Waylon Payne’s debut CD was well-received when it came out four years ago, and now it will be reissued through a small Nashville label.CBuJ Entertainment will release Payne’s Republic/Universal debut, “The Drifter” on March 11.
Payne is the son of the late Grammy-award winning artist Sammi Smith (“Help Me Make It Through the Night”) and longtime Willie Nelson guitarist Jody Payne, as well as the godson and namesake of Waylon Jennings.
Produced by Keith Gattis, guest musicians include Wallflowers keyboardist Rami Jaffee, Jody Payne, and Doug Pettibone from Lucinda Williams’ band. Almost all the songs were written during a six-month period. With a finished record and no deal – Payne was playing New York with Willie Nelson and Pat Green when Green suggested he play the album for Green’s label, Republic/Universal.
Republic/Universal released the album on June 22, 2004.
In 2006, Payne received a Grammy Award for his vocal performance on the original motion picture soundtrack, Walk The Line, featuring Joaquin Phoenix (&5Various Artists) The soundtrack was produced by T Bone Burnett.
As a screen actor, Payne played the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in the 20th Century Fox Academy award-winning film, “Walk The Line,” which starred Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.