Today we’d like to introduce you to Wil Rigdon.
Hi Wil, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The core of the Sons of Bocephus have been playing music together for over a decade. It was 2018 when we came up with the idea for the “Sons of Bocephus” as a tribute band. Paying tribute to one of our favorite artists, Hank Williams Jr.
We had to fill some holes in the old band, but once we had it all together, we started putting a show together. We got a call to play a local gig before we were REALLY ready to play a show, but we took it anyway. Things turned out pretty good. We started taking shows after that and doubling up rehearsals so we can really dial our show in. Then bigger shows started coming along and we started playing some of DFWs biggest venues like Hank’s Texas Grill, Lava Cantina, ChopShop Live, Gas Money Bar & Grill, and others.
Then COVID hit.
The week everything shut down, we lost a show at one of our bucket list venues, The Granada Theater. (Which we haven’t been able to reschedule since). 3 months of sitting at home was really depressing because we were just starting to hit our stride.
July 4, 2020, we got the call to play an Independence Day Festival. We took it, and we’ve been playing venues across Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tenneesee and Louisiana ever since. Back in May, we had a huge weekend playing 3 consecutive shows in Rockwall, Amarillo and Lubbock.
It was a long weekend because we made the drives, but only got to play the first show as the other 2 were rained out. It was another downer for us, but that quickly turned around when we woke up that Monday morning to the news that we were nominated for Tribute Band of the Year at the Josie Music Awards!
The Josie Music Awards are the largest independent music awards in the world. Over 38,000 submissions, and we were 1 of 8 chosen in the Tribute Band of the Year category. We won the 2021 Tribute Band of the Year by the Josie Music Awards.
We have since grown into one of the country’s fastest growing Tribute Bands.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. There’s a secret, unspoken “pay your dues” kind of situation going on around the DFW music scene. Just trying to get shows in some of these venues is near impossible unless you know someone. Of course, Covid put a huge dent in everyone’s music dreams. But anything worth doing is going to have struggles. It’s how you meet those struggles that really helps push you forward.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
During the day, I am an IT Professional. Providing desktop support for one of the world’s largest healthcare providers. My “by day” persona is much different when the lights come on, and the sunglasses go down.
What I am most proud of, besides this band, is that back in 2014, I stepped away from IT to pursue a radio dream I had always had. I accepted a job working at 99.9 KMOO in Mineola, Texas as the morning show host. I ended up winning the “On Air Personality of the Year” award for both 2015 and 2016 at the Texas Regional Radio Music Awards.
I then stepped back into the IT world to put my kids in college. Radio is awesome, it just doesn’t pay very well at all.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
To me, my life is about God, Family and Music. In that order. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that everything in my life is by God’s hand. It’s his design for my life. My beautiful wife, Katy, and I have been together over 22 years and we have raised 2 beautiful girls, Rainy and Sunny. They are the reason I do all the things that I do. To show them that nothing is unattainable. Nothing is out of reach. No dream is too big if they put their minds to it.
That’s what matters most to me. For my daughters to have the confidence in knowing that no matter what life throws at them, they can achieve anything they put their minds to. Nothing is stronger than the human spirit.
Contact Info:
- Email: booking@sonsofbocephus.com
- Website: www.sonsofbocephus.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sonsofbocephus
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonsofhank
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/sonsofbocephus
Image Credits:
Cody Oscar David
