracks we were doing and he let me know that it was HIS job to call the shots. I vowed to never let that happen again and Harold and Troy both let me have control and the final say. I love to watch art take form in the studio. Art that otherwise would have lain motionless in a notebook. Music can say things that words alone would struggle to do.

NOTES OR THOUGHTS: I remember one time being told by a Nashville producer that I was more of an artist than a singer. I also remember being hurt by that statement at the time. I have since come to understand true artistry and have grown to like being labeled as such but do not yet feel worthy of it. The Merle Haggard’s, George Jones’s, Johnny Cashes and Emmylou’s. They are the true artists. I am merely hoeing along in the fields that they have planted. A field in which I am honored to toil. I grew up in the shimmering light of Mother Country Music. I hope that she will open her arms and welcome my TURBO TWANG and me as one of her boys. It is my desire that the transmitters and the receivers of the world will embrace my music.

GET WARNERIZED