BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The Wayne Mills 5th Annual Memorial Ride is coming to our area Aug. 13, and everyone is invited!
The ride will raise funds for Wayne’s son, Jack, who was just 7-years-old when Wayne was killed in 2013.
There is a $20 fee per bike. The meet up will begin at One More on the River in Millbrook for registration. Kickstands go up at 2 p.m. with the first stop at Big Star Tavern in Prattville. The next stop will be at Pour Stars in Montgomery, followed by Carl’s County in Prattville and final stop is at the Blue Iguana in Prattville.
Live music begins at 6 p.m. and features Sherry Hancock & Southern Harmony, The Bottom Hollar Band.
Then the stage will open to friends of Wayne who want to share stories and songs. The event will wrap up with an Allstar Jam.
This event is presented by Hawg Engineer, the Blue Iguana Bar and Grill and SGT Management LLC.
About Wayne Mills: Wayne was an enormously popular musician in our area, and had a huge following.
(From Wikipedia) – Jerald Wayne Mills (August 17, 1969 – November 23, 2013) 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. During his career, Mills released five studio albums (with a sixth unreleased) and two live albums. He also had seven Top 20 singles in Europe from 2008 to 2010, including a chart-topper in Belgium in 2009.
During his education at Wallace State Junior College in Hanceville, Mills played baseball and later at The University of Alabama, he played football. He had a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. When Mills died, he left behind wife Carol (they married in 2000) and seven-year-old son Jack.
In the early hours of November 23, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee, Mills was shot in the head by a bar owner allegedly over an argument involving Mills lighting up a cigarette in a non-smoking area. He was rushed to a hospital, but later died. On March 6, 2015, Chris Ferrell was found guilty of second-degree murder in Mills’ death and received a 20-year sentence with no possibility of parole.
