Daily Inspiration: Meet William Falkner

Today we’d like to introduce you to William Falkner. 

William, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Born & raised in Huntsville, Alabama (March 11, 1996) My mother a music lover, and my father a musician I was surrounded by a love for music. My mother’s side of family, especially from northern Tennessee, we’re all musicians/singers – music was in their bones and this, I believe, put it in my blood no doubt. My father didn’t come from a musical family but chose to pick up guitar at 18 years old and teach me and my older brother the love for playing. As I grew up, I continued my love for music and then upon seeing a classic AC/DC live DVD my heart and mind was sold – I wanted to be a guitarist. From there I asked for lessons, dad said I could have some when I got better than him. I worked hard and got lessons at the age of 13 and took them until I was 23 from Huntsville, Alabama native Jeff Beasley. His teachings/mentorship changed my life and lead me from loving the guitar to seeking out a professional career and education in music (two semesters at Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA). From 13 to 17 I put together multiple projects with my friends that gave me wonderful experiences to understand how bands functioned. Age 17 at the end of my first semester of Senior year I intended to join the Marines, my family wished a different path for me. My brother called a close friend whom had just finished his service, still a young man, the friend reached out and gave me an opportunity to audition for his group. I made the band and the next 5 years we played hundreds of shows, opened for acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Florida-Georgia Line, and more. This experience changed my life and it reaffirmed I was doing what I was born to do. When the group came to an end at age 22, I joined a local Huntsville party band that gave me great vocal practice and many excellent lessons with my tenure with them. I was finding myself not fulfilled completely but having been around so many professionals I thought I could take what I had learned and start my own group. January 2020 me and my girlfriend, Mica, came up with the name Travelin’ Rose Band and a new chapter of life was born. I sought to take all I learned and applied it to the business end and songwriting. The pandemic hit not long after and me and Mica spent 2020 crafting originals, the sound, and brand of the group. I reunited with friends from Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA and players from Huntsville and by the end of 2020/beginning of 2021 we we’re performing regularly as TRB around north Alabama. I decided it was time to make an album and in May (21-25) we went to FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and tracked 9 original tracks and 2 covers. The covers were very important to me. The first being “I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You)” by John Mayer dedicated to my late friend & talented bassist Stone Anderson – he always loved to jam that song together. The second “Greenwood, Mississippi” by Little Richard dedicated to his greatness and whom I consider to be the true King of Rock ‘N’ Roll (also buried a mile away from my childhood home). In my opinion in the world there’s be a tremendous lack of respect given to African-American artists who pioneered and created the music that inspires most musicians (Blues, Country, Rock n Roll) without nearly the amount of praise they deserve. I was proud to put one of his tunes on the record. Two days after the completion of the record I moved to Denver, Colorado with one of my musical partners from Berklee, Tyler Wilde. Since June 2021 I have been living in Denver and what a truly blessed change in life it has been. It has pushed me further and the community has been so welcoming. We found a drummer and bassist and hit the ground running. Since then, we’ve played many shows in the area and continue to flourish. The future looks bright and can’t wait to record the next album that will be certainly be a “Colorado Southern Rock” album. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a group just before the pandemic certainly laid out a challenge. Fighting personal demons, substance abuse, and moving across the country has certainly been tough. Less than a month living in Denver my grandfather, Garvis Richmond, passed away, and what a heavy blow it was. But his strength and memory lives with me, I know he’s with me every day and when I think of him, I know he’d never want me to give up! Keeping a group together, keeping your sanity, and trying to hold relationships together has been such a task but at the end of the day, I’m proud to see where my choices have taken me. If it wasn’t for my family, friends, mentors, and a higher power I don’t know where I’d be today and I’m ever so grateful. Love will always win over anything. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The “Colorado Southern Rock” band we have members from all over the country that provides genre-blending that clashes tastefully. We’re proud of the energy level we can produce, our improvisational movements, and really having fun with our crowds! 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love my B, my dogs (Jerry, Voodoo, and Jezebel Rose), hot black tea with lemon & honey, good pho, and country cooking (BBQ, catfish, hushpuppies, dressing, desserts). Pickin’ n Grinnin’ with some good ole boys/girls 😉 ! 

Poor conversation / ignorance, traffic, watching TV, icy weather / being stuck inside too long, and people who don’t like spontaneous decisions! lol 

Contact Info:

• Email: travelinroseband@gmail.com
• Website: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thetravelinroseband/slipping-into-daydreams
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/travelinroseband/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/travelinroseband/
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/travelinrose
• Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC-peLBvzptwhKTFucRmwDPg
• Other: http://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8L45X8d/

Image Credits
Rocky Montaño Photography
Alyssa Montaño