Rising Stars: Meet Bill Arnold

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill Arnold. 

Hi Bill, 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 grew up in Milford and graduated from Milford High School. I was never far from a guitar or any opportunity to play music. Upon high school graduation, I attended Michigan State University and achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Building Construction Management. I entered the construction industry while simultaneously getting married, starting a family, and earning my MBA in Finance from Wayne State University in the evenings. 

Our family settled in Clarkston, MI and that’s where we’ve remained for 20+ years. All three of my children graduated from Clarkston High School. My love for music never waned. During the early family years, I satisfied my music urges playing small venues and get-togethers, typically in an acoustic duo. As my family got older, I started playing in bands, both bluegrass, and rock. This is when I started to get serious about songwriting. 

My main instruments are guitar, resonator guitar (Dobro), and lap steel. I currently front the band One Ton Trolley, an original band that showcases my songwriting. Our music could best be described as “roots rock from the Rustbelt”, as the songs have evolved from my half-century of life experience in Michigan. The Trolley released a 5-song EP, No Simple Highways, in March 2022. A feature-length 12-song LP, Sunday Morning Cigarettes, is to be released in early 2023. 

In addition to my involvement with One Ton Trolley, I can also be found in various capacities on a number of other artists’ recordings, such as Chasin’ Steel, Adam Carpenter & the Upper Hand, Bill Bynum & Co., Buffalo Knickels, Levi Bootcut & the Straight Legs, and the Robert Louis Band. I also play solo shows as often as I possibly can. 

I still manage the construction company with my brother that we started in 1996. When not writing, recording, or performing music, I enjoy spending time with my family. Whenever possible, I like to escape to my beloved Manistee River near Grayling, MI to drift flies over trout, typically from the back of my old Au Sable riverboat. 

With our flock moved away from home, my wife Beth and I downsized yet remained in Clarkston. Our oldest daughter, Maddie, lives in Boston. Our middle daughter, Ellie, lives in Green Bay. Our son, Hayden, is at Michigan State University. We are enjoying the travel required to visit with them and see the country. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Time and the management of it are my life’s biggest obstacles. There never seems to be enough time available to do all the things I want. Years ago, I envisioned a somewhat “Renaissance Man” lifestyle, where I could go after every pursuit at the highest level. Family, work, music, fishing. I wanted everything to be the best I could make it. That has been my own personal struggle; being good enough at everything. It may seem an impossible task. Only time, age, and experience can knock the edges off of perceived failure. Just when I think I’ve reached that level of wisdom, I seem to fall short of where I want to be. I can get down and feel overwhelmed. It’s a constant struggle, but I keep plodding forward as best I can. I think that’s all anyone really can do. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a songwriter. I write about the human condition and day-to-day woes that I witness from the world around me. I tend to write from a first-person perspective, but rather than personal experiences, I fabricate characters from being an observer or voyeur. I draw much of my inspiration from the grittiness of SE Michigan but also from the beauty that surrounds all of us that call Michigan home. 

My style and process of songwriting centers around my guitar and what I call “constructive noodling”. I find when I just play the instrument without too much thought, emotions will find their way out of my subconscious and translate to song. I don’t really know how it happens. I often do not know what a song is about until it is completed. It’s not uncommon for me to not know what the song is about until someone hearing it describes what they felt while listening to it. I really love that! 

I believe that when you write a song, record it, and release it to the world, no matter how large or small that world is, you’ve kicked that baby bird out of the nest. In many ways, the song no longer belongs exclusively to you. I write my music for anyone, but I recognize that it may not be for everyone, and that’s okay with me. I’d rather share my music with 2 people that are emotionally connected to my songs than 200 that treat it like background noise. 

While I most often write by myself, some of my best material has come from my collaboration with Adam Carpenter of Marquette. Our friendship was forged on trout streams and stages for close to 20 years. I am an honorary member of both of his bands; Chasin’ Steel and Adam Carpenter & the Upper Hand. Whenever we are together, there are guitars. And songs. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The advent of digital music streaming has made the production of new music a labor of love. When you release new music, anyone can access it for free or for very little money. With the advances in audio production equipment, virtually anyone can record an entire record in their basement, ship the files digitally to a production company who will place their music with all streaming and purchase services, track their revenues, and direct deposit their earnings into their bank account. This means that literally, anyone can release music. Streaming services allow everyone to get their music out there, but it’s a very large ocean to drag a lure through and hope to catch a fan. And the payout is extremely low. 

In a lot of ways, the music “industry” has become a void. It’s never been easier to release music to everyone yet be so hard to be noticed in a sea of label and independent releases. 

In other words, it’s a tough way to make a living. Living in the Metro Detroit area further compounds the difficulties of getting your music to the people that might be looking for it. This is a very large land mass region with several “islands” of entertainment, as opposed to one central entertainment district. It can be a challenge to fill rooms with people when the drive to a show can be over an hour for potential music fans. This makes video production such a great asset for music artists trying to reach potential fans who would later make the hour+ trek to see a band live. 

Creating music requires a lot of hats to wear and a very strong entrepreneurial spirit. 

Contact Info:

• Website: http://onetontrolley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onetontrolley/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onetontrolley
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQp4jUAZaynesQ185feKlTA
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/onetontrolley

Image Credits
Julia Cuddy
Kevin Alan Lamb
John Bayerl
Tim Williams
Allison Carpenter