An evening of "transporting melodies, plain-spoken insights, and genuine...charisma" (The Washington Post) from this folk/pop musician.

Singer/songwriter David Wilcox has been charming the folk music world for two decades with his poetic lyricism and unique, intimate guitar style. Compared to James Taylor, Wilcox has fine-tuned the art of blending his down-to-earth sense of emotion in music with his skillful command of the guitar.

A native of Cleveland, Wilcox got what most would call a late start with the guitar. He first became inspired at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, by a fellow student who played the Bob Dylan classic, “Buckets of Rain.” Wilcox was such a natural that he was writing his own songs within months. Incorporating influences from James Taylor to Motown in his writing, Wilcox says “I’m drawn to artists who disclose something about themselves and let you into their world.”

His 1987 debut, The Nightshift Watchman, gained immediate popular interest in the folk scene for its introspective lyrics and smooth harmonies. Among Wilcox’s acclaimed repertoire are the albums Home Again (1991), Turning Point (1997), and Live Songs and Stories (2001). On his most recent release, Vista (2006), Wilcox explains “It’s the groove these songs have that sets them apart from my other recordings…This is the soundtrack of how my life feels lately.”

Reflecting on 20 years of record making and touring, Wilcox says, “Music is still kind of like the headlights of the car into the night. It’s way beyond where I am. I used to think I would catch up, but now I hope I don’t. I hope the music stays my teacher. For me, I need to have stuff that is on the edge of what I’m learning.”

Wilcox is currently traveling the country with his wife, musician Nance Pettit, and their 13-year-old son, Nathan, in an Airstream trailer pulled by their bio-diesel truck. “The idea was to show Nathan the country, but we’ve kept going longer than we expected because it's been such a wonderful experience,” he says. “Nate’s home-schooling lessons are drawn from where we go and who we meet. We don’t know what each day will bring or where the path will lead, and the part we love best is following where we are led.”

—Alissa Bourbonnais