Dr. Wayne Dyess

What a wonderful person he was! A fantastic musician! God's speed, Wayne.

Such a wonderfully kind and gracious man. Loved seeing his smiling face. I am deeply saddened that the world has lost this precious soul, but so very encouraged that he is playing his trombone in God's presence now. What a concert they're having. My prayers are with his family.

Wayne was the third person I met, when I came to Texas. Don Rollins took me down to his office and introduced me to Wayne, Kurt Killion and Jeff Laird. It was the first required rehearsal of the marching band on a Sunday before fall registration. That was thirty-three years ago.

One of things that I will always be grateful for, that came out of my education at Lamar University, was that when I graduated, I had three teachers that I could not only call "mentor", but could also call "friend". If i ever needed anything, i could pick up the phone and ask them, and if they could, they would. Those teachers were Jimmy Simmons, Barry Johnson, and Wayne Dyess.

I'll never forget the first marching band rehearsal after Wayne picked me to be drum major. The first thing I got to conduct was his arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner. I still get goose bumps just thinking about the sound that came at me!

I studied arranging with Wayne, both undergrad and graduate level. Even years after I had graduated, I could take Wayne a score I had written and say, "hey, take a look at this". Wayne would look at it and say,"looks good, but fix this!" I would laugh and say, "yes, sir". Just like the old days.

I will never forget those days, what he taught me, and the friendship we had for thirty plus years. Rest in peace, dear friend. You will never know how much you've meant to so many people, and especially to me.

Dr.Dyess will never be forgotten by me and my family. Therefore, he will never be truly gone...only missed. Our prayers are with you. Our God is awesome and he only chooses the best for His glory. May God grant the family His strength and grace.

To a great friend and musician, rest easy. You will always be remembered. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Danny Prado

Wayne was such a good guy and wonderful friend & musician. His talents and contagious smile will be missed by so many, certainly including me.

To Dr. Dyess:
You gave everything you had to give and more to everyone you met. Not a single person who spent time in your company was untouched. You were genuine, you were honest, and you had such a great passion for life. You showed this community that we need to remember to play for the sheer joy of playing, to share the love of music. You taught us to listen to each other, to be kind to one other when we wanted to argue, to laugh at our own mistakes. Thank you, for showing me how to always play from my heart. Music will never be the same without you.

I am a jazz vocalist who resides in Tennessee, but I was born and reared in Beaumont, TX.

Although I never met Dr. Wayne Dyess personally, we discussed through e-mail exchanges his working with me to arrange a few jazz tunes. My hope was someday to perform those arrangements with him in my hometown.

I will always think of him as a kindred spirit in music, and I truly wish that I had been able to meet him in person. I send my deepest condolences to his family.

Sylvia A. Thompson
Jazz Vocalist

I enjoyed reconnecting with Wayne through Facebook and learn that he hadn't changed one bit through the years. What a joy to get to know this kind and wonderful man again. I'm truly amazed at the outpouring of gratefulness for his life and his mentorship to so many. Wayne, you and your music will forever be missed.

I had the privilege of going to Europe with Wayne when we traveled with the Kingwood Pops Orchestra. He was an amazing musician, friend and a true joy to be around on the trip! It was an honor to play quite a few of his pieces and wonderful to be able to hear him play!!! He was truly gifted and I feel blessed to have had the chance to meet, travel and play with him. Kingwood Pops will miss him!!