Don Rhodes ais a writer for The Augusta Chronicle. FILE/STAFF

Ramblin' Rhodes: Singer chases rainbow

Web posted July 9, 1999

By Don Rhodes
Columnist

Little did Daylon Wear know -- dressed as a leprechaun in his college musical and singing Look to the Rainbow -- that he would seek his own pot of gold in Nashville.

Now his rainbow stretches from his hometown of Temple, Texas, to the Tennessee capital, where gold records are the reward at rainbow's end.

Both his self-titled debut album, Daylon Wear, on Nashville's new Envoy Discs label, and the targeted debut single, Mornin' Glory, are due out this summer.

Mr. Wear wrote or co-wrote all 12 songs on the CD, including the single, on which he collaborated with Pam Tillis' ex-husband, Bob DiPiero.

Other potential hits on the album include When the Whiskey Walks In, Tornado Alley, Love and Then Some (which he co-wrote with Georgia tunesmith John Jarrard) and my personal favorite, Movin' My Heart Around.

``It's real funny,'' Mr. Wear said recently in his first interview for print. ``Initially, the people who have heard advance copies of this album like What's She Doing in Denver or Tornado Alley or some of the ones you mentioned.

``But, after they live with them awhile, they tend to like a lot of the others,'' Mr. Wear continued. ``I'm flattered. I just hope radio and everyone else takes them that way.''

Like most good songwriters, Mr. Wear pours a lot of his personal experiences into his efforts, including Movin' My Heart Around. He told Debi Cochran, who finished writing the song with him, that his idea for that number came after a girlfriend dumped him.

To hear Daylon Wear's debut single, Mornin' Glory, from his debut Envoy Discs album, Daylon Wear, call Infoline at 442-4444 and press 8100. Callers outside the Augusta calling zone must first dial area code 803. To find out more about Mr. Wear, visit his Web site (www.daylonwear.com). SPECIAL

He told Miss Cochran: ``I just can't do that any more. It's like moving my heart around.''

Mr. Wear's album reflects a variety of musical influences, including classic rock artists, country blues singers Joe Stampley and Charlie Rich and the songs he played in his high school band and sang in college theatrical productions.

``I sang in the choir in high school, played a drum set and bass guitar and marched with the band at football games,'' Mr. Wear said. ``I did some theater while majoring in business at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas, next door to my hometown of Temple.

``One big role I had was playing a leprechaun in Finian's Rainbow. I jumped around and sang a lot. It was really fun.''

Those who have heard Mr. Wear's album hear a touch of Travis Tritt in his vocals, but he said that came naturally with his personal vocal range and bluesy style.

``There might be just a twinge there from hearing a lot of Tritt on the radio, but I didn't try to sound like him on purpose,'' Mr. Wear said. ``I just sing pretty loud, and I try to act out every song. I think hard about the lyrics, especially the songs that are real personal, and almost become that character in the song.''

Don Rhodes has written about country music for 28 years. He can be reached at (706) 823-3214 or at ramblin@groupz.net.