"The fun part is watching people's expressions- they can't believe I play all these songs," says guitarist/vocalist Riley Wilson. "Not just playing them, but executing them correctly, is the secret."
A working professional entertainer for over three decades, his mastery of rock, country, pop, jazz, blues and classical music is an unbeatable combination for your next event.
Master guitarist, singer, voice talent and gifted entertainer- Riley is the perfect choice for your next event. Here's a brief sampling of what satisfied clients have to say:
Riley Wilson in concert McAllen, TX- (photo by Chris Dobch)
"Riley was outstanding! He was punctual, organized and set up very quickly. He was a wonderful performer and our guests loved him. I would recommend him again in a second. He was such a talented performer. He really made our party very special. " Whitney S, Dallas
"Riley was on-time, responsive, courteous and professional in every sense. His talent is extraordinary and the fans really appreciated having someone of his caliber at our event." Larry Faulkner, President, McKinney Blue Thunder- McKinney, TX
Fingerstyle jazz in Plano- Aug. 2008
"The song selections were great!! Riley was very professional. I would hire him again for another event." Tia G., Dallas, TX
"Thanks for playing at our Managers Meeting. Everyone truly enjoyed it. I can't remember the last time we actually had people dancing the night away. I have already passed your name on to several of the guests. I know you won't disappoint them." Kelly Holze, Event Coordinator, Farm and Ranch Healthcare, Ft Worth, TX
"Thank you for your participation in the first annual KIDS FunFest! The event was a great success for JC Penney and much of that success can be attributed to our Fun Stage entertainers. I was very pleased with your interaction with the audience...your "Cowboy" presence and singing were a great hit with the kids and parents. On behalf of JC Penney, thanks for a job well done!" Sydney Hewitt, Coordinator/ Relationship Marketing/Womens' Expos, Shows-J.C. Penney, Plano, TX
"Just a quick note to say thank you for the great job you did singing the national anthem at our recent game. You have a great voice- I realize the sound system and the delays at the Cotton Bowl are tough to deal with, but you handled them like a pro! I hope we will have the opportunity to work together again sometime. It was a pleasure." Kathy P. McCormick/ Director of Entertainment, Dallas Burn/FC Dallas, Dallas, TX
Solo performance at The Ranch at Stonebridge, McKinney, TX Dec. 2007
VERSATILITY- Unlike most performers who remain locked into one style of music, Riley is comfortable with all musical genres. His varied background (graduate of UNC- Chapel Hill and Hollywood's prestigious Musicians' Institute, "Vintage Guitar" magazine columnist, national voice over specialist, guitar and voice teacher) coupled with 36 years of live shows experience enable him to play all styles of music convincingly. He can play unaccompanied solo guitar as well as combine his guitar and voice with backing tracks for a full band sound in a small space.
FLEXIBILITY- Some musicians come unglued if they can't play at a certain volume, pout when they get special requests they can't handle or whine when asked to wear a particular outfit. Not Riley- his years of playing venues from coast to coast have helped him develop the ability to entertain even the most difficult crowds. Volume and costume requests are no problem- from casual dress to formal attire and even authentic western wear, Riley can fit in at any engagement . Additionally, his years of experience as a radio personality, commercial and voice talent means that special announcements and introductions are handled with a degree of professionalism no other solo performer can match.
"These days, I usually bring my acoustic electric guitar, amp, mike and sequencer to most of my solo shows. I play a variety of smooth jazz, pop, country, folk and rock tunes with the sequencer, but invariably, someone will request a tune I either don't have a backing track for or a tune that doesn't require it. I'll play the piece with just my guitar and sing, if it's a vocal tune, or play the tune as an instrumental. I do all my classical pieces and many jazz standards that way. It's almost pointless to include a songlist since so many shows veer from the tunes printed below. Many times, people request something I've never played before and I will play it anyway. It's just too much fun!"
THE FUN FACTOR- Most importantly, your guests want to have fun. This is where Riley excels. "Playing so many years in restaurants, strolling and taking requests, helped me understand how to kick things into high gear and when to lay back," he emphasizes. "It's not often people stump me, either musically or comically. We always have a great time, and that's the entire premise of my show- have fun!"
If you want your next event to be a guaranteed success, do what country clubs(Brookhaven, Hackberry Creek, Prestonwood, Stonebridge, Stonebrook and The Ranch at Stonebridge); hotels (AmeriSuites, Adolphus, Bonaventure, Doubletree, Four Seasons and The Harvey); restaurants (Canyon Cafe, Chamberlains' Fish Market, Chandler's Landing, Colter's Bar B Q, Culpepper Cattle Company, Goodhue's, Hoffbrau Steaks, Humperdink's, Po'Melvin's, Prison Cafe, Randy's Steakhouse, Soprano's Italian Ristorante, Texas Land & Cattle and Three Forks) and organizations like A & G Piping, Ackley Financial Group, Alcatel, Brinkmann Ranch, Champion Partners, Cheshire and Fuller, Cross Timbers Winery, Dal Mac, Delotte and Touche, EDS, Ernst and Young, Ft. Worth Convention Bureau, Goodman Homes, G.T.E., Hockaday School, J.C. Penney, KPMG, La Buena Vida Vineyard, Main St Days- Grapevine, Medical City, Mohawk Carpets, Resource Texas, Restland, Southfork Ranch, Standard Pacific Homes, Storybook Farm, Texas Queen Riverboat, Ulta Cosmetics, University Club, United American Insurance, Vanguard Plastics, Vista Ridge Mall and Whole Foods Market have already done- reserve Riley Wilson today!
SOLO ACT SAMPLER
Click on the titles to hear Riley in a solo setting. These mp3 files should work with most mp3 players, but work best with Quick Time. It's available for Macs as well as PC's free at www.apple.com
Sunshine Of My Life
Wicked Game solo
Annie's Song
Write This Down
Obsession Confession
Breakup Song
SOLO ACT SONGLIST
ALABAMA
Feels So Right
AMERICA
Horse With No Name
I Need You
ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
Miles And Miles of Texas
BACHMAN TURNER
Takin' Care of Business
You Ain't See Nuthin' Yet
THE BEACH BOYS
Kokomo
THE BEATLES
Blackbird
Birthday
Eight Days A Week
Here Comes The Sun
We Can Work It Out
Yesterday
CLINT BLACK
A Better Man
Something That We Do
GARTH BROOKS
Friends In Low Places
If Tomorrow Never Comes
The Dance
Two Pina Coladas
BROOKS & DUNN
Boot Scoot Boogie
JIMMY BUFFET
Coast Of Marseilles
Come Monday
He Went To Paris
Margaritaville
Son Of A Sailor
GLEN CAMPBELL
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Wichita Lineman
LARRY CARLTON
(It Was) Only Yesterday
Rio Samba
CHICAGO
Beginnings
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
Color My World
Wishing You Were Here
ERIC CLAPTON
Crossroads
Change The World
Layla
Lay Down, Sally
Tears In Heaven
Wonderful Tonight
THE CLASSICS IV
Stormy
Traces
NAT "KING" COLE
It Had To Be You
Our Love Is Here to Stay
Unforgettable
SAM COOKE
You Send Me
JIM CROCE
I Got A Name
I'll Have To Say I Love You
Time In A Bottle
BILLY RAY CYRUS
Achy, Breaky Heart
NEAL DIAMOND
Forever In Blue Jeans
September Morn
Sweet Caroline
DIRE STRAITS
Sultans of Swing
Walk Of Life
THE DRIFTERS
Under The Boardwalk
Up On The Roof
THE EAGLES
Hotel California
Love Will Keep Us Alive
Take It Easy
Take It To The Limit
Tequila Sunrise
DAN FOGELBERG
Leader of the Band
Longer
JOHN FOGERTY
Sugar, Sugar
PETER FRAMPTON
Baby, I Love Your Way
Penny For Your Thoughts
LEFTY FRIZELL
In The Jailhouse Now
LARRY GRAHAM
One In A Million You
MERLE HAGGARD
Big City
Silver Wings
Stay Here And Drink
That's The Way Love Goes
WILBUR HARRISON
Kansas City
CHRIS ISAAK
Wicked Game
ALAN JACKSON
Don't Rock The Jukebox
Livin' On Love
Where I Come From
WAYLON JENNINGS
Bob Wills Is Still The King
Luckenbach, Texas
TOBY KEITH
A Little Less Talk
GREG KIHN BAND
The Breakup Song
GORDON LIGHTFOOT
Carefree Highway
If You Could Read My Mind
Sundown
JOHN MAYER
No Such Thing
JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY
Be My Baby
I Can Love You Like That
I Love The Way You Love Me
GARY MORRIS
Wind Beneath My Wings
WILLIE NELSON
Angel Flying Too Close
Blue Eyes Crying/ Rain
Forgiving You Was Easy
On The Road Again
Pancho And Lefty
DEAN MARTIN
That's Amore
THE MAVERICKS
All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down
VAN MORRISON
Brown Eyed Girl
Moondance
OAK RIDGE BOYS
Elvira
ROY ORBISON
Oh, Pretty Woman
WILSON PICKETT
Midnight Hour
Mustang Sally
ELVIS PRESLEY
Can't Help Falling In Love
Love Me Tender
Teddy Bear
PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE
Amie
RIGHTEOUS BROS.
Unchained Melody
MARTY ROBBINS
El Paso
DAN SEALS
All That Glitters Is Not Gold
BOB SEGER
Against The Wind
Old Time Rock & Roll
SIMON & GARFUNKEL
Homeward Bound
Mrs. Robinson
Scarborough Fair
FRANK SINATRA
My Way
New York, New York
SLASH
Obsession Confession
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Pink Cadillac
CAT STEVENS
Wide World
ROD STEWART
Maggie May
GEORGE STRAIT
All My Ex's Live In Texas
Amarillo By Morning
Does Ft Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?
I Cross My Heart
The Chair
The Cowboy Rides Away
What Do You Say To That
Write This Down
JAMES TAYLOR
Carolina In My Mind
Fire And Rain
Mexico
Shower The People
You've Got A Friend
MERLE TRAVIS
Cannonball Rag
RANDY TRAVIS
1982
Forever And Ever, Amen
On The Other Hand
ERNEST TUBB
Thanks A Lot
Waltz Across Texas
DON WILLIAMS
Tulsa Time
STEVIE WONDER
Sunshine Of My Life
DWIGHT YOAKUM
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc.
Fast As You
NEAL YOUNG
Heart of Gold
Z.Z.TOP
Gimme All Your Love
CLASSICAL
Adelita
Andante
Bouree
Canon in D Major
Caprice In D Minor
Classical Gas
Malaguena
Mood For A Day
Romance
Wedding March
JAZZ
Autumn Leaves
All The Things You Are
A Foggy Day
All Of Me
All The Things You Are
Autumn Leaves
Blue Bossa
Days Of Wine & Roses
Girl From Ipanema
How High The Moon
Meditation
Our Day Will Come
Satin Doll
Shadow Of Your Smile
Wave
SPECIALTY
Auld Lang Syne
Happy Birthday
Jingle Bell Rock
Sleigh Ride
Spanish Eyes
Speak Softly Love
That's Amore
The Christmas Song
Winter Wonderland
WESTERN
Back In The Saddle
Deep In The Heart Of Texas
My Darlin' Clementine
Red River Valley
If you've spoken with one of our booking agents about my solo act, contact them directly. Otherwise, click here for more information.