Grooving for Good: Billy Hendrix Live in Concert

Billy Hendrix has never met a stranger. His easygoing, adventuresome spirit is evident after a few minutes of conversation, and you would never guess that he was once afraid of what others thought about him. As a Middle Schooler, he struggled to make friends and lacked confidence. But while adolescent insecurities seldom disappear entirely, performing in front of hundreds of your peers is a pretty sure sign of growth. 

Every CCES senior is charged with completing a Capstone project of their choosing. Projects can vary anywhere from a research paper to a robotic rose (an undertaking showcased in the Upper School musical Beauty and the Beast), and students are given a wide berth when it comes to creativity. When Billy considered his options, he immediately thought of music. A street performer for the past six years, music became a space for Billy to connect with others and overcome his fears. In his words, “God put those insecurities in my life to change me and introduce me to music; and music has turned out to be the greatest thing for me.” 

In the fall, Billy first approached administration with the idea for a collaborative music festival; however, he quickly realized the financial and logistical challenges of putting on an event of that scope. After multiple iterations, a decision was made – Billy would host an acoustic concert in the Hartness Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 16th. The concert proceeds, he decided, would benefit an organization near and dear to his heart – Sunday Dinner with a Twist. 

Sunday Dinner with a Twist meets in the Big Lots parking lot on Pleasantburg every Sunday at 3:45pm. The mission is simple – humanize the homeless by showing love with no stipulations. Any given Sunday, you can find around 20 individuals who go out across the city to deliver dinner and a friendly face to the homeless population in Greenville. The organization’s founder, John “Redd” Martin, visited Billy’s Service Learning  class last year, and the story of his journey with homelessness and mission to help others left a lasting impression. Billy had also experienced the radical generosity of the homeless population firsthand. “I’ve seen so many people who don’t have food or a place to sleep when I’m out street performing, and they still are willing to give. We have a lot to learn from them about love and kindness.” 

On the night of the concert, Redd and his family sat among the 100-person audience to watch Billy do what he does best – perform. Two guitars and a microphone are all that he required to put on a heartwarming and entertaining show for an hour and a half. His setlist reflected his personal journey with music, and he played songs spanning from those he’s never before performed live to songs on which he first learned how to play the guitar. 

The crowd was swept away by timeless favorites like "No Diggity" by Blackstreet and Dr. Dre, and the heartfelt resonance of "Something in the Orange" by Zach Bryan. Yet, what truly stole the show was witnessing Billy's contagious joy and unwavering confidence as he embraced his passion wholeheartedly. Reflecting upon the evening, Billy said, “it has been a dream of mine to be able to put on my own concert and that night was everything I wanted it to be and more.” 

He loved hearing his friends “hoot and holler” while he performed, and it was especially meaningful to see his WyldLife boys present in the audience. WyldLife, a subset of YoungLife, allows high schoolers like Billy to mentor and walk alongside middle schoolers in their faith journeys. His mentees showed up in full force, and he hopes the experience imparted on them the importance of doing what you love and facing your fears. 

The night bore many fruits, not least of which was the impressive $3000 raised for Sunday Dinner with a Twist, adding to its lasting impact. As for Billy, he will be attending Clemson University next year and eagerly awaits God’s plan for his life. “I will go wherever He leads me. The only thing I know for sure is that I want music to keep being a part of my life.”