Wayland Holyfield

Wayland Holyfield wrote several popular songs for both pop and country artists during a career that began with singing in church as a child in Conway County, Arkansas. He penned classics such as “Could I Have This Dance,” “Some Broken Hearts Never Mend,” “Till The Rivers All Run Dry,” and the anthem “Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer.” While continuing to write, Wayland became active in music publishing and served diligently on the board of directors for the Nashville branch of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. One of his most meaningful achievements was writing "Arkansas, You Run Deep In Me," adopted as the Arkansas State Song in 1986. Known for his wit, Wayland often concluded his gigs with the remark, “Behind every successful songwriter is an astonished mother-in-law.”