Long before the Dixie Chicks had a taste of the limelight, Lloyd Maines had already made a name for himself in the country music industry. He is the father of Natalie Maines, the lead vocalist of Dixie Chicks. Hence, he played an important role in molding his daughter and the band in finding their own music.
Maines is a talented multi-instrumentalist who started as a steel guitarist. Seeing an opportunity in producing a single, he ventured on record production. And, this is the reason why he is not just limited to playing instruments but also producing award-winning records. Let us know more about him as he celebrates his 67th birthday today.
His Humble Beginnings
Born on June 28, 1951, Lloyd Wayne Maines or just simply Lloyd Maines grew up in the busy city of Lubbock in Texas. Growing up, his parents already saw raw talent in him. Eventually, he mastered playing several kinds of instruments such as guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, bell tree, and the lap steel guitar. After discovering his talent of being a multi-instrumentalist, Maines soon was best known as a pedal steel player.
Persistent and sure of what he was taking, he soon joined Joe Ely and his band and started performing around Texas and neighboring states. To note, he has also played with singers and musicians like Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Butch Hancock, Terry Allen, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Golden Bear.
In the late 1970s until the early 1980s, Maines and his brothers, Donnie, Kenny and Steve, formed their own band named The Maines Brothers Band. It was a Texas-based country music band which popularized alternative country music style. Furthermore, he started producing a number of his own music. In addition, he has also produced and worked on recording projects with some notable artists.
His Awards and Accolades
More known as a multi-instrumentalist and record producer, Maines has been acclaimed as one of the best in his own craft. In fact, he was one of the three inductees into the Austin City Limits Hall Of Fame along with country music legends Willie Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
In 2003, Maines brought home a Grammy Award for Best Country Album as producer of the Dixie Chicks’ album, Home. He was very instrumental to the career of his daughter, Natalie, and as well to the band. Additionally, he was credited for bringing Susan Gibson’s song “Wide Open Spaces” to the Dixie Chicks. The song has become a hit and remained one of the band’s signature songs.
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birthday, Dixie Chicks, Lloyd Maines