Herman “Pete” B. Wade, born on December 16, 1934, in Norfolk, Virginia, found his calling in music early on. In 1954, with just \$3, a suitcase, and big dreams, he left for Nashville, Tennessee—the heart of country music.

Though he forgot his two ham sandwiches on the bus, he arrived with something more important: raw talent and determination.

In Nashville, Pete used the contacts he had—Don Helms and Jerry Rivers of Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys—to get his foot in the door.

His guitar skills soon caught the attention of major artists, earning him a place among the city’s most in-demand session musicians.

Over the years, Pete Wade played on countless hits by legends like Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, and Tammy Wynette. His smooth, melodic guitar work helped shape the “Nashville Sound,” making him a key figure in country music history.