NASHVILLE, TENN. – Today, the Indiana-born, Nashville-based rising star Stephen Wilson Jr. released a gripping interpretation of Ben E. King‘s“Stand By Me”that offers a new take on the 60+ year old classic about enduring love. Originally released as a live performance as part of the Live At The Print Shop series, the video immediately went viral garnering over 1,000,000 views on YouTube and 18 million+ views across social media.
Listen to “Stand By Me” (Live At The Print Shop).
Watch the performance of “Stand By Me” Live At The Print Shop.
About the cover, Wilson Jr. shares, “’Stand By Me’ was the song that brought my dad back, if only for a few. It’s the song that started this journey and it was that song that made it all clear what I was supposed to be doing with my time from that moment on.”
The release of “Stand By Me” (Live At The Print Shop) follows Stephen Wilson Jr.’s duet version of “Father’s Søn”with HARDY that was released in September to celebrate the one year anniversary of his debut double album søn of dad. Rolling Stone proclaimed, “It’s a stripped-down but powerful version, with Wilson and Hardy playing acoustic guitars and trading verses. Wilson’s reading of the song is as sturdy and haunting as ever, but Hardy’s naked vocals are a revelation, especially to fans who may only know him for his screamo brand of country.”
In 2024, Wilson Jr.’s career skyrocketed with his late night television debut on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers with a raucous performance of his viral hit “Cuckoo,” followed by performances of “Year To Be Young 1994” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s #LateShowMeMusic series and Later… with Jools Holland. This fall, CBS News’ Jeff Glor traveled to Nashville for Wilson Jr.’s first major television interview, which was followed by a performance of three songs on CBS Saturday Morning.
Wilson Jr. is currently in the midst of a victory lap fall headline tour that will make stops in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Nashville and more before the søn of dad tour continues in 2025 with shows in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Toronto and many more. Find a full list of tour dates below and at stephenwilsonjr.com.
Acclaim for søn of dad:
“The most existential release of the year goes to relative newcomer Stephen Wilson Jr…if you listen closely, you’ll hear the work of a master craftsman versed in all manners of pop music.” –Rolling Stone
“…the next iconoclastic leader of country’s rock revival.” – The Tennessean
“Throughout the album, Wilson Jr. offers the kind of nuanced storytelling that has helped make stars of artists like Eric Church and Chris Stapleton, and he has the vocal prowess to back it up. An extremely promising debut.” – Billboard
“…the album ultimately feels like a declaration of creative independence — intriguing and insightful at all levels.”– Nashville Scene
2024 Tour Dates
11/22: Atlanta, Ga. – Buckhead Theater
11/23: Charlotte, N.C. – Underground
12/4: Nashville, Tenn. – Brooklyn Bowl
12/5: Lexington, Ky. – Manchester
12/6: Louisville, Ky. – Mercury
12/8: Boston, Mass. – Brighton Music Hall
12/10: New York City, N.Y. – Gramercy Theatre
12/12 Charlottesville, Va. – Jefferson Theatre
12/13: Philadelphia, Pa. – Brooklyn Bowl
12/14: Washington D.C. – Sixth & I
2025 Tour Dates
2/20: Glasgow, Ky. – Plaza Theatre
2/21: Huntington, W.V. – The Loud
2/22: Pittsburgh, Pa. – Thunderbird Café & Music Hall
3/6: Cincinnati, Ohio – Bogart’s
3/7: Columbus, Ohio – The Bluestone
3/8: Lansing, Mich. – Grewal Hall at 224
3/13: Detroit, Mich. – Saint Andrew’s Hall
3/14: Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
3/15: Buffalo, N.Y. – Town Ballroom
3/27: Wichita, Kan. – TempleLive
3/28: Fayetteville, Ariz. – George’s Majestic Lounge
4/10: Carrboro, N.C. – Cat’s Cradle
4/12: Knoxville, Tenn. – Bijou Theatre
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ABOUT STEPHEN WILSON JR.
Stephen Wilson Jr.’s journey from the hollers of southern Indiana to Nashville, Tenn. has been a winding road; he’s been a two-time Indiana State Golden Gloves boxing champion, an accomplished food scientist with dual degrees in microbiology and chemistry from MTSU, a lead guitarist of an indie rock band, a songwriter, and most importantly, a son. In 2016, he ditched his laboratory-bound nine-to-five at Mars, Inc. and signed a publishing deal with BMG Nashville where his alchemic song craft immediately made waves, earning cuts from Caitlyn Smith, Old Dominion, Tim McGraw, Sixpence None the Richer, Leigh Nash, and more. 2023 proved to be Wilson Jr.’s breakthrough year, signing with Big Loud Records and releasing his debut double album søn of dad: a triumphant, genre-spanning set of 22 songs dedicated to his late father and given to the world on the five-year anniversary of his death. The album was named the No. 1 album of 2023 by Holler who called it “a record for the ages,” and earned a spot as one of the best albums of the year from Rolling Stone, Wide Open Country, music critic Grady Smith, and Whiskey Riff. Last year, he toured with Brothers Osborne, The Cadillac Three, Midland, Hailey Whitters, and The Lone Bellow, with debuts at the Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach, Ryman Auditorium, CMA Fest, and Red Rocks. This year, he’s hit the road with HARDY, Brothers Osborne, Charles Wesley Godwin, and The Cadillac Three with festival appearances at C2C, Tortuga, Stagecoach, Country Thunder, and more, alongside breakthrough television performances on CBS Saturdays, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Later…with Jools Holland, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Me Music series.
