Wayne R Brown and Friends is a growing group of writers and musicians who are focused on the craft of songwriting.
I've played drums since the mid 60's with more bands than I can remember. In the early going I knew I wanted to write hit songs and that forced me to write with musicians who could help me develop the melodies. My first writing partner was a friend of the program director (Johnny Irons) at WKMF in Flint, Michigan. His name is Mo Hyatt, and after more than 30 years of working together I still find his level of skill intimidating. He plays several instruments and he's a genius in the studio. Like someone once said; if you want to be great surround yourself with great people.
I still do an occasional live show, usually with The Taylor Brothers in southern Michigan, but most of my time now is spent writing and in the studio.
(hmm) That's a tough one. I've been listening to music since I first heard my parents sing a duet in church when I was 5 or 6 so my influences go back over 50 years. Actually farther than that when you consider the oldies my folks were listening to on the radio back in those days. As far as writing goes I would have to say Tom T. Hall had the biggest impact. I met him back stage in the early 70's and he wrote the only book on songwriting I've ever purchased.
I record raw demos on my home computer with Pro Tools and an M-Box. I use my old Roland XP 60 and a new Yamaha MOTIF keyboards. My vocals are cut with an Audio Technica AT4050/CM5 studio mic and my guitar is a Fender Telecaster. My drums were surrendered to my youngest son James and were last reported seen being used by my grandson Clayton.
Getting your songs uploaded here is kind'a like having one of your songs in those boxes of discs and tapes on some artist's bus or producer's office. You never know when they're going to find some time to just start searching for that next cut they need for the new album project they're getting ready to cut. Lightning does strike. But you've got to be standing out in the field when it hits.