Known for his stinging guitar work and as a dynamic performer, Vincent does more than just “cover” the blues. He also writes his own original songs, inspired by events in his life and stories of people he has met along the way. A fiery entertainer as well, he is also a veteran of Michigan blues clubs and festivals for nearly ten years. Vincent is a seasoned guitarist/vocalist who has performed alongside and/or opened for many national touring acts including: John Sinclair & His Blues Scholars, Larry McCray, Peter “Madcat” Ruth, Rory Block, Paul Rishell, Jimmie Stagger and others.
A full-time guitar instructor by day, Vince studied music theory in college before discovering that his true passion was playing the blues. While in his early twenties he began hitting blues jam sessions throughout the Midwest and playing on street corners in Michigan, Chicago and as far away as Beale St. in Memphis, TN. While playing in various rock bands, he simultaneously earned a reputation as a solo acoustic performer at Michigan blues festivals until he ran into Dave Alves in 2004 and invited Alves to be part of the house band at a jam session Vince was hosting at a local club. The synergy between them was obvious, and so The Vincent Hayes Project was born.
Vince grew up in a musical family, learning guitar from his father, a veteran guitar and accordian instructor who schooled him in the sounds of Chuck Berry, The Beatles and Bob Dylan before Vince discovered the blues in his college years. Vince's favorite artists range from those early rock & folk artists to blues icons Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, BB King, Peter Green and Muddy Waters, as well as the likes of Prince, Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, U2, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, Charley Parker, and Led Zeppelin.
In addition to guitar, Vince also plays harmonica & keyboards, and is proficient on the traditional Japanese Shakuhachi flute and the Native American Indian five-hole pentatonic flute.
