Dave Wilbert is an unapologetic country traditionalist for the modern age whose deep appreciation of the ‘90s Country sound is clearly evident in his own music. Wilbert’s genuine talent and smooth vocals has been bubbling under the surface of Music Row since his reemergence in 2020. With clever, relatable lyrics that tell a story and share important life lessons, Wilbert’s musical prowess reintroduces a sonic sound and songwriting style 30 years gone, but which is also making a resurgence.

“I love the groove and ingenuity of that era in music,” Wilbert marveled. “That is a recurrent theme. Think of ‘Ocean Front Property’ by George Strait or Joe Diffie’s ‘Pickup Man.’ They are cleverly written, witty songs with a nod and a wink. They make you smile, but they are also great songs. That’s basically what I am going for with my music.”

Leading with an honest and straight forward approach, Wilbert has been one of the most played independent country artists in recent years on the Music Row Breakout and CDX True Indie charts. A lifelong performer, he’s opened for ‘90s Country mainstay Joe Diffie and CMA/ACM Entertainer of the Year Kenny Chesney, among others. 

Wilbert’s musical journey and inspirations began to develop when he was young with familiar tropes of church choir and school chorus wedged between football and track meets. In America’s midwest heartland just outside of North Vernon, a small farm town in Indiana. First influenced and encouraged to sing by his High School choir director and his Father BIll, a guidance counselor at Jennings County High School who placed him in choir. Dave also recalls his hometown radio station WKKG, which also developed his love of singing with heavy doses of Garth, Dwight Yoakam and George Strait as his radio wave inspirations.

“I was around seven years old and my older brothers were performing in the God Squad choir at the United Methodist Church in my hometown," Wilbert recalled. "I remember hearing a big fella named "Moose" singing a solo and I was blown away. At that moment, I thought that is what I want to do."

From 1991 through 1995 Dave formed and performed in his first band, Mr. Cowboy, singing both his own songs and covers, while attending college at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. Just a couple years later in 1997, Dave made the decision to go all-in on music, and moved to Nashville. His move was both encouraged and influenced by songwriting partner and mentor, Kerry Kurt Phillips (George Strait, Tim McGraw, Billy Ray Cyrus). Phillips discovered Wilbert at a national talent search event in Vincennes, Indiana, and has since taken a vested interest in Wilbert’s sound and career. 

Wilbert has also been embraced by and recorded songs from Nashville hit songwriters Phil O’Donnell (George Strait, Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan), Jason Matthews (Billy Currington, Trace Adkins), and Kendell Marvell (Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, Chris Stapleton) to name a few.

Wilbert is drawn to good stories because he has lived so many himself. He has experienced his share of disappointments and has come out on the other side with both a sense of humor and an appreciation for what he calls “God’s Time,” when your personal timeline doesn’t exactly gel with a bigger plan.

However, in the early 2000s while Wilbert was a single Father in Franklin, Tennessee raising three young children, he decided to put his music career on pause for a bit to raise his kids. Much like one of his biggest musical inspirations did for the same reason, Garth Brooks.

“It was life and what I had to do at that time to make sure my kids had a good upbringing," he recalled. “Life just pushed me in a whole new direction and music was not the focus. I was 100 percent focused on the kids and survival. I wouldn’t trade that time with my kids for anything. I would have missed out on all those memories, and I’m OK with it.”

Also an avid outdoorsman who once contemplated a career as a game warden, Wilbert paid the bills with his blue-collar pursuits, selling Peterbilt trucks and veterinarian supplies for America’s agricultural and farming communities. He’s also coached his son and daughters’ sports teams, yet while always keeping his guitar handy for back-porch picking sessions with his buddies, which also became the foundation for some of his song ideas.

Now that his children are grown, Wilbert has been able to turn more of his attention back to his music career, picking up where he left off in 2008, and now focused on growing into the recording artist and live performer he’s always saw himself as, leading with honesty, authenticity and good ole fashioned country charm. 

“It’s easier now than it was before,” he admitted. “I’m not worried about record labels or saying the right thing all the time. There are so many ways to reach people that didn’t even exist before.”

Wilbert’s sound is a fusion of the music he listened to growing up in North Vernon, Indiana, not far from where scenes for John Mellencamp’s “Small Town” music video were filmed in nearby Seymour, Mellencamp’s hometown. Wilbert was also influenced by the records his parents played on the family’s stereo including The Statler Brothers, Alabama, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and folk mainstays Peter, Paul and Mary, James Taylor, as well as the rock icons favored by his three brothers – Van Halen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and KISS.

“My all-time favorite song is Hank William Jr’s ‘A Country Boy Can Survive’. I loved it because I lived it,” said Wilbert. “Music to me is sharing the stories of everyday life and everyday people. Good honest music; it’s not more complicated than that.”

In the last few years Wilbert had made significant strides in building a firm foundation to relaunch his music career. In 2024, Dave Wilbert was one of the most played independent country artists on the Music Row Breakout and CDX True Indie charts.

Building upon that success, and with more than 10 singles released in the last five years, Dave released his first full length album on June 20,2025 on his Independent label, WillBilly Records. Entitled Live from America (It's Saturday Night), it’s a collection of songs which are undoubtedly sonic traditionally-laced country gems rooted in stories and lessons that describe his personal journey of life on his family farm. The title track of the album perfectly embodies Wilbert's dedication to “good, honest music,” as he describes it. The album features songs written by himself and music pals Kerry Kurt Phillips, Phil O’Donnell, Jason Matthews, Doug Supernaw, among others. The tracks on Live from America (It's Saturday Night) were produced by Eddie Blount, Dave Wilbert, Julian King and recorded at Black River Studios and Ridge High Studios in Nashville.

“I just want to record and write honest music that everyone can relate to,” Wilbert explains. “I love songs with heart; that’s why I love country music and soul music. It doesn’t have to be slick or complicated. I’m not concerned with musical categories as much as I am concerned with truth.”