Personal life
Wynans grew up in Sarasota, Florida, United States, during the 1950s. Wynans and his six siblings began taking piano lessons at early ages, but he was the only one who "really loved playing."
Musical career
Wynans was a member of the Second Coming, which from November 1968 to March 1969 included two future and founding members of The Allman Brothers Band: guitarist Dickey Betts and bassist Berry Oakley. Other band members were Dale Betts, Larry Reinhardt, and John Meeks. Wynans was involved in the initial jam session with Duane Allman, Betts, Oakley, Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe that led to the formation of the Allman Brothers Band, but was eased aside in favor of vocalist Gregg Allman, as founder Duane Allman did not want two keyboardists, two guitarists, and two drummers all in the same band.
In 1973 he played with Captain Beyond and was on the album Sufficiently Breathless. He quit after just one show with the band, later explaining, "Captain Beyond was a great band to play with, but from the management side it was terribly organized... I was very poor at that time, living in somebody´s else garage, so I needed to work and had to quit." In 1975 he relocated to Austin, TX to join the Jerry Jeff Walker band. They recorded several albums and toured the US extensively. other band members were Dave Perkins, Bobby Rambo, Leo Lablanc, Tomas Ramirez, Ron Cobb, and Fred Krc. Wynans also played with The Explosives along with Fred Krc, Waller Collie, and Cam King. In 1980 he joined the Delbert McClinton band. Other band members were Billy Sanders, James Pennebaker, Larry Lange, Robert Harwell, Ernie Durawa, Roddy Colona and others. He also played piano on many of the tracks on Carole King's albums "Touch the Sky" and "One to One" and appears on her VHS recording of the same name.
1985–1990: Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Wynans joined Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble in 1985, playing keyboards on Soul to Soul and In Step. Wynans performed with the group until Vaughan's death in 1990.
After Vaughan's death, Wynans joined the touring bands of Joe Ely and Lee Roy Parnell.
1992–present
Since moving to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1992, Wynans has played keyboards for a number of country artists including Brooks & Dunn, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, and Hank Williams Jr. Wynans has also played for blues artists Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Colin James, Ana Popovic, Dudley Taft, Eli Cook, and Los Lonely Boys.
Wynans frequently performs live at 3rd & Lindsley Bar and Grill in Nashville, with a number of established local bands, usually consisting of Nashville session musicians.
In late 2014 and early 2015, Wynans was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame, Austin City Limits, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame all as a part of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble.
In 2015, he became the touring keyboard player for blues rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. Wynans had previously played keyboards on Bonamassa's 2014 album Different Shades of Blue and his "Muddy Wolf" tour, where Bonamassa played songs originally recorded by Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Wynans appeared with Bonamassa on his winter 2016 tour and featured on his album Blues of Desperation.
In March 2019, his album Sweet Release spent two weeks at number 2 in the US Billboard Blues Albums Chart.
In March 2020 Wynans came full circle, replacing the late Gregg Allman on organ for the special The Brothers 50 celebratory concert, that marked 50 years since the formation of the Allman Brothers Band, at Madison Square Garden.
Say What
Reese Wynans and Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't know what i was looking for
I was retracing footsteps you took some ten years ago
I went out alone
What was I supposed to say to you?
High atop the hill, it seemed the tallest on the coast
At least to me it was the steepest slope
Following directions from the return address of an envelope
What was I supposed to say to you?
Then I came across a small tree, newly bearing fruit
A theft that I could justify
My mouth was dry, I needed to
Remind myself you were far too young
To see this tree in bloom
You come in on cue
"I don't know
If it wasn't for the time spent during adolescence
Sending letters back east
Would you have forgotten me?
A former friend that
Faded to the west
Was not a cause for concern
Vague promises to return
Twisted my arm
To pull me in
Before I left
You captured my violin
Went to my parents
Asking for their blessings
In remembering me
Haha, how flattering"
Even though
I know that
You're not home
There's a part of me that still hopes you'll be
Somewhere up the stairs
Sitting in your desk chair
Covering envelopes in bits of tape and string
Because if I don't forget you
Then you're not forgetting me
What was I supposed to say to you?
Feels like I barely knew you
Really, what was I supposed to say?
In the song "Say What" by Reese Wynans and Friends, the singer is wandering through a neighborhood, retracing the footsteps of someone they used to know. The singer comes across a hill that seemed very steep to them, and they follow the directions on a yellowed note, which takes them to a tree that is newly bearing fruit. The singer steals a piece of the fruit, reminding them that the person they are looking for is far too young to have seen the tree in bloom. Finally, the person they are looking for appears, and they have a conversation about what could have been in their past.
The song seems to reflect on lost opportunities and missed chances. The singer is reminiscing on what could have been, but they didn't know the right things to say at the time. The stolen fruit may be a symbol for the time that has passed, and the heavy nostalgia that the singer feels for a time that they can never go back to. The appearance of the person they are looking for seems to highlight how life goes on, and how people inevitably fade in and out of each other's lives.
Overall, "Say What" is a thoughtful and melancholic reflection on the people we used to know and the paths that we could have taken. The singer's journey through the neighborhood stands for the journey of life, with many twists and turns that we cannot predict or control.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun cast my shadow on the pavement of your neighborhood
I felt out of place and unsure of myself in your surroundings
I didn't know what i was looking for
I was lost and searching for direction
I was retracing footsteps you took some ten years ago
I was trying to follow in your footsteps, but ten years too late
I went out alone
I embarked on this journey by myself
What was I supposed to say to you?
I didn't know how to communicate with you when I found you
High atop the hill, it seemed the tallest on the coast
The hill appeared to be the highest point on the coast from my viewpoint
At least to me it was the steepest slope
To me, the hill seemed like a difficult climb
Following directions from the return address of an envelope
I was following the address on an old letter
A tiny, yellowed note
The letter was old and musty
Then I came across a small tree, newly bearing fruit
I discovered a young tree that had just begun to bear fruit
A theft that I could justify
I felt it was okay to take some fruit from the tree
My mouth was dry, I needed to
I was thirsty and needed something to drink
Remind myself you were far too young
I remembered that you were much younger than me
To see this tree in bloom
You couldn't have seen the tree when it was at its best
You come in on cue
You arrived at the perfect moment
"I don't know
If it wasn't for the time spent during adolescence
Sending letters back east
Would you have forgotten me?
A former friend that
Faded to the west
Was not a cause for concern
Vague promises to return
Twisted my arm
To pull me in
Before I left
You captured my violin
Went to my parents
Asking for their blessings
In remembering me
Haha, how flattering"
You reminisced about our past and our letters
Even though
I know that
You're not home
I know you're not actually here
There's a part of me that still hopes you'll be
I still long for you to be with me
Somewhere up the stairs
Sitting in your desk chair
Covering envelopes in bits of tape and string
I imagine you in your old room, decorating envelopes with me in mind
Because if I don't forget you
Then you're not forgetting me
If I still remember you, I know that you haven't forgotten me either
Feels like I barely knew you
I don't feel like I really knew you despite our past correspondence
Really, what was I supposed to say?
I still struggle to find the right words to say to you
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Michal Comite
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind