BILLY KING
Born in Chicago in 1950, Billy grew up on the mean streets of Chicago's south side at a time when modern blues was evolving. The rural blues styles of the Mississippi Delta were being shaped by the influences of electric instruments and Rock and Roll. A product of this multifaceted blues environment Billy's raw edged style can best be described as a synthesis traditional and acoustic and electric blues.
The songs Billy writes are based upon his own experiences . They are filled with humor and irony, they tell a story of a lifetime of living, loving, and playing, the blues in Chicago.He often introduces a song by saying "This is a true story I know I was there!"
A well known, and well respected figure around the Chicago blues scene Billy has played with and learned from some of the finest blues musicians in the world. He has established himself as dynamic frontman and exciting stage performer whose presence always involves the audience in his performance..
A talented musician and a gifted songwriter Billy is at his best when performing his own quick witted originals in front of a live audience. His emphasis has always been, and will always be on performing live.
As a recording artist Billy has self- produced three records: Mean Woman Blues, Life Ain't Easy, and Live at Bozley's . His songs have appeared on two compilation discs Mile by Blues Mile, and Ultimate Blues Volume One.
"My biggest musical influences are the Kings: B.B., Albert, and Freddy. I used to listen to them when all of my friends were listening to rock and roll. Growing up in Chicago was an advantage for me because the Blues is all around you, all the time. I can remember sitting on the curb outside some of the clubs in the "Old Town" neighborhood on the Northside. I was too young to get in but I could hear the music pretty well, and some of the bands set up in the window and you could watch the drummers working it. Jr. Wells, Buddy Guy, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield James Cotton they were all there and I was lucky enough to hear them."