Britton native Lynn Thayer began his musical journey like many young children, by enthusiastically banging on pots and pans. However, unlike most, he turned that childhood hobby into a lifelong passion for drumming. Now, nearly six decades later, Thayer reflects on a distinguished career that has led to his recent induction into the Legends of Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame, honoring his significant contributions to music in this area and beyond.
Thayer was born and raised in the Britton area and graduated from the local high school in 1979. Though he had tried school band for a few years, the budding drummer more so enjoyed playing on his own, trying new things.
“When I first sat down at the drums, I just felt I knew what to do,” Thayer explained. By his teens, he was practicing several hours per day, particularly enjoying rock and roll. His hard work and natural talent would soon take Thayer to unexpected places.
He got his first professional gig at the age of 18. Thayer recalls it was an Elvis impersonator looking for a drummer in the Aberdeen area. From there, his career as a drummer for many bands took off. By the early 1980s he was playing in the Oasis Bar in Aberdeen. “We mostly played old country, and the money was pretty good,” explained Thayer.
The drummer felt like he took a significant step in 1981 when the Chicago blues band Fast Eddie asked him to come aboard. “We brought blues to the Aberdeen area,” said the musician. “At the time, there wasn’t anything like that around.” He next spent time with the house band at Club 23.
Next would be life on the road. He went from band to band for a number of years, living out of hotels. When he came back home, he would spend time at his parents’ farm near Britton.
By the 90s, Thayer was getting even bigger chances. He played around Las Vegas and Nevada for a number of years and even shared the stage with actor Bruce Willis who was a skilled harmonica player. During that time, he made the acquaintance of country music star Janie Fricke. Over the years, Fricke had several number one hits on the country charts.
Thayer says he was ready to be done with the Vegas circuit by the mid-90s and fate would have it that Fricke was looking for a drummer. This would put the Britton musician in the same circles as some of the biggest names in the music industry. He would open for the likes of George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Pride and the Gatlin Brothers. He opened 60 shows in Branson for the Oak Ridge Boys.
The musician said his favorite experience was playing for 50,000 people in 1997 at a show in Vancouver, WA. He shared a stage with the band Tower of Power, who he describes as an amazing group. He also met Ozzy Osbourne and was present for the taping of the first episode of “The Osbournes” TV show.
Thayer would move back to the Britton area in 2000, but he certainly wasn’t done drumming. Through the years, he would join up with local favorites like Eclipse and Dustin Evans’s bands, including The Good Times Band.
Though he did get out of the business for a while, the drums were never far from his heart. “The longest I ever stopped playing for was six or seven months after my mom passed,” he explained. “But it’s kind of like a curse. I couldn’t give it up.”
Earlier this year, Thayer received word that he had been chosen for induction in the Legends of Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame, along with several other members of The Good Times Band. Over the years, the group had performed throughout the Midwest, with shows ranging from small town events to large audiences at venues such as the Sioux Falls Arena, the Corn Palace, and the South Dakota State Fair.
With the addition of Evans (a 2014 HoF inductee), the Good Times Band became known as “Dustin Evans and the Good Times Band.” Soon after, the band exploded from regional to national status, performing before combined audiences of millions at events such as Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Indianapolis 500, and the Texas 500 to name just a few.
In June, Thayer took the stage in Mitchell to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and perform with several of his former bandmates. “It was humbling,” he said. “It’s an honor to have someone recognize your accomplishments.”
Although Thayer has already earned a spot in a Hall of Fame, he hasn’t put down the drumsticks yet. He currently performs with ZZ-3, a tribute band for ZZ Top. The group plays around 30 shows annually, often at major events like the bike rallies in Daytona and Sturgis.
After 57 years behind the drum kit, Thayer’s passion for learning remains strong. “I will never be as good as I want to be,” he admits. He continues to practice nearly every day, enjoying the challenge of mastering new beats and songs, and even takes online lessons to keep improving.
Thayer says he will only stop drumming when it isn’t fun anymore. If he ever retires, he adds that he would probably enjoy giving lessons to youth who he encourages to try an instrument, no matter the type.
“You have to love it,” emphasizes Thayer when asked how he has kept playing for almost 60 years. “You can’t get frustrated or mad. At the end of the day, music is transformational.”
