Wayne Mills
Birth nameJerald Wayne Mills
Born(1969-08-17)August 17, 1969
Arab, Alabama, U.S.
DiedNovember 23, 2013(2013-11-23) (aged 44)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1999–2013
Websitewaynemillsband.com

Jerald Wayne Mills (August 17, 1969 – November 23, 2013) was an American country musician, known for touring with the Wayne Mills Band for over fifteen years and playing alongside Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson and 2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks.[2][3] During his career, Mills released five studio albums (with a sixth unreleased) and two live albums. He had seven Top 20 singles in Europe from 2008 to 2010, including a chart-topper in Belgium in 2009.[4]

Mills played baseball for Wallace State Junior College and football for The University of Alabama, earning a bachelor of science degree in education.[4]

In the early hours of November 23, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee, Mills was shot in the head by a bar owner, allegedly over an argument involving Mills lighting up a cigarette in a nonsmoking area. He was rushed to a hospital but later died.[5][6] On March 6, 2015, Chris Ferrell was found guilty of second-degree murder in Mills' death and received a twenty-year sentence with no possibility of parole.[7] The verdict and sentence were appealed[8] but were upheld by the appeals court in 2019.[9] Mills left behind wife Carol, whom he had married in 2000,[10] seven-year-old son Jack, and six-year-old niece Cali.

Mills is the subject of the song "King of Alabama" by Brent Cobb.[11]

Discography (with Wayne Mills Band)

Title Album details Notes
The Wayne Mills Band
  • Release date: June 13, 1999[12]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD
  • Debut album.
Live At Harry's Bar
  • Release date: August 17, 1999[13]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD
Bad Man
  • Release date: August 17, 2002[14]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD
Ain't it Great To Be... aLIVE At Harry's II
  • Release date: August 17, 2002[15]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD
Someday
  • Release date: June 13, 2007[16]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD
Under the Influence of Outlaws & Mama
  • Release date: August 17, 2007[17]
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Reissued on August 17, 2008 with a new final track that replaced the one from the original release.[18] The 2008 version is available digitally.
The Last Honky Tonk
  • Release date: June 7, 2010[19][20]
  • Label: Diesel LLC
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • The band's final album before Wayne Mills' death, and the only release that is available via mainstream digital retailers.[21]

References

  1. ↑ Duke, Alan (November 25, 2013). "Outlaw country singer Wayne Mills dies in bar shooting". CNN. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Jerald Wayne Mills buried today". The Washington Times Communities. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  3. ↑ Lee, Ashley (November 25, 2013). "Spike TV Apologizes for Airing 'Bar Rescue' Featuring Location of Wayne Mills Shooting". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Wayne Mills Band". Great American Country. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Wayne Mills: Country Singer Shot Dead". Sky News. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Country singer shot dead in Nashville bar after owner catches him smoking". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Jury finds bar owner guilty of second degree murder in Wayne Mills' death". WKRN.com.
  8. ↑ Dukes, Billy (April 28, 2015). "Man Sentenced for Murder of Singer Wayne Mills". Taste of Country.
  9. ↑ Perry, Christy (August 19, 2019). "Friends Ride to Remember Wayne Mills". The Cullman Tribune. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Obituaries". The Arab Tribune. December 11, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  11. ↑ "New song honors murdered Alabama country singer Wayne Mills". al.com. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  12. ↑ "The Wayne Mills Band Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. June 13, 1999. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  13. ↑ "LIVE at Harry's Bar Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. August 17, 1999. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Bad Man Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. August 17, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Ain't it great to be… aLIVE At Harry's II Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. August 17, 2002. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Someday Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. June 13, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Under The Influence of Outlaws & Mama Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. August 17, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Under The Influence of Outlaws & Mama Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. August 17, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Last Honky Tonk Wayne Mills Band". Waynemillsband.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  20. ↑ "The Last Honky Tonk: Wayne Mills Band: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. June 7, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  21. ↑ "The Last Honky Tonk by Wayne Mills Band on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. June 7, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
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