Wayne's musical journey began at the tender age of nine when he picked up the guitar, inspired by his father who took him to American Legion dances. There, Wayne met the band's guitarist, who taught him several chords. By the age of 12, he had joined his first band, "The Initials," where he played rhythm guitar and provided backup vocals alongside his brother, David. The group performed at local gigs and high school dances for four years. Following this, Wayne formed his own band, the "Contours," which played alongside Arthur Smith's "Cracker Jacks" on two occasions and continued performing at local dances for three years. Influenced by Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles, Wayne transitioned to rock music, playing in a rock band throughout high school at various dances and concerts.

In 1971, Wayne, along with his longtime friend David Parker, attended a bluegrass festival in Marion, NC, featuring performances by Lester Flatt and Mac Wiseman. This experience prompted them to form the "East Maiden Express" bluegrass group, with Wayne playing mandolin. The group performed locally and traveled to Estes Park, Colorado, where they played for several months, ultimately concluding their run at the Union Grove Fiddler's Convention in 1973.

Wayne's path took a new direction in 1974 when he joined the Navy. His service included duty at Midway Island, the School of Music in Little Creek, VA, and the Seventh Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan, aboard the USS Oklahoma City, with travels extending to Thailand, Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Mauritius Island.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy in 1978, Wayne pursued his passion for music at San Joaquin Delta College and later at The Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, where he studied Music Therapy and earned a Bachelor's degree in Music. In 1983, he and his family returned to North Carolina.

In 1987, Wayne auditioned for the Navy Band and was accepted, dedicating 21 years to the Navy, with 18 of those years spent with the "Country Current."

Wayne's career highlights include singing "Uncle Pen" with Bill Monroe in Rosine, KY, in 1995, where Bill provided harmony. He has performed alongside notable artists such as Larry Gatlin, Vince Gill, Lee Greenwood, Rhonda Vincent, Alicia Nugent, IIIrd Tyme Out, John Hartford, Gary Morris, and David Ball. Additionally, Wayne has conducted guitar workshops in Tacoma, Washington, with fellow musicians Kenny Smith, David Grier, and Bryan Sutton. His performance history includes entertaining U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. Bush, William J. Clinton, and George W. Bush, as well as heads of state and dignitaries, including the King and Queen of Sweden in 1991. He notably performed for Chinese dignitaries in Beijing, China, in 1989 and participated in a Military Tattoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Wayne has recorded with a number of esteemed bluegrass artists, including Keith Arneson, Mike Auldridge, Bill Bryson, Dennis Caplinger, Ray Deaton, Bill Emerson, Jimmy Geaudreax, Emory Lester, Kip Martin, John Moore, Russell Moore, Wyatt Rice, Rickie Simpkins, Ron Stewart, Fred Travers, Dan Tyminski, Joe Wheatley, and Pat White.