Looking forward to dazzle the Allegany River Festival, Mark Wills, a professional country singer, will perform on July 10.
Born and raised in Georgia, Wills grew up on a variety of country music that he enjoyed not only listening to, but singing to as well. Wills really began singing when he was about 8-years-old, but truly entered the music world when he got his first drum set. “One thing led to another and here we are!” Wills said.
Not only does he sing and play the drums, but he also plays other instruments. “(I play) a little piano … I sing and I play guitar and I play drums, but those are probably the three things I do the best,” Wills said. “I shoot guns well, but ya know that’s really not country music.”
He fondly remembers that even as a little boy he told his mother that he was going to be a professional country singer. “This is all I’ve wanted to do for a living … there’s nothing else,” he said.
Since his childhood years, Wills has gone on to create 13 CD’s, which include a few greatest hits albums, as well as four additional singles. Wills even charted number two on the “Country Song of the Decade” list with his 2002 hit “19 Somethin’.”
“It was a big hit,” Wills said. “We were very fortunate to have a song that struck a cord with people, that they loved. To have a song that is number two song in the entire decade is saying a lot, I mean that’s pretty cool. I mean there are a lot of songs released in a ten year time period and to have one of the top two is pretty neat.”
Besides being a top-rated country singer, Wills and his crew also give back to others. Wills is involved with many different charity organizations that help other people. “I love doing stuff with groups that do for others much more than it does for them,” he said. For instant, Wills is involved in USO, USA Cares, St. Jude’s, the troops and many others. One of his biggest involvements is working with the Children’s Miracle Network. “I have two healthy kids,” Wills said. “My children never get sick and it affords us the opportunity to see that not every one is as fortunate as we are.”
He also said that because he is blessed to be doing what he loves as a living he tries “to do a lot to give back a lot.” Some of his favorite charitable activities are those involving children or the troops.
As well as being thankful for all those that help him create and perform his music, Wills is very humbled by his loyal fans; “without them we wouldn’t have a job,” he joked.
Wills has been a country singer for 15 years and is working on another CD to hopefully be released within a year.
People can see Wills July 10 at the Veteran’s Memorial Park in Salamanca for an advanced ticket price of $22. Wills will be performing songs from throughout his entire career, from Jacob’s Ladder to newer material that has not been released yet. He will be on stage for about 45 minutes. Josh Gracin will be performing at the festival as well. For more information people can visit www.salamancachamber.org or call the Salamanca Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-945-2034.
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