Today we’d like to introduce you to Bill.
Hi Bill, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was fortunate to have an amazing 24-year career at Nike, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything that experience gave me. But music had always been a passion of mine—something I loved doing whenever I had the opportunity.
Right before COVID hit in 2020, I decided to retire from Nike and finally give that passion the time and attention it deserved. I didn’t retire to stop working; I retired to start doing something I had always dreamed of doing.
Since then, music has taken me places I never expected. I’ve been writing songs, recording, performing, meeting wonderful people, and continuing to grow as an artist. What started as a lifelong hobby has become an important part of who I am today.
I think my story is really about taking a chance on yourself. It’s never too late to pursue something you love, and I feel very fortunate that this chapter of my life has allowed me to do exactly that.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
t definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. There have been nights playing to nearly empty rooms, countless hours of practice, and the realization that being a musician is about much more than just making music. You have to work to get the gigs—and then work just as hard to promote them and hopefully get people to show up.
There’s also the comparison trap. There are so many incredibly talented musicians out there, and it’s easy to look at someone else and wonder, “Am I good enough?” I’ve had to learn to stop measuring my journey against someone else’s and simply focus on becoming the best version of myself as an artist.
But I think those struggles make the good moments mean even more. When someone connects with one of my songs, comes up after a performance, or simply tells me the music meant something to them, it reminds me why I started doing this in the first place.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m the Music Director for a nonprofit called Influence Music Hall, where I help support and promote local artists. I also emcee open mics every Friday night, which gives me the chance to meet musicians at every stage of their journey and help create a welcoming place for them to perform.
Another project I’m especially proud of is my involvement with Hillsboro’s First Tuesday Art Walk. Each month, I help place close to 25 musicians in different venues throughout downtown Hillsboro. It’s rewarding to see the streets, restaurants, shops and galleries come alive with live music and to know that we’re helping both musicians and local businesses connect with the community.
I also produce a public-access television show called Voices of the Community, which showcases singer-songwriters and gives them a platform to share both their music and their stories.
What I’m most proud of is that my musical life has become about more than my own performances. I still love being on stage and creating my own music, but I also love opening doors for other artists. If I can help someone get a gig, find an audience, or simply feel encouraged to keep going, that means a great deal to me.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love most about this area is the sense of community, especially when it comes to music. Hillsboro has a wonderful local music scene, and I’m continually impressed by how many businesses support live music on the weekends. They’re enthusiastic about giving local musicians a place to perform, and that creates a really special atmosphere.
And Portland has so much to offer. The restaurant scene is incredible—it’s definitely a foodie city. If you love great coffee, bookstores, hiking, music and the outdoors, there’s always something to do. And I love that you can be in the mountains or at the Oregon Coast in about 90 minutes. We’re pretty spoiled in that regard.
What do I like least? Well, the weather can be pretty tough for about six months of the year! After enough gray and rainy days, you definitely start looking forward to summer.
And because I live downtown, I see the homelessness crisis firsthand. It’s heartbreaking for the people experiencing it, but it also has a very real impact on the people who live and work downtown. I wish we were doing a better job of finding effective, compassionate, long-term solutions. Portland is such a beautiful city, and I’d love to see downtown truly thrive again.
Pricing:
- gigs / start at $50 hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.billhernandezmusic.com/
- Instagram: @billhernandezmusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.hernandez.509
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@billhernandezmusic9726?si=mlFjSdmACuRhPjiB
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6vv8pujzctcYuOdzwRQzsf?si=YXqJAjO3QdiT7kc8WcRLhQ
