Wade interview at his home.
Backstory: Because Chelle and I were the only ones driving from Muskogee - everyone else was flying somewhere - we brought Wade’s trophy and big gift bag back to Tennessee. We carried it to him and while there took the opportunity to record some conversation.
Helen - You’re coming off a big week end with a special honor, induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Have you had time to sort out your feelings about it?
Wade - Really, I haven’t. I would have thought it would have soaked in by now. It was kind of an overwhelming honor for me. When I said I didn’t feel worthy, I sincerely meant that. It was a big surprise. There were a lot of mixed feelings about it. I mentioned in the acceptance speech that it had been 2 years in the making, since I found out it was going to happen. Then the life work of my dad and Chick Rains, and losing them both in that period was really a bitter sweet thing, but I am tickled and honored to be in there. I certainly have friends that I feel should be in ahead of me. We’ll get them in next time.
Helen - You know your trophy says March 28, 2020?
Wade - That’s when it would have been. Dad would have been around to see that. He passed in April 2020. That’s pretty tough, but I don’t want to take away from this and what it means. It’s a big honor. I’m very thankful.
Helen -What’s been keeping you busy since you got home?
Wade - Honestly, there’s a guitar I’ve built recently and I’ve been messing with it and trying to get it tweaked out perfectly. I just now got it back. I put
it in the shop. There are some things I don’t have the tools to do that a professional luthier has to deal with. Sometimes I get lucky and they go together just right and other times not. This is the third one I’ve done and it’s the prettiest one I think so far. It sounds really good.
Helen- This the one you did for your friend, Houston Hill?
Wade - I’ve got it right here. I was just going to take it to him tomorrow. (Wade leaves the room to get the guitar.) I need to do a little video of how it sounds. It’s from well over a 100 year old tree. I had the body cut out and it was not dry yet and it shrank. So I had to re-calculate everything, and I’m amazed it came out straight.
Helen - You should be proud of it and so should Houston.
Wade - He’s a great guy. I found a company online that could make this - it says Holly Tree Farms. (Wade indicates printing on the neck)
Lea joins group - Wade shows her the gift bag that the OMHOF had gifted them.
Lea - Have you seen the little cows yet? They’re so cute.
Wade - When I got home I had to call them up. Reginald had knocked the water hose out. I was watering the ground down there.
Lea - they’re so funny to watch. I just love them so much It’s good to take a break for a minute and then come back in and work. I don’t want to get rid of them. Ever. Never. Ever.
(Holly has been moving around the group to be petted, going to Wade last)
Wade to Holly - now you come to me
Lea - She was mad at Wade the other night, because he went to Johnny Barnhardt’s house and played with his dogs and she smelled it on his pants. It really hurt her feelings. She gets jealous when we talk about the cows.
Outside, Wade uses range cubes to draw the cows to the fence for petting before we leave. There’s a full house now. Trudy had Titan, Rose had Reginald, Dolly had Daisy, Macy had Margot.
