When country guitar sensation Billy Strings invited his dad onstage to play together, something magical happened. The father-son duo each donned acoustic guitars and took turns singing, and it’s abundantly clear where Strings got his talent from! His dad Terry Barber played and sang up a storm onstage, with his son matching him note for note.
The pair teamed up for a two-hour performance at the City Opera House in Traverse City, Michigan, and went viral online for their troubles. The Music Man readers might be interested to hear “Long Journey Home,” which was one of numerous highlights in the live set. Strings fired off rapid-fire bluegrass runs on guitar, then sang a gorgeous harmony with his dad. When it was dad’s turn to take a solo, he gave his son a real run for his money on the fretboard!
The performance gained 2.9 million views on YouTube. Aside from the incredible musical chops on display, the show was really sweet because you can see the connection that the father-son duo shares. When Strings looks over at his dad while they play, it’s clear he’s just enjoying the moment jamming out with his pops.
Fans really connected with the performance and added comments such as “Can we appreciate how lucky anyone is who gets to share their passion with their dad (or mom)?” and “This is officially the coolest father-son music video I have ever seen.” The Traverse City show is not the first time Strings has gone viral thanks to a duet with his dad, as the pair teamed up in 2013 for an impromptu jam which gained a lot of attention on YouTube.
Billy Strings was born on October 3, 1992, and is currently 31 years old. His real name is William Lee Apostol, but his aunt came up with the nickname Billy Strings after seeing his ability on multiple instruments. Strings, who hails from Lansing, Michigan, has built a name for himself as one of the rising stars of American bluegrass music.
Strings’ biological father died when he was two years old. His mother later married Terry Barber, who Strings considers his dad. Barber is an amateur musician, and his love for bluegrass music influenced his son’s interest in the genre.
Strings released his debut studio album Turmoil & Tinfoil in 2017, and it peaked at number three on the US Bluegrass chart. He has since released a total of three studio albums. His latest album, 2021’s Renewal, was his first entry onto the Billboard 200, where it peaked at 82.
If you would like to hear more from this talented guitarist you can subscribe to his YouTube Channel for more incredible music. You can also follow Billy Strings on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and performances.