Gene Wyatt, affectionately known as "Colonel Gene," was a revered figure in South Carolina's music scene. Born and raised in Converse, he began playing guitar at age 10, deeply influenced by the traditional country sounds of the 1930s and 1940s. After a stint in professional baseball, Wyatt returned to his first love—music. He performed extensively in the Spartanburg area, taught guitar in schools and his private studio, and collaborated with notable musicians like Walter "Hank" Garland. In the 1980s, he co-founded "The Jam," a celebrated gathering for bluegrass and country enthusiasts. Wyatt's dedication to preserving and teaching traditional music earned him the Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award in 1999. ([knowitall.org](https://www.knowitall.org/photo/gene-wyatt-photos-digital-traditions?utm_source=openai))