{{short description|Canadian country music singer-songwriter}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bobby Wills | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | origin = Calgary, Alberta, Canada | instrument = Guitar | genre = Country | occupation = Singer-songwriter | years_active = 2010–present | label = On Ramp, MDM Recordings | associated_acts = | website = http://bobbywills.com/ }} '''Bobby Wills''' is a Canadian country music singer-songwriter. Wills has released five albums – ''Man with No Past'' (2010), ''If It Was That Easy'' (2012), ''Crazy Enough'' (2014), ''Tougher Than Love'' (2016) and an EP ''Longshot Bar & Grill'' (2019). Many of his singles have made it onto the ''Billboard'' Canada Country Chart, including the hits "Somebody Will", "Down by the River", and "Won't You Be Mine", which each peaked at the number 9 spots.<ref name=":0" /> In 2013, Wills won the Canadian Country Music Association Rising Star Award.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Calgary+country+singer+Bobby+Wills+lets+great+songs+lead+rises/10011402/story.html|title=Calgary country singer Bobby Wills lets his great songs lead the way as he rises to the top|last=Bell|first=Mike|work=www.calgaryherald.com|access-date=April 6, 2017|language=en-ca}}</ref>
==Early life== Wills was born in Edmonton, Alberta to teenage parents, and was put up for adoption when he was 18 months old.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Calgary+country+artist+Bobby+Wills+finds+that+easy+talk+about+past/7501449/story.html|title=Calgary country artist Bobby Wills finds it's that easy to talk about his past|last=Bell|first=Mike|work=www.calgaryherald.com|access-date=April 6, 2017|language=en-ca}}</ref> He was soon adopted and raised by a family from Calgary, Alberta.<ref name="calgary">{{cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Calgary+country+artist+Bobby+Wills+finds+that+easy+talk/7501449/story.html|title=Calgary country artist Bobby Wills finds it's that easy to talk about his past|last=Bell|first=Mike|date=November 5, 2012|accessdate=January 18, 2013|newspaper=Calgary Herald}}</ref> Wills grew up with his adoptive parents and their biological daughter in Oakridge, a southwest Calgary community.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.adoption.ca/bobby-wills|title=Adoption Ambassador Bobby Wills {{!}} Adoption Council of Canada|last=Canada|first=Adoption Council of|website=www.adoption.ca|language=en|access-date=April 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602080415/http://www.adoption.ca/bobby-wills|archive-date=June 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although Wills had an interest in music during his childhood and teenage years, his adoptive family wasn't musical, so he spent more time focusing on athletics like skateboarding and hockey.<ref name=":3" />
When Wills was 18, he registered with an adoption registry with the hopes of being able to connect with his biological family.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://canadiancountryspotlight.ca/?p=498|title=Canadian Country Spotlight » » Jess Moskalouke and Bobby Wills|website=canadiancountryspotlight.ca|language=en|access-date=April 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406201712/http://canadiancountryspotlight.ca/?p=498|archive-date=April 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Wills began to get into music while on a backpacking trip through Australia in the late 1990s.<ref name=":3" /> At an open mic night, Wills' friend bet him $20 that he wouldn't go on stage and sing a song with the band.<ref name="topcountry">{{cite news|url=http://topcountry.ca/bobby-wills-new-single-climbs-the-charts/|title=Bobby Wills' new single climbs the charts|last=Hay|first=Chas.|date=July 17, 2012|accessdate=January 18, 2013|newspaper=Top Country}}</ref> Wills accepted the bet, sang "The Dance" by Garth Brooks, and received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from the crowd.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://www.soundcheckentertainment.ca/20-questions-bobby-wills/|title=20 Questions with Bobby Wills {{!}} Sound Check Entertainment|last=Pape|first=Hendrik|date=June 23, 2014|work=Sound Check Entertainment|access-date=April 6, 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406204144/http://www.soundcheckentertainment.ca/20-questions-bobby-wills/|archive-date=April 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Wills then decided that he wanted to begin to focus on music, and learned to play guitar while still in Australia.<ref name=":6" />
When Wills returned home from his travels, he discovered that his biological mother had also registered with the adoption agency, and that she was requesting contact with him.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://bobbywills.com/bobby/|title=Bobby – Bobby Wills|website=bobbywills.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 6, 2017}}</ref> When Wills was 20 years old, he met his birth parents and his five biological siblings, and found that there was a big musical streak in his birth family.<ref name=":4" />
==Career==
=== Musical career === After meeting his biological family and discovering that music was in his genes, Wills began to seriously consider pursuing music as a career. He started performing at open mic nights and toured across Canada in a country bar band.<ref name="topcountry" /> He recorded demos in Toronto with Thomas Wade,<ref name=":7" /> and then began to split his time between Calgary and Nashville to commit to making country music.<ref name="cbc">{{cite news|url=http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2012/11/Bobby-Willss-If-It-Was-that-Easy-full-album-stream-and-QA|title=Bobby Wills's If It Was that Easy: full album stream and Q&A|last=Kinos-Goodin|first=Jesse|date=November 1, 2012|accessdate=January 18, 2013|newspaper=CBC Music}}</ref> While in Nashville, Wills began working with producers Mike Pyle and Walt Aldrige, who helped him develop his craft.<ref name=":5" />
Wills released his debut album, ''Man with No Past'', independently in 2010.<ref name="cbc" /> It produced four singles, including "A Little More Time", which made it onto the ''Billboard'' Country Top 40 Chart.<ref name=":5" /><ref name="cbc" />
In 2012, Wills signed with On Ramp Records.<ref name="topcountry" /> His second album, ''If It Was That Easy'', was released in November 2012 and distributed by EMI.<ref name="calgary" /> His single "Somebody Will" peaked at No. 9 on the ''Billboard'' Canada Country Chart and at No. 91 on the ''Billboard'' Canadian Hot 100 Chart.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/1550798/bobby-wills/chart|title=Bobby Wills – Chart history {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|language=en|access-date=April 6, 2017|archive-date=April 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406211718/http://www.billboard.com/artist/1550798/bobby-wills/chart|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
He began to gain acclaim during the 2013 awards season when he was nominated for three Canadian Country Music Association Awards and went on to win the CCMA Rising Star Award.<ref name=":1" />
In 2014, Wills released his third album, ''Crazy Enough,'' which was recorded entirely at the Music Centre Canada studio in his hometown of Calgary.<ref name=":1" /> The singles "Crazy Enough" and "Never Didn't Love You" peaked at No. 13 and No. 14 respectively on the Billboard Canada Country Chart,<ref name=":0" /> and at No. 76 and No. 75 respectively on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart.<ref name=":8" />
In 2016, he released his fourth album, ''Tougher Than Love,'' which he penned while on his ''Crazy Enough'' tour.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/music/calgarys-bobby-wills-gets-to-work-putting-the-fun-back-in-country-music|title=Calgary's Bobby Wills gets to work putting the fun back in country music|date=March 22, 2016|work=Calgary Herald|access-date=April 6, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> The singles "Won't You Be Mine" and "Down by the River" climbed to the No. 9 spots on the Billboard Canada Country Chart, and his current single "Tougher Than Love" peaked at No. 11. To this day, along with his stage name Bobby Wills, he is known as Robert Blough. He works at Honda West as their General Sales Manager<ref name=":0" />
=== Artistry === Wills' music is stylistically diverse – while it's rooted in a classic country sound, some of his tracks have rock influences, some have more of a funk appeal, and others are reminiscent of 70's and 80's country crossovers.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://bobbywills.com/?page_id=0|title=Bobby Wills|website=bobbywills.com|language=en-US|access-date=April 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> Wills cites Garth Brooks, George Strait, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, Lefty Frizzel, and Merle Haggard among his musical influences.<ref name=":2" /> He believes he got his passion for country music from his adoptive father, who was a big country music fan and listened to country music frequently at home while Wills was growing up.<ref name=":5" />
=== Philanthropy === Wills is a committed humanitarian who acts as an Ambassador for the Adoption Council of Canada.<ref name="calgary" /> He also supports the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and during the 2014 Golden Globe awards weekend, he gave a charitable performance at the ''Oh Canada Cocktail Party'' to support the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.<ref name=":10" />
==Personal life== Wills currently lives in Calgary with his wife and children.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pg/bobbywillsfans/about/?ref=page_internal|title=Bobby Wills|website=www.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=April 6, 2017}}</ref> He is the founder of the country music label Willing Records, distributed by Universal Music Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://strathmorenow.com/articles/local-music-star-signs-with-record-label-releases-new-single|title=Local music star signs with record label, releases new single|first=Tommy|last=Osborne|date=July 18, 2023|work=Strathmore Now|access-date=June 10, 2024}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:12em;"| Title ! style="width:20em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Man with No Past'' | * Release date: August 16, 2010 * Label: Willin' Entertainment |- ! scope="row"| ''If It Was That Easy'' | * Release date: November 6, 2012 * Label: On Ramp Records |- ! scope="row"| ''Crazy Enough'' | * Release date: June 24, 2014<ref>{{cite news|last=Tinson|first=Kayla|title=Bobby Wills has a new album coming out in June|url=http://topcountry.ca/bobby-wills-new-album-coming-june/|accessdate=May 29, 2014|newspaper=Top Country|date=May 20, 2014}}</ref> * Label: MDM Recordings |- ! scope="row"| ''Longneck Bar and Grill'' | *Release date: October 25, 2019 * Label: MDM Recordings |}
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! style="width:12em;"| Title ! style="width:20em;"| Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Tougher Than Love'' | * Release date: March 18, 2016 * Label: MDM Recordings |- ! scope="row"| ''In Comes the Night'' | * Release date: September 8, 2017 * Label: MDM Recordings |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Single ! colspan="2"| Peak chart<br />positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:4em;"| CAN Country<br /><ref name=":0" >{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/music/bobby-wills/chart-history/canada-country|title=Bobby Wills Chart History (Canada Country)|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 10, 2017|archive-date=May 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524053345/https://www.billboard.com/music/bobby-wills/chart-history/canada-country|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! style="width:4em;"| CAN<br /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/music/bobby-wills/chart-history/canadian-hot-100|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211213024355/http://www.billboard.com/music/bobby-wills/chart-history/canadian-hot-100|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2021|title=Bobby Wills Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=October 10, 2017}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"| 2010 ! scope="row"| "Second Chances" | — | — | align="left" rowspan="4"| ''Man with No Past'' |- ! scope="row"| "My Memory Ain't What It Used to Be" | — | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2011 ! scope="row"| "Man with No Past" | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "A Little More Time" | 45 | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 ! scope="row"| "Show Some Respect" | 8 | — | align="left" rowspan="4"| ''If It Was That Easy'' |- ! scope="row"| "Somebody Will" | 9 | 91 |- | rowspan="2"| 2013 ! scope="row"| "If It Was That Easy" | 24 | — |- ! scope="row"| "When It Comes to You" | 22 | — |- | rowspan="3"| 2014 ! scope="row"| "Crazy Enough" | 13 | 76 | align="left" rowspan="4"| ''Crazy Enough'' |- ! scope="row"| "Never Didn't Love You" | 14 | 75 |- ! scope="row"| "Undressed" | 13 | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2015 ! scope="row"| "So Much for Taking It Slow" | 38 | — |- ! scope="row"| "Won't You Be Mine" | 9 | — | align="left" rowspan="3"| ''Tougher Than Love'' |- | rowspan="2"| 2016 ! scope="row"| "Down by the River" | 9 | — |- ! scope="row"| "Tougher Than Love" | 11 | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2017 ! scope="row"| "Get While the Gettin's Good" | 19 | — | align="left" rowspan="3"| ''In Comes the Night'' |- ! scope="row"| "In Comes the Night" | 35 | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2018 ! scope="row"| "Out of Your Mind" | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Won't You Be Mine" {{small|(US release)}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Single Released : MusicRow|date=January 4, 2013 |url=https://musicrow.com/calendars-2/single-releases/|publisher=MusicRow|accessdate=April 3, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403184423/https://musicrow.com/calendars-2/single-releases/|archivedate=April 3, 2018}}</ref> | — | — | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |- | rowspan="3"| 2019 ! scope="row"| "Raise The Bar" | — | — | rowspan="3"| ''Longneck Bar and Grill'' |- ! scope="row"| "It Matters To Her" | — | — |- ! scope="row"| "Bad Things Good People" | — | — |- | rowspan="2"| 2020 ! scope="row"| "Wash My Truck" | — | — | rowspan="4" {{n/a|Non-album single}} |- ! scope="row"| "Gettin' Her Over You" | — | — |- | 2021 ! scope="row"| "Pretty Good Tonight" | — | — |- | 2022 ! scope="row"| "Closest Ocean" | — | — |- | colspan="5" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! style="width:20em;"| Video ! Director |- | rowspan="2"| 2012 ! scope="row"| "Show Some Respect" | rowspan="3"| Troy Niemans |- ! scope="row"| "Somebody Will" |- | 2013 ! scope="row"| "If It Was That Easy" |- | rowspan="2"| 2014 ! scope="row"| "Crazy Enough" | rowspan="2"| Stephano Barberis |- ! scope="row"| "Undressed" |- | rowspan="2"| 2015 ! scope="row"| "Never Didn't Love You"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/bobby-wills/1159138/never-didnt-love-you.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407010025/http://www.cmt.com/videos/bobby-wills/1159138/never-didnt-love-you.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 7, 2015|title=CMT : Videos : Bobby Wills : Never Didn't Love You|publisher=Country Music Television|accessdate=January 17, 2015}}</ref> | Brian Lazzaro |- ! scope="row"| "So Much for Taking It Slow" | Stephano Barberis |- | rowspan="2"| 2016 ! scope="row"| "Down by the River" | |- ! scope="row"| "Tougher Than Love" | |- | rowspan="2"| 2017 ! scope="row"| "Get While The Gettin's Good" | |- ! scope="row"| "In Comes The Night" | |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result |- | rowspan="3"| 2013 | rowspan="8"| Canadian Country Music Association | Male Artist of the Year | rowspan="2" {{N/A}} | {{nom}} |- | Rising Star | {{won}} |- | Single of the Year | "Show Some Respect" | rowspan="6" {{nom}} |- | 2014 | Male Artist of the Year | {{N/A}} |- | 2015 | Songwriter of the Year | "Never Didn't Love You" |- | rowspan="7"| 2016 | Album of the Year | ''Tougher Than Love'' |- | Single of the Year | rowspan="2"| "Won't You Be Mine" |- | Songwriter of the Year |- | rowspan=4|Alberta Country Music Awards | Male Artist of the Year | rowspan=2 {{N/A}} | {{won}} |- | Fan's Choice | {{won}} |- | rowspan=2|Single of the Year | "Down By The River" | {{nom}} |- | "Won't You Be Mine" | {{nom}} |- | 2024 | Canadian Country Music Association | Industry Person of the Year | {{n/a}} | {{nom}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ccma.org/2024-ccma-award-nominees/|title=2024 CCMA AWARDS NOMINEES|work=Canadian Country Music Association|date=July 18, 2024 |access-date=September 11, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240719164229/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://ccma.org/2024-ccma-award-nominees/|archive-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://bobbywills.com/}} *[http://www.cmt.ca/artist/bobby-wills/ Bobby Wills] at CMT
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wills, Bobby}} Category:306 Records artists Category:Canadian adoptees Category:Canadian country guitarists Category:Canadian male guitarists Category:Canadian country singer-songwriters Category:Canadian male singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Calgary Category:Musicians from Edmonton Category:Canadian Country Music Association Rising Star Award winners Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Singers from Alberta