An interview with Reese Wynans

New York Times Bestselling author Alan Paul is doing video interviews with musicians stuck at home during the COVID-19 crisis. Volume Four of The Lockdown Lowdown features keyboardist Reese Wynans, speaking from his home in Nashville, TN. Wynans is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, from 1985-90.

He played organ with the Brothers, the reunion of the surviving members of the Allman Brothers Band on March 10, 2020 at Madison Square Garden, performing with Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks Oteil Burbridge, Jaimoe, Marc Quinones, Duane Trucks and Chuck Leavell. That performance brought his career full circle, because Wynans was a member of the Second Coming, from November, 1968 to March, playing with two future and founding members of The Allman Brothers Band: guitarist Dickey Betts and bassist Berry Oakley. Other band members were Dale Betts, Larry Reinhardt, and John Meeks. Wynans was involved in the initial jam session with Duane Allman, Betts, Oakley, Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe that led to the formation of the Allman Brothers Band, but was eased aside in favor of vocalist Gregg Allman.

Before joining up with Vaughan, Wynans played with many others, including Boz Scaggs, Jerry Jeff Walker and Delbert McClinton. After Vaughan's death, Wynans has played with many artists, including Joe Ely, Lee Roy Parnell, Brooks & Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., Buddy Guy, John Mayall, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Since 2015, he has toured and recorded with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, who produced his solo debut, 2019's Sweet Release.

Alan:Reese you have a special place in my heart because you’re on Allman Brothers “One Way Out” and “Texas Flood.” What Was your experience onstage?

Reese:Onstage was unbelievable! I hadn’t played Madison Square Garden in quite awhile and the fact that we played it in 360 in the whole entire building was outrageous! And, then to play with the Allman Brothers who have some of the best musical catalogs in Rock ‘n’ Roll. But also, because I love their stuff. -Reese

Alan:On the frontside, the band was told that they wouldn’t be able to sellout Madison Square Garden. And that they should have had guests.People questioning things and it turns out that every decision was wrong. Your thoughts?

Reese:Chuck Leavell was there which was a cool thing so we had two guitarists,three drummers. Two keyboard players and one bass player. Usually, Ilike to play all the keyboard parts but I respect Chuck and it all workedout great

Also included in the interview is Reese talking about working with the band “Second Coming”, with Betts and Oakley, playing in psychedelic clubs, being a part of the band “Bitter Sweet” and Sunday jams in the park in Jacksonville for free, long hair harassment's and more!

Hear the entire interview in the video above!