One is hard-pressed to identify three foundational cores more inspirational to our lives than legacy, tradition, and family. Listen to our music, read our literature, or interact with our art. Mix them with comedic relief and laughter with loved ones for an unforgettable experience and find yourself in the audience of the Freeland this Saturday evening, singing and laughing along to the country music stylings and comedic banter of Wilson Fairchild—a country music duo committed to legacy, tradition, and family.
Wilson Fairchild, country duo of cousins Wil and Langdon Reid, celebrates its roots through its music and comedy. The cousins are sons of Statler Brothers members Harold and Don Reid, respectively, and wrote some of the group’s songs.Today, Wilson Fairchild performs choice selections from the beloved music of The Statler Brothers as well as their own, mixing it with comedy and interactive opportunities in a familyfriendly experience for all.
Wil and Langdon grew up immersed in country music, engaged with family and community, and bore witness to the excitement of performing for the
See Concert, Page Three masses; although, Wil notes they were never pressured to pursue a life in entertainment or the music industry, exposure sparked a lifelong love of the lifestyle in the young boys. Despite living normal, wholesome lives in Staunton, Virginia, Wil and Langdon were drawn to the music and thrill of performing.
In childhood and adolescence, the boys learned to play guitar and honed their vocal abilities. While listening to them sing, one can hear the smoothness in their vocals. In fact, their smooth quality conjured imagery of butter being cut by a hot knife in my mind as I intently listened, eyes closed. One can hear the influences of country stars Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Johnny Cash, and their own fathers in their vocal stylings and tonality. In addition to their vocal talents, Wil and Langdon possess instrumental abilities.
Despite attempting to learn piano from his teacher, Wil noted that he never grasped the ability to read music. Instead, both he and Langdon play a variety of instruments by ear, including piano, guitar, dobro, and mandolin. Wil confirmed that playing by ear enhances the duo’s musical careers with a freedom for improvisational performances at any time.
Having performed several times at The Grand Ole Opry proved rewarding and exciting for Wil and Langdon as their own dreams of performing great country music for audiences came to fruition. Still, Wil proclaimed one of their favorite venues in which they perform is the free concert he and Langdon resurrected and recreated in their hometown for two days each July.
Beginning in the 1970s and for twenty-five years, The Statler Brothers created and performed a free concert in their hometown of Staunton each July, including their hometown in celebration and thanks for the community’s support and inspiration of their musical careers. Wil and Langdon grew up surrounded by thousands of fans and supporters, thanks, in part, to those July concerts.
Since they and the community missed the annual celebrations and they desired to raise and share similar memories and experiences with their own families, Wilson Fairchild founded their own nonprofit, Happy Birthday America, and continue the annual July tradition with energetic performances, drawing tens of thousands, to Staunton. Their nod to their own legacies, family, and tradition grants small-town America opportunities for celebration and high-octane fun.
This Saturday, Wilson Fairchild brings their lively, hysterically comedic performance to the Freeland at 7:30 p.m. The renowned songwriters, singers, and instrumentalists offer the performance of a lifetime and entertain to the delight of all as they present music from their newest album, “Statler Made” on the Gaither Music label, recently released on January 12. The album and their music can be found on all streaming and digital platforms. Wilson Fairchild’s performance offers some of the very best entertainment ever to grace the Freeland’s stage.
As the Freeland Center Arts Council presents Wilson Fairchild in concert on Saturday, be sure to secure your tickets now through etix.com or by calling the Freeland Center Box Office at 918-637-3540.