A big loss to the music world
Sunday, March 3, 2013

Dr. Dyess was such a great teacher, mentor and inspiration to me. If it wasn't for Doc; I would not have graduated Lamar early like I wanted to. I enjoyed playing every moment in his jazz band and pep band. Thank you Dr. Dyess for everything that you did for me and for others. I know we will all miss that smile and laughter of yours. Rest in peace.
Sunday, March 3, 2013

I had the occaision to meet Wayne once at a NAJE convention. I would tell right away what a fantastic person he was. He mailed me some playalong tapes afterwards that were just great help to my students. I thought the world of this guy, and he will be missed

Our greatest sympathy,

Dr. John A. Entzi
Adjunct professor of Trumpet and Jazz
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill, NC
Sunday, March 3, 2013

Wayne and I were email friends for several years, with a common interest in music. I regret that I never got to meet him. I considered him a good friend and I will miss him.

Hans Jacobs
Sunday, March 3, 2013

The passing of Dr. Jimmy Wayne Dyess leaves me very sad. Wayne and his wife Linda grew up the small town of Pittsburg, Texas. Along with them were Linda's cousin Nancy who is my brother Jimmy's wife. Pittsburg band was not a real big band but is was a great band that had good teachers that inspired a huge number of students to become band directors including me and both my brothers Jimmy and Gary. Wayne was just another brother to us. All the Pittsburg band students were a real close family. We spent a lot of time we didn't have to at the band hall practicing after school, during study halls when kids would really practice during them. I will not list them for fear of leaving some out and hurting their feelings. There are just too many of them anyway. Wayne, Gary, and I got together at either TMEA or TBA in 1975 and decided to start a recording business together. Neither of us lived in the same town at the time. Wayne was in Nederland, Gary was in Longview, and I was in Mesquite. It didn't last long as a three way partnership Gary moved on to form Jordan Sound Productions. I ended up moving to Nederland in 1976 and for around 6 years Wayne and I ran the studio there together. We still did occasional work with Gary. The years in Nederland were great years for me and Wayne. I finally moved away and sold out to him. However, I for over the next 30 plus years did a lot of recording with Wayne and tremendous amount of mixing with him on projects. I came back and forth to Nederland a lot over the last 35 years because my kids and grandkids live there. I go see them as often as possible but I always saved a day to spend with Wayne my very best friend. Often during mixing projects, I spent more time with Wayne. Probably a well deserved complaint from my daughters. But, they knew how much Wayne meant to me as a friend. I truly loved Wayne as you can only love someone really dear to you. I have had to shed some tears. However, I am glad his suffering is now over. I look forward to seeing him again one day. He is truly in a more wonderful place now.
Sunday, March 3, 2013