Daily Inspiration: Meet Dusty Bo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dusty Bo.

Hi Dusty, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I started playing guitar at the age of 7 and knew by the time I was 12/13 that I wanted to play music for a living.

Every year of school up until the day I graduated was a struggle for me and playing my guitar/writing music was what made me the happiest so the decision to pursue a career in music was easy. I started writing at age 15 and performing live at 16. Once I turned 21 I moved with my band “Bolt Action Thrill” to Los Angeles and once that band folded I quickly joined another band called Future Villains which I was the singer for about 6 years and had some minor success with a few international tours and making a name for ourselves in the Hollywood music scene. Then a bad management deal brought that band to an unfortunate end as well.

After over a decade of doing the band thing, I realized that no matter how hard I worked I was still relying on others for my success and because of that, I decided to begin my career as a solo artist.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The only smooth roads in the music business are when the highways are well-paved and the wind is calm. As an independent artist, there are many struggles. My biggest one is marketing myself and keeping up with the social media wave.

As artists not only do we need to write and perform our music but in order to stay “relevant” we have to create “content” for SEVERAL different social media platforms. On top of that, you have to fund everything out of your own pocket (recording, mixing, mastering, making merch, promoting, marketing, tour vehicle, etc.).

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Since I began my solo career in 2018 I have been fortunate only to play music for a living. Most of the gigs (for now) are bars and restaurants and smaller venues. Last year I signed with a small booking agency (OPUS Booking) and have toured in 13 states with over 40 venues.

Most people know me as a musician/songwriter since it has been my identity for my entire life. I am most proud of writing and releasing my debut full-length album “The Vulture & The Fox”. Having some songs featured on network TV was a really proud accomplishment thanks to my publishing company In The Groove Music. Also my first tour as a solo artist thanks to Shirley Kennedy with OPUS Booking.

I’d say what sets me apart from others is my versatility. I write and perform anything from outlaw country to hard rock, heavy metal, southern rock, blues, and even what some would consider pop.

So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
Health, happiness, good friends, and a good family. To me, nothing else really matters without those.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dustybo.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustyvox/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dustybomusic
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dustyvox
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCGFP9kpUP02YDLaCAfV8cfg
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-647676268
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5o7tPbaAEhaAtOYd83Njs8?si=NOrJh03wSQa_B9jX-NUeDA 

Image Credits
Andrew Schweinhart and Brett Griffeth