Thomas Avery Hays (October 3, 1929 – May 13, 2023) was an American guitarist, band leader and vocalist; and was one of the last living members of the great musicians who created The Bakersfield Sound.Bakersfield Observed Remembering the old Blackboard bar

Hays started playing the guitar in church when he was 10 years old. He performed on the Billy Mize TV Show, Cousin Herb Show, was a member of the house band for the Lucky SpotLegacy.com Johnny Barnett Obituary and the Blackboard and had his own radio show on KMPC. Tommy played on stage with many of the old timers who were part of creating the Bakersfield Sound. Tommy was in the band that gave Buck Owens his first gig, with Dusty Rhodes, at a bar called the Roundup.Book excerpt page 209 Workin' Man Blues: Country Music in California By Gerald W. Haslam

Hays had been playing in the honky-tonks in and around Bakersfield for over fifty years. Recognized as one of the original “Bakersfield Sound” pioneers,VisitBakersfield.com History of the Bakersfield Sound he helped forge this definitive sound. Driven by the piano, steel and Telecaster guitar, the Bakersfield Sound was a reaction to the early ‘50s and ‘60s sweetening of country music epitomized by the Nashville Sound.

Along with the Western Swingsters which also included Big Bill Wilkerson, he released the CD 60 Years of Western Swing in 2006.

Hays was inducted into the Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in 2010.Western Swing Society Listing of Western Swing Society Hall of Fame Inductees

Hays lived in Bakersfield, California, and played locally until his death on May 13, 2023, at the age of 93.That Bakersfield Sound Bakersfield Sound article

Discography 60 Years of Western Swing (2006)

References

External links Echoes of Bakersfield, an informational archive site. Article about the Bakersfield Sound, Tales and Reflections. Another Bakersfield Sound article Totally Explained. Walking the Floor with Chris Shiflett Tommy Hays about his life and the golden age of the Bakersfield Sound KERO 23 article Two Legends Play At Crystal Palace BillyMizeMovie.com Coming to a Palace near you: The Billy Mize film