Stephen Wilson Jr. Pays Tribute To His Dad On New Double Album

“’All The Wars From Now On,’ was written for my late grandfather, a Korean War veteran who had his share of scars from the conflict,” Wilson shares. “The origin of the song came from watching a few war veterans at a diner in my hometown go about just like my grandfather once did one random morning. I couldn’t help but see him in their jovial conversations, and the thought hit me that the world would be a peaceful place if men like these were fighting all the wars. I knew he would see the honesty and humor in that scenario and enjoy the Norman Rockwell-ion approach to painting this song.”

Søn Of Dad features six songs from Wilson’s Bon Aqua EP along with new tracks. At its core, the album, which was co-produced by Wilson and Benjamin West, is a tribute to Stephen Wilson Sr., Wilson’s father who trained him as a boxer from the age of five and was himself a two-time Indiana State Golden Gloves Champion. Informed by Wilson’s diverse background as a boxer, a scientist (he has a degree in microbiology and chemistry from Middle Tennessee State University) and a songwriter, the album is a high-energy rock and roll journey that will be released exactly five years to the day his father died.

“Writing and making this album has been very therapeutic for me to learn who I am and what my existence looks like after my father. Because life has to go on,” Wilson says. “I’m living my own life, but it’s like his death bookended what life he should have had onto mine and I’m carrying it around like a train car.

The new LP comes on the heels of Wilson’s Grand Ole Opry and Stagecoach debuts and dates with The Lone Bellow, Drake White and Charley Crockett. Still to come this year are shows with 49 Winchester, Joss Stone and Larry Fleet, and he’ll also make his Red Rocks debut supporting Midland on Oct. 14.