"Like freshly tilled earth, this heartland gem will enrich your soul time and time again. A debut from small-town Tennessee legends ...one listen and you'll see what the fuss is all about."
"Doing what they do best, the Van Durham boys deliver refreshingly earthy arrangements of holiday favorites spiced with soulful harmonica, foot-tapping guitars, mandolin, banjo, and more."
I am pleased to announce that "Christmas From The Heartland" by Dunham Van Durham has been released and is now available at the iTunes store, as well as on CD Baby and Amazon. If you liked the music on "Simpler Times," I know you'll love this one.
This is a bittersweet time. I know many of us are still mourning the loss of our dear friend Wayne Doyle, but we can all take comfort in the fact that he's smiling down on us right now. It was his dream to see this album completed, and it wouldn't have happened without him. Wayne's family has told me that he was at peace, and he went with a smile on his face. There's no doubt in my mind that this album had a lot to do with that.
Ken Simpkins
10/30/08:
Hello everyone, this is Ken Simpkins. I have some very heartbreaking news. It is with great sadness that I inform you that our dear friend Wayne Doyle passed away this morning. He died of complications arising from an advanced stage of liver cirrhosis. I know that many of you were aware of Wayne's ongoing battle with alcoholism, but for others, this probably comes as a shock. He struggled with this disease for a very long time, and after years of hard living, it finally claimed his life.
Those of us who knew him know that despite his vices, he was one of the most kindhearted and giving souls you'll ever meet. He made everyone around him feel appreciated. Whenever he walked into a room, no one could help but smile.
Junior, Roland and Lyman Van Durham will be dedicating their upcoming album to Wayne's memory. Wayne's contribution to the documentation of their music, as well as his efforts to spread the word about it cannot be overstated. More than anyone else, Wayne has been a champion of Dunham Van Durham, and it is the boys' sincere hope that Wayne's fiery spirit and unlimited generosity will live on in their music.
As sad as I am right now, I'm reminded of something Wayne used to always say, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that there's a lot of wisdom in it: "An ending ain't nothin' but a new beginning."
May God rest his soul.
Wayne Solomon Doyle (1952-2008)
UPDATE FROM WAYNE 8/12/08:
The wait is over! Simpler Times has been released and is now available on iTunes and the Amazon MP3 store. Finally, after all the hard work, this fine music can be enjoyed by all. I can't tell you how proud I am of these boys.
Now, I hope you'll bear with me--I need to do some thanking. Getting the boys' music out there has really been a team effort, and there's some people whose names ought to be mentioned.
I'm talking about people like Bill Crouch, David Coley and Jon Cline-- folks who supported the boys from the very beginning of this whole thing. Stacy Price, Ronnie Reeves, Jeff Scroggins. I could go on and on. All those people who offered their support and words of encouragement. I know I'm leaving people out here. Pat Nevins, Dale Allan, Tim DeMillo. Some of these folks are old friends, some new, but believe me when I tell you I feel a real kinship to all of them. We all have one thing in common, and that's a deep love and appreciation of the boys' music, and I know everybody's glad it's finally been recorded.
But most of all, thanks to Ken Simpkins. (Thanks Ken! Without you, this whole damn project would have never got off the ground.)
If you'll take a look below, you can put a face to some of these names. I want you to click on these names and get to know them, because they're some of the finest folks around.
Now, let's all go enjoy Simpler Times.
Your friend,
Wayne Doyle
Junior, Roland and Lyman Van Durham, or "the Van Durham boys," as they're known here in their hometown of Tellico Plains, Tennessee, have been making music together for longer than most of us can remember. (Some folk say Lyman was born with a harmonica in his mouth.) During the 40-odd years they've been playing, all the way up until now, nobody's had the privilege of hearing their fine music except for us lucky Tellico locals--the boys' own friends, family and neighbors. As everybody here knows, if you aren't lucky enough to catch the boys striking up a tune on a neighbor's porch, or out in the street, as they're inclined to do any time, day or night, you can always find them on Sunday nights at the Bison Head Inn, where they've played regularly, like clockwork, since 1976, when their daddy died and they took over his gig. Their daddy, by the way, was Dunham Van Durham, a local legend--the finest banjo player these parts have ever seen, and a damn good guitar player to boot. The boys'll tell you that not a day goes by when they don't think about their daddy, and that's why they named their band after him.
Now, while none of the boys ever had a mind to put anything to tape, a few of us got to talking one day, and we decided that it was high time the Van Durham boys' music got heard. Especially now, with the advent of the Internet and all, we thought, "Well, this ought to be a cinch."
Well, that's enough of my rambling. Go ahead and take a listen. See what all the fuss is about.
Oh, and keep your eyes out for the full album... coming this summer.
May 2010 be a better year for all of us! The very best of Holidays to you and yours from Nashville! Jimmy Roberts - Songwriter / Pedal Steel Guitarist :)
Hi There, We started a Facebook site and wanted to let you know about it in you case you have one too and would like to join us there as well as at Myspace. For the link... Just Click here----->
FACEBOOK Urban Monroes Thanks a lot. Hope to see ya there!
Stopping by to say hello. I love listening to your music, the instruments you play and the way you play them as well as the arrangements. Always enjoy listening and I'm always inspired. I hope you're enjoying the Autumn.
Hi Ya'll, Hope your well and doing great! I ask all to please pray for Willie, & Billy She is Billy Wayne's wife who had a massive heart attack two nights ago. Billy is who is the one responsiple for me being able to be going to Nashville to do my album! All Peace & Love Lee
Hi my friend Dunham, hope everything's alright and your projects are working out.
I'm asking you for your support. My song Light on the horizon is one of the finalists of an important german songwritercontest of Rollingstone and aspirin. You can listen to the song and vote for it on my myspace site or directly on
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