From the rock evolution in the 1970s to the rise of electronica, the music industry has shown just how quickly musical genres can change.

Carbondale musician Bill Harper is one who has seen it evolve right in front of him, while maintaining his blend of traditional rock and roll, country and folk.

Harper has been singing in church since he was 8 years old before moving from southern Illinois to northern California, where he realized he wanted to be a performer.

“I tried in the past to learn how to play guitar and some guys I was playing softball with all played and I said, ‘You’ve got to show me how to play the guitar,’” he said.

On Dec. 23, 1980, Harper said he had a revelation and was going to start the new-year off right by performing at local clubs.

He contacted a club in northern California where singer/songwriters frequently played and, to his own astonishment, did not have to audition due to the previously scheduled act canceling, he said.

“I went down and did four hours and the rest is history,” he said.

Harper continued to play clubs and wineries in California for 10 years. When he moved back to Carbondale in 1991 and performed at the local wineries, he was familiar with the atmosphere, he said.

Once in Carbondale, Harper linked up with some of his friends and formed “The Natives,” a southern rock band, before returning as a solo act.

“I played with them for 13 years, so we were on the strip a lot,” he said. “I’ve been going on 35 years professionally.”

Harper said he is really influenced by classic rock from the 1970s like the Eagles and singer/songwriters like Jackson Brown and Gordon Lightfoot.

“I feel like I’m more like a song stylist because I don’t play just like the record,” he said. “It’s a blend of some really strong singer/songwriters. … People hear a lot of different influences in my voice.”

The intimacy of performance is what keeps Harper attached to the music he performs and the venues he goes to, he said.

“I get an opportunity where people are not just visiting with themselves and drinking with music as background, but I can talk to them and talk about song influences,” he said. “It feels like you’re giving something back to the audience.”

Harper is starting to get calls from venues outside of southern Illinois in cities as large as St. Louis.

“The coolest thing about doing this is having people who have not heard you before, going in and meeting or exceeding their expectations,” he said. “People are not judging you just by looks. You get to share your gift and see what happens.”

Harper also plans on adding to the eight solo albums he has already recorded, he said.

This familiarity Harper has gained from working and performing in Carbondale has given him the opportunity to see how the music scene has changed throughout the years.

“The biggest change from what I have seen is what is going on with the arts and activities where a lot of musicians are coming together,” he said. “It’s always been a strong music scene. Always.”

Harper said he wants people in Carbondale to recognize the greatness of the local music scene.

“I don’t think people appreciate enough how many wonderful musicians there are in this area,” he said.

Harper can be found Saturday strumming his guitar at Blue Sky Vineyard.