How Eddie Hay Found His Sound
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Meet Eddie Hay: The Rising Americana Guitarist Who Lives to Outrun the Ordinary
Some artists grow into music. Others are thrown straight into it by fate, generosity, and a little bit of luck. For Nashville guitarist Eddie Hay, it all started with a moment he still can’t quite believe.
“I was given a guitar as a gift by Kaleo Wassman of the reggae band Pepper,” Eddie remembers. “He literally handed it to me at one of his shows—just out of pure generosity.”
That moment lit the fuse. His dad signed him up for lessons with Chris Vasquez at SoundLifeLessons, and the two of them spent countless nights singing Merle Haggard and cycling through every country song they could find.
From there, Eddie fell headfirst into the world he lives in today—Americana, chicken pickin’, and the unmistakable bark of a Telecaster.
Life on the Road — and the People Who Shaped It
Eddie’s journey hasn’t been a quiet one. It’s happened on highways, stages, and late nights with guitars in laps and stories in the air.
“We’ve had some amazing times on the road,” Eddie says. “Hanging with my high-school buddies Gabe and Boyd, jamming with Nick England, and running around with Bayker and the whole crew. We all hit it off instantly.”
There are certain memories that stick:
- Watching Sturgill Simpson tear it up at Bourbon & Beyond in Kentucky
- Spending time with the 49 Winchester guys — “so cool and kind to us”
- Late-night hangs with Wyatt Flores’s band, learning, listening, and trading riffs
These are the moments that sharpened his sound and tightened his circle.
The Artists Who Inspired Eddie
If you ask Eddie about guitar heroes, he lights up.
- Marcus King – “A huge one. One of my favorites ever.”
- Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram – “I love him so much.”
- Jimmy Page & Dickey Betts – “More than anything. Dickey Betts is one of the all-time coolest.”
- Rob McNelley – “He’s mentored me a lot.”
- Ryan Oliver Murphy – “He’s taught me so much at Nashville School of the Arts.”
These names shaped his playing, his tone, and the way he shows up on stage.
Offstage: Nashville, Dogs, and Friends
For all the high-energy nights and cross-country miles, Eddie’s favorite place is still home.
“I love hanging out with my dogs and parents,” he says. “And I love spending time with my friends around Nashville.”
At the end of the day, he’s a Tennessee kid with a guitar and a community that keeps him grounded.
Why Eddie Rocks the Runner Hat
“The Runner hat in brown is one of my favorite hats I own,” Eddie says.
“The shape is great, and I think the logo is the coolest. It’s amazing on stage and for a night out.”
He wears it not just for the look—but because it feels like him. Authentic. Simple. Ready for the next show.
Finding a Stage Style
Eddie is honest about the part most artists avoid talking about.
“Stage style is hard,” he says. “I struggle with fits. I try to be energetic, move around, play good, rock out… but that’s a tough one. I still need to find it.”
Maybe that search—just like his tone, his songwriting, and his presence—is part of the journey.
The Riff That Defines Him
“Long Hard Life by 49 Winchester is an amazing song,” Eddie says.
“It’s the coolest riff.”
Coming from Eddie, that’s saying something.
What “Outrun the Ordinary” Means to Eddie
For Eddie, our motto isn’t just a phrase. It’s a way of life.
“It means to outwork those who aren’t as passionate as you,” he says.
“We’ve been working super duper hard on the road. I play a lot of guitar. A lot.
To me, it means to outwork.”
That’s the spirit that makes Eddie Hay who he is—and why we’re proud to have him as part of the Road Runner Western story.