Native Sons

Warren Haynes
By Keith Harrelson

Warren Haynes may not be a household name; you won't find him on MTV's TRL; you won't see him grace the list of the sexiest this or that – but Warren Haynes is a living, breathing treasure, a treasure awarded to those who still know how to listen with their ears, and not with their eyes. And add to that the fact that he's a Carolina boy!

          Born April 6, 1960 in Asheville, NC, Haynes has earned every right to be called “the hardest working man in Rock and Roll.” Known best for his guitar virtuosity,   ranking 23^rd on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Haynes' first love was singing. Introduced to soul music by his older brothers, Haynes was fascinated by the sounds of Motown and began to tailor his unmistakable voice after the likes of Otis Redding, Smokey Robinson and Wilson Pickett.

          It wasn't until the age of 12 that Haynes received his first guitar and began the marriage of his soulful voice and stellar blues guitar playing. By age 14, Haynes was performing in the Asheville music scene gaining the respect of peers and elders alike. Though inspired by the blues, the eclectic blendings of Appalachian music afforded Haynes a rich foundation of influences clearly displayed to this day in his music.

          Carrying the title of “The Hardest Working Man In Rock and Roll” is no small task, but Haynes makes it look easy and fans have come to expect a level of showmanship from him. Performing several hundred shows every year, and often working “double shifts” by opening his own concerts with different incarnations of his work, Haynes is a full-time member of four incredible bands: The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Dead, and he also performs solo acoustic concerts as well. In addition, Haynes has only recently stepped down from his role in a fifth touring band: Phil Lesh & Friends. Ever-humble, when asked in a recent interview if he felt he actually was the hardest working man in rock, Haynes replied: “No. I mean, musicians are blessed, you know. We get to do what we love for a living. I’m taking advantage of opportunities that have been given to me that I feel I’d regret if I turned them down. But, you know, I don’t feel like I work as hard as the average housewife.”

          A true musical powerhouse, Haynes songwriting and performing abilities know no limits. Although Haynes has been known for his rock/blues talents since the onset of his career, he has also been sought after by many artists from many different genres. In fact, his first big break came at age 20 when country music singer/songwriter David Allan Coe asked Haynes to join his band. Haynes also scored a No. 1 hit with another country music star when he co-wrote Garth Brooks' “Two Of A Kind Working On A Full House.” Ultimately appearing on nine of Coe's albums and trekking across the United States and half of Europe with the band, it was when Coe & Company opened for The Allman Brothers Band at Atlanta's infamous Fox Theater that the door was opened that would lead to the path he follows today. Befriending then Allman band member, Dickie Betts, and gaining the attention of the rest of the band, Haynes was officially named a member of The Allman Brothers Band in 1989 when they hit the road for their reunion tour. Since then The Allman Brothers have enjoyed a full-fan resurgence, being nominated for and winning Grammy awards. Many believe that without Haynes' role as key songwriter and producer on every recording since 1990, this would not have been possible.

          Haynes is also credited with bringing back the “power-trio” to modern Rock & Roll with his band Gov't Mule. Cut from the same cloth as Cream and SRV & Double Trouble, Gov't Mule personifies the rugged and raw rock of that by-gone day and has set the bar far out of reach for many.

          As if Haynes didn't have enough on his plate, this Carolina boy still makes time every year to host his annual Christmas Jam in his hometown of Asheville, raising more than $1 million during the last 21 years for Habitat For Humanity. Haynes consistently gathers some of rock’s greatest artists for an unforgettable night of open-ended jamming, lasting for several hours and into the next day. When asked where he finds his motivation he simply replies: “I love music; I love every aspect of it. When I get tired of guitar playing I’m usually happy with my singing and songwriting. When I get frustrated with my songwriting, usually I’m happy with my playing and singing. Having all three of those things in my life keeps me from getting completely frustrated with myself.”

          At 49, Haynes shows no signs of slowing down and has only become more prolific with age, continuing to explore and grow artistically. Just as North Carolina represents three different landscapes respectfully and beautifully, Haynes represents jam-rock, blues-rock, and acoustic-rock in the same manner.