DATE: Thursday, August 28, 1997             TAG: 9708270121

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   71 lines

SINGER HAYES STACKS UP THE HITS

that's right, sir.''

Wade Hayes is a country singer with manners.

How did he become Mr. Polite?

``I'm from Oklahoma,'' he explained. ``Dad or Mom would give you a blue knot on your head if you didn't act that way.''

He is bringing his act to town on Friday, at Blakely's in Chesapeake.

Hayes fans here will be among the first to hear songs from album No. 3, scheduled for release Oct. 14.

It has the honky-tonky title of ``Tore Up From the Floor Up.'' That will be the third single. The second single will be, ``The Day She Left Tulsa.''

The first release, shipped to the CD bins last week and debuting on the Billboard chart at 49, is ``Wichita Lineman.''

Yes, that ``Wichita Lineman,'' one of Glenn Campbell's major hits.

``I've liked that since I was a kid,'' said Hayes, now 28. ``My producer, Don Cook, was hot on the idea of cutting it.

``We were pleased with the way it turned out and he pressed for it to be a single,'' Hayes said during a phone interview from Harrisonburg.

Four singles from his debut album, ``Old Enough To Know Better,'' went Top 10 - two went to the very top. There were also hits from, ``On A Good Night,'' the title tune going Top 5.

Several of his successful songs were Hayes-penned. And, there is still more to Mr. Polite.

He has a good reputation as a picker and played guitar on a Waylon Jennings album.

``Entertainment Tonight'' called Hayes the ``hottest face to watch.''

It is a handsome face, but he remains unattached.

``There's no one in my life. I get to date every now and then, but I wouldn't want to put anyone through it,'' Hayes said. ``Being on the road, it's difficult.''

While on the road he divides his time between fishing, and playing card and video games.

Hayes started playing guitar at age 14 with his father.

``He was a picker for years. I grew up playing lead guitar with him. We sang harmony,'' said Hayes, a baritone who gives a modern twist to traditional country.

In 1993, he left his Oklahoma nest, doing what they all do - heading for Nashville.

``I had $450 in my pocket,'' said the singer, who weathered his intro to Music City by working in construction.

During an amateur night at Gilley's, he wowed the owners, who offered him a job singing there every night. Johnny Lee heard and hired him for his band.

Later, one of Nashville's top music publishing companies, Sony/Tree, signed him as a songwriter, then Columbia signed him as a singer.

A couple of singers Hayes would enjoy harmonizing with are Joe Diffie and Patty Loveless.

``Joe is one of my favorites,'' he said. ``Patty? I have a little crush on her.''

Hayes' major crush these days is his music.

``I'm extremely fortunate. I have a good time. Music is the mainstay of my life, the thing that gives me the most pleasure,'' he said. ``I enjoy myself. I can't help it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

DEAN DIXON

On Friday, Wade Hayes will perform songs from his new album at

Blakely's in Chesapeake.

Graphic

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