Wayne Mills (singer)

Wayne Mills
Birth name Jerald Wayne Mills
Born August 17, 1969
Arab, Alabama
Died November 23, 2013 (aged 44)
Nashville, Tennessee
Genres country
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Associated acts Wayne Mills Band, Taylor Hicks, Jamey Johnson, Blake Shelton
Website www.waynemillsband.com

Jerald Wayne Mills (August 17, 1969 – November 23, 2013[1]) was an American country musician, known for touring with the Wayne Mills Band for over 15 years and playing alongside Blake Shelton, Jamey Johnson and 2006 American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks.[2] During his career Mills released six CDs and had seven top 20 songs in Europe from 2008 to 2010 including a chart topper in Belgium in 2009.[3]

During his education at Wallace State Junior College in Hanceville Mills played baseball and later at The University of Alabama football. He had a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.[3] When Mills died, he left behind wife Carol (they married in 2000[4]) and seven-year-old son Jack.[5]

In the early hours of November 23, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee, Mills with a blood alcohol level of over .221 (over 3 times the legal limit in Tennessee) & amphetamine in his system, was shot in the head by a bar owner allegedly over an argument involving Mills lighting up a cigarette in a no-smoking area.[6] He was rushed to a hospital but later died.[7][8] On March 6, 2015, Chris Ferrell was found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Wayne Mills.

References

  1. ↑ "Jerald Wayne Mills buried today". The Washington Times Communities. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Wayne Mills Band". Great American Country. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Obituaries". The Arab Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Wayne Mills of the Wayne Mills Band Shot Fatally in Nashville". Saving Country Music. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ Zennie, Michael (November 25, 2013). "Country singer shot dead in Nashville reality TV bar by owner after fight about him smoking inside". London: Daily mail. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Wayne Mills: Country Singer Shot Dead". Sky News. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Country singer shot dead in Nashville bar after owner catches him smoking". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 27, 2013.