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Date Posted: 23:43:07 10/25/01 Thu
Author: Dwight-Yoakam-KY
Subject: DWIGHT INFO

Born Dwight David Yoakam in Pikeville, KY on October 23, 1956, Dwight was exposed to traditional country music from an early age and when he was very young, his family moved to Ohio. By age 10, he had penned his first song, and by age 18, he was playing in clubs in the Ohio Valley.

In 1977, being inspired by Buck Owens, Dwight packed up and moved to Los Angeles. A year later he formed the Babylonian Cowboys. Pete Anderson, whose arrangements, guitar playing and production have played an important role in Yokam's success joined in 1981.

Even though he had a string of Top Ten hits, like "Little Sister," "Little Ways," "Please, Please Baby," and "Always Late With Your Kisses" it didn't change his outsider status in Nashville. Dwight preferred the Western look, with embroidered jackets and skin-tight jeans. He liked it so much that he invested in a C&W clothing venture with Manual, the western-wear designer who got his start with cowboy couturier Nudie.

In the early Nineties, Dwight ventured into acting, making a cameo in the cult film Red Rock West, with Nicolas Cage. In 1992 he scored the soundtrack for White Sands, and later that same year, recorded his version of "Suspicious Minds" for the soundtrack of Honeymoon in Vegas, again starring Nicolas Cage.

Dwight became interested in acting while in high school, performing in the play, The Miracle Worker. After moving to Los Angeles, Dwight appeared in a theater production in Long Beach, but then went back to music afterwards. It wasn't til he was cast in the play, Southern Rapture in 1993 that the acting bug really bit. After several small films, (see filmography) he played the role of Doyle Hargraves in the 1996 film, Sling Blade. His performance received critical praise, as did the Oscar-winning film.

In 1998, Dwight continued persuing both acting and music, taking on the role of Brentwood Glasscock in The Newton Boys, starring Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich and Ethan Hawke.

Dwight, along with Billy Bob Thornton formed a production company, "Crossfire Sound and Pictures," to develop projects to produce and direct. This year, Dwight released South of Heaven, West of Hell, in which he made his directorial debut. The picture made its "world premiere" on May 12th at the Cannes Film Festival.

Dwight's Filmography

Red Rock West - 1992 (HBO)

Roswell - The U.F.O. Cover-Up - 1992 (Showtime)

The Little Death - 1995 (Island Pictures)

Painted Hero - 1996 (Cabin Fever)

Don't Look Back - 1996 (HBO)

Sling Blade - 1996 (Miramax)

The Newton Boys - 1998 (20th Century Fox)

When Trumpets Fade - 1998 (HBO)

The Minus Man - 1999

South of Heaven, West of Hell - 2000



Dateline: May 22, 2000

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to have a short interview with Dwight by e-mail. The questions are those from several fans that visit this site as well as my own. Here is what Dwight had to say:

Guide Shelly Fabian:
Of the songs that you've recorded so far, which is your favorite to sing?

Dwight Yoakam:
It varies from night to night. Fortunately any of the songs we've recorded can be extremely fulfilling to perform depending on the variety of circumstances that surround any given show like the concert setting, crowd response, the rapport I'm feeling at the moment with the audience and the execution of the song preceding and following the particular song.

Guide Shelly Fabian:
Who were your biggest musical influences?

Dwight Yoakam:
There are too many and varied to be specific about, but suffice to say geographically foundations from the Ohio and Mississippi Valley's and the adjoining tributaries that run in all directions from the two river valleys.

Guide Shelly Fabian:
What do you think of the future of music on the net?

Dwight Yoakam:
No idea yet. Only beginning to present itself over the horizon.

Guide Shelly Fabian:
Do you have a title for the new CD that will be released this fall?

Dwight Yoakam:
Yes, Tomorrow Sounds Today.

Guide Shelly Fabian:
Do you write songs constantly or do you write songs only when it's time to go back into the recording studio?

Dwight Yoakam:
In the past 3-4 years I've developed a habit of keeping numerous small cassette recorders in my house and in a bag with me so that I'm able to commit to tape memory song ideas on a constant basis. That allows me a greater freedom with my writing instincts and me to feel inspired continuously to create new music.

Guide Shelly Fabian:
What singer(s) would you most like to record a duet with?

Dwight Yoakam:
It varies from song to song, although Buck Owens and I recently collaborated on writing a duet together and am looking forward with a great deal of anticipation to recording that track for the new studio album. In addition, I'm finishing a track for the movie "Waking Up In Reno", but there are numerous other singers I look forward to recording with in the near future.

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