Born to Edward and Lula Wade on December 16, 1934, in Norfolk, Va., Herman “Pete” B. Wade moved to Nashville in 1954. The guitarist made the trip on a bus with $3, his suitcase, and two ham sandwiches. (He forgot his sandwiches on the bus.) He had telephone numbers for Don Helms and Jerry Rivers, musicians in Hank Williams’ band.
Wade was 19 years old and, with Helms’ help, soon joined Price’s band, the Cherokee Cowboys, which briefly included Willie Nelson. He had given himself two weeks to find a job in Nashville, and the gig with Price slid in at his deadline.