Rodney Lay was born in Coffeyville, Kansas. In 1957, he established his own band, initially known as Rodney Lay and the Off Beats. By 1960, the group had evolved into a rock 'n roll ensemble called the Blazers. Lay then relocated the band to Kansas City, where they recorded "Teenage Cinderella" for their own label, Kampus, earning a profit of 35 cents per record. The single caught the attention of Johnny Tillotson’s manager, who purchased a copy for the young singer. Eventually, the record came to the notice of an executive at Dore Records in Hollywood, leading to its release under the name Rodney and the Blazers. In 1961, the group followed up with the single "Snow White" / "Tell Me Baby," also released on Dore. Following a suggestion from Joey Dee of the Starliters, the band moved to New York in 1962, where they performed at the Peppermint Lounge. Throughout the 1960s, the Blazers toured alongside Jerry Lee Lewis and later, from 1964 to 1966, with Wanda Jackson.

By 1965, Lay shifted his focus from rock music to country and western. In 1966, he became a deejay at KGGF in Coffeyville, a position he held until 1972. The following year, he formed another band, Rodney Lay and The Wild West. During this time, he began to see his original songs recorded. In 1967, Hank Thompson enjoyed a Top 20 hit with Lay’s "He’s Got a Way with Women," which Bob Luman would later record. In 1969, Waylon Jennings reached the Top 20 with "Something’s Wrong in California," and that same year, the Hagers achieved success with "Gotta Get To Oklahoma." An interview with Buck Owens on Lay’s radio show in 1970 led to Owens facilitating a record deal for him, first with his Blue Book label and subsequently with Capitol Records. Lay released two singles for Capitol: "Georgia Boy" / "I Don’t Wanna Make It" and "Tennessee Woman" / "I Don’t Know Enough." His film debut came in 1973 when he appeared in Sam Peckinpah's movie, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Between 1975 and 1976, Lay’s band supported Freddy Fender during his peak years.

In October 1976, Lay reunited with Roy Clark as his band leader, which expanded his exposure to a broader international audience. By 1979, he signed with Sun Records, and his 1980 album, Rockabilly Nuggets, received critical acclaim. He made his first appearance on the Country charts in 1981 with the Top 90 single, "Seven Days Come Sunday." By the end of that year, Lay had transitioned to Halsey’s Churchill label, performing as Rodney Lay & the Wild West. In 1982, they achieved a Top 75 hit with "Happy Country Birthday Darling," followed by the well-received single "I Wish I Had a Job to Shove," which marked his first entry into the Top 50.