[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   A TRIBUTE TO MUCM WAYNE C. TAYLOR

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                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. SKELTON. Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to pay 
tribute to Wayne Taylor, Master Chief Musician of the United States 
Navy Band. Mr. Taylor is retiring on March 21, 2008, after a 
distinguished career as the lead singer for the U.S. Navy Band's 
premiere country-bluegrass group, Country Current.
  Wayne joined the Navy for his first enlistment in 1974 and was 
assigned to the Aviation rating. He auditioned and was accepted into 
the Navy Music Program and received orders to the School of Music at 
Little Creek, Virginia. Upon graduating he reported for duty with the 
Seventh Fleet Band in Yokosuka, Japan, as lead vocalist and guitarist 
with the ``Orient Express'' Rock Band. He was stationed onboard the USS 
Oklahoma City. Throughout his 2 years in Japan, he traveled to many 
Asian countries on 13 different ships. Wayne was honorably discharged 
in 1978 as a Musician 3rd Class.
  When Wayne decided to re-enlist in the Navy in 1987, he auditioned 
for Country Current and has spent the last 20 years and 7 months as 
their lead singer. Country Current has performed in 49 of the 50 
states, for four U.S. Presidents, three times at the Grand Ole Opry, 
for the ``Nashville Now'' show, Good Morning America, the Today Show, 
Wheeling Jamboree and Richmond Barn Dance. As a member of the Country 
Current Duo, he has performed at 13 Army-Navy football games and for 
distinguished military and civilian officials around Washington. Taylor 
sang the National Anthem to over 100,000 patrons at the Charlotte 600 
NASCAR Race in Charlotte, NC, and at Comisky Park for a Chicago White 
Sox baseball game.
  Wayne and his wife, Marrie, have two children; Wayne Coleman Taylor, 
Jr. (former Marine) and Terra Lee Ann Taylor, a Hospital Corpsman 
presently stationed in Earle, NJ. I am sure Members of the House will 
join me in thanking Wayne Coleman for his service to our country and 
for sharing his love of music with people throughout the world.

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