As a teenager, Stephen Wilson Jr. happened to stumble on Tim McGraw’s song “Don’t Take the Girl.” That song not only entertained Wilson but also inspired him to follow his own dream of music stardom. Now, with the singer making waves in country music, he found himself releasing powerful songs like “Gary”. Offering fans a glimpse into his creative process, Wilson revealed how tragedy led him to tell Gary’s story.
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Releasing the music video in November, Wilson used a marquee for the Bon Aqua Funeral Home to share the lyrics to “Gary”. Appearing on Taste of Country Nights, the singer explained the moment he met the person behind the song. “Well, it was inspired and started with a tragedy, really. I was driving down a highway and I saw this memorial billboard on the side of the highway it said ‘In Memory of Gary.’ It had a picture of a young man that was probably in high school, maybe 16 years-old, who most likely died on that highway.”
While Wilson didn’t know that Gary personally, he felt the person’s memories speak to him. “It broke my heart to see it, there were trees growing all around it, it had this strong visual impact on me and I couldn’t help but say out loud, ‘There ain’t a lot of boys named Gary these days.’”
Fans Remember “Gary” Thanks To Stephen Wilson Jr.
With Gary sticking with Wilson, he turned that fascination into what surely will become his next hit song. “You never see any 16 year-old Gary’s. I was like ‘Man, I bet that kid could fix anything because every Gary I know back home, they are just good at fixing stuff, I don’t know why, it kind of comes from the name.’”
As for fans, they followed Wilson by sharing their own Gary memories.
“That’s amazing. My name is Gary and wife’s name is Debbie. She just passed away last August. This song hits me hard. Thanks man.”
“My wife and I heard you play this in Detroit. She told me I should have been named Gary. One of the best compliments I’ve ever received.”
“It’s Christmas Eve and I just heard this song for the first time. My dad’s name was Gary. He passed away several years ago, but I felt like he was driving in the car with me when the song played. Love it!”
“I lost my dad, named Gary, in 2014. This made me cry. Thank you.”
Through “Gary,” Wilson turned a fleeting moment on the road into a song that resonates deeply with listeners, solidifying that the most powerful stories often come from everyday lives.
(Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
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