Perryville in Boyle County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Kendall Hayes

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

1. Kendall Hayes Marker

Inscription. He both wrote and composed the song "Walk On By" which was performed by American country music artist Leory Van Dyke. It was released in 1961 as the first title track from the album Walk On By. The song spent 37 weeks on the country chart and a record-breaking 19 at the number one position.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1961.

Location. 37° 39.006′ N, 84° 57.094′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Kentucky, in Boyle County. It is at the intersection of South Buell Street (U.S. 68) and East 2nd Street (U.S. 68/150), on the right when traveling north on South Buell Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 S Buell St, Perryville KY 40468, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robert McNutt McElroy (here, next to this marker); Nina Bruce Warren Clooney (here, next to this marker); Lt. Col. Charles C. Bond (here, next to this marker); Milton J. Durham (here, next to this marker); Alyssa Wray (a few steps from this marker); W.H. Rogers (a few steps from this marker); Cecil Carpenter (a few steps from this marker); Carry Nation (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perryville.

Also see . . .

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Kendall Hayes – The Golden Pen of Perryville. Article by Shawn Chambers, Lexingtunes, 5/12/20

There have been numerous articles written about Kendall Hayes and his worldwide smash composition “Walk On By” but shamefully few references to his own recording career. Writing about Kendall Hayes without mentioning arguably the biggest country song of all-time is an impossible feat. I get that. Baseball without the Babe? Boxing without Ali? Nah, doesn’t work there and doesn’t work here. “Walk On By” casts a big shadow, but I hope to shine some light on Kendall Hayes’ life and musical career in the central Kentucky area as well.

(Submitted on September 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Kendall Hayes Marker, part of a series of markers, located at far right image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

2. Kendall Hayes Marker, part of a series of markers, located at far right

Credits. This page was last revised on September 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 6, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.