Wayne 'The Train' Hancock

Alternative country favorite Wayne Hancock is a rare breed of traditionalist: one who imbues his retro obsessions with such high energy and passion that his songs never feel like museum pieces he's trying desperately to preserve. Hancock can be a hardcore honky-tonker, but he also displays a genuine affinity for stomping rockabilly, Western swing, blues, and old-timey country. He sometimes throws in the occasional pop standard. Hancock's devotion to classic country sounds, coupled with his aversion to the Nashville hit-making machine, earned him an ardent following among alternative country fans and a fair amount of critical acclaim.

Wayne "The Train" Hancock was born May 1, 1965, and began writing songs around age 12. His family moved frequently during his childhood and often sang to entertain themselves. Hancock started playing juke joints around Texas as a teenager, and at age 18 won the Wrangler Country Showdown, but he had just enlisted in the Marines and could not immediately take advantage of the win. After six years in the military, he returned to Texas and played wherever he could while working odd jobs. He moved to West Dallas in 1993 and settled in Austin shortly thereafter. In 1994 he had a part in the musical theater production Chippy and made his recorded debut on the Chippy soundtrack Songs from Chippy.

Hancock signed with a small Texas indie label and released his debut album, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, in 1995. The album, produced by a noted steel guitarist, received strong critical notices and sold over 20,000 copies largely by word of mouth. He then signed with a larger independent label and released That's What Daddy Wants in 1997, which featured horn-driven arrangements and explored rockabilly and Western swing. His third album, Wild, Free & Reckless, used more traditional country instrumentation, with fiddles and steel guitars, and recalled pre–rock & roll country boogie.

He later moved to an alt-country label and released A-Town Blues in 2001, along with a limited-edition EP, South Austin Sessions, that same year. Swing Time (2003) was recorded live during a two-night stand at the Continental Club in Austin. Subsequent releases included Tulsa (2006), Viper of Melody (2009), and Ride (2013). In April 2014 Hancock was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that left him with a fractured elbow and a collapsed lung; he canceled several months of tour dates but was fully recovered and back on the road by the end of the year. In 2016 he returned to the studio to record his eighth studio album, Slingin' Rhythm.

~ Steve Huey, Rovi