A Tribute To Old Time Country Music

Established 1998 (As Gary Sez)

Kendall Hayes
1936 - 1995


Jump To Music

Back in the early 1960s, I was a teen living in Danville Kentucky, and like many other teens I had an after school job. For me it was at a small Kocolene gas station. I remember one of our customers named Kendall Hayes. Now Kendall was a good customer, and always very nice when he came in. He was just a pleasure to serve. I knew where he worked, what he drove, what kind of gas he wanted, and a few other things about him. But what I didn't know, was that he was a song writer. I just don't recall it being discussed when he came around. Well, when "Just Walk On By" by Leroy Van Dyke came out and shot to the top of the charts in both the country and pop field, I just about flipped when I was told that Kendall had written the song. Needless to say, that he became quite the small town hero when folks found out he was the composer of a mega hit like "Walk On By". But Kendall never acted any different. He was still the nice guy he had always been, He just didn't let his success as a song writer go to his head.

I moved from Kentucky in 1962 and never had contact with Kendall again, but I just recently found out that he was not only a song writer, but that he also recorded some songs himself. I have managed to find a couple of the songs that he wrote and recorded. I believe these songs were recorded in 1962, the same year I left Kentucky, but I just heard them for the first time a few weeks ago. I don't believe these songs were ever hits for Kendall, but I for one am very proud to have them, and for the first time, hear the composer of "Walk On By" sing a song himself. And dang well, I might add!

We lost Kendall in 1995 at the age of 59. When we lost Mr. Hayes, we lost a great talent. And I'm proud to say I knew him, if only breifly as a teenager.


While these songs may not be pure country songs, they are very nostalgic, and what was happening in 1962.

Just click on title to listen to Kendall sing for you. The songs are in the MP3 format.

Roaming Through The Countryside

Come On Son

Jungle Of Love

Thisaway Or Thataway

And here's Kendall's "Walk On By" as recorded by Leroy Van Dyke

Walk On By
Leroy Van Dyke


If anyone has any pictures of Kendall, or maybe some of his music that they would like to share with me and the world, feel free to contact me at the e mail placed on this and other pages of this site.

From Email & The Guestbook


After looking at the site, I found all the other entertainers I didn't know was there. Kendall Hayes was a great friend. He graduated in 1957 and I graduated in 1959. He and I used to play music in his or my living room real often..

Bill Randolph
Fort Smith, Arkansas





Home To Gary's Country

Jimmie Osborne Tribute / Asher & Jimmie Sizemore /
Bus 27 / Links / Legends / Country Trivia / Silly Song Titles /

Complete Site Map



Please note: I realize no profit from the music on this page. All songs are from my personal collection, and are intended to educate, and are for private in home use only.

Kendall Hayes tribute page created by Gary Stevens Using Geocitie's advanced HTML editor and Microsoft notepad. I bet you really wanted to know that!