Billy Hancock
Encyclopedia
William C. Hancock Jr. (known as Billy Hancock) (born November 4, 1946) is a singer, guitarist, and recording artist. He has made several recordings, primarily in the rockabilly
genre but also has recorded rock 'n' roll, blues
, jazz
, rhythm & blues, and country music
. He performs live primarily in the Washington, D.C.
, area, but also at European festivals.
, where he has lived most of his life. His father worked for the Southern Railway and his mother worked for Waxie Maxie's, a local record store chain, and other record stores. The records his mother brought home from work, primarily rhythm and blues from the late 1940s, influenced his musical development.
and New York
before returning to the Washington area. In 1968, he moved to Baltimore
to attend the Peabody Conservatory, and continued to play in bands in the Baltimore area.
Hancock hooked up with guitar wizard Danny Gatton
in the early 1970s and they formed Danny and the Fat Boys with Hancock on vocals and bass, Gatton on lead guitar, and Dave Elliott
on drums. In 1975, the group released a critically acclaimed album, American Music on a label that Hancock and his brother owned. The album's title was taken from a rhythm and blues song Hancock had written. It was later re-issued on CD.
In 1978, Hancock recorded four rockabilly songs under the name Billy Hancock and the Tennessee Rockets for Ripsaw Records, a small independent label. He continued to record rockabilly for Ripsaw under that name for two years. Ripsaw released four singles during that time and licensed those and other titles to larger labels both in the U.S. and France. It is these rockabilly recordings for which Hancock is known internationally.
In 1983, Hancock recorded another rockabilly record, "Hey Little Rock And Roller" that was released in France on the Big Beat Label. Later that year, he returned to Ripsaw to record various rock and roll songs, six of which Ripsaw released in 1985. All of the Ripsaw material was later released on CDs.
Throughout his career, Hancock has played in backing bands for prominent musicians, including Fats Domino
, Gene Vincent
, blues guitarist Roy Buchanan
, rockabilly-st Charlie Feathers
, the Clovers
, Amos Milburn
, and country stars Dottie West
and Jean Shepard
. He co-produced and played guitar on Tex Rubinowitz's rockabilly classic recording of "Hot Rod Man."
In 2002, Hancock and his brother Television Director, Dale Hancock founded TURKEY MOUNTAIN RECORDS TM (an Indie record label. The label was formed to find and promote talented artists of all genres who for whatever reasons have been ignored by other record labels.
Their TURKEY MOUNTAIN RECORDS TM Archival Series is now busy re-releasing material on artists of the past whose works have been unavailable until now.
TURKEY MOUNTAIN RECORDS TM roster of artists includes: Danny Gatton, Coastal People (featuring Carol Ann Blum), The British Walkers (featuring Roy Buchanan), Bobbie (The kid) Howard with Link Wray and The Ray Men, Rockabilly King Charlie Feathers, and Billy Hancock himself.
In 2005, the Washington Area Music Association
(WAMA) awarded Hancock a Special Recognition Award for his 40 plus years as a vocalist, musician, songwriter, producer, promoter, and label owner. In 2006, WAMA presented him two "Wammie" awards for 2005 Roots Rock Vocalist and Roots Rock Recording.
In 2010, Hancock was inducted into the Southern Legends Hall of Fame. He is already a member of 3 other International Hall of Fames.
Hancock continues to play in his usual diverse and various styles, having released on his own label: jazz, blues, rock, and rockabilly albums and even a country album.
Hancock now resides in Nashville, TN, but continues to tour and make records internationally.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
genre but also has recorded rock 'n' roll, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, rhythm & blues, and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. He performs live primarily in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, area, but also at European festivals.
Early life
Hancock was born in Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, where he has lived most of his life. His father worked for the Southern Railway and his mother worked for Waxie Maxie's, a local record store chain, and other record stores. The records his mother brought home from work, primarily rhythm and blues from the late 1940s, influenced his musical development.
Career
Hancock began his career playing in bands around Washington, D.C., while still a teenager. After graduating from high school, he played with bands in Rhode IslandRhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
before returning to the Washington area. In 1968, he moved to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
to attend the Peabody Conservatory, and continued to play in bands in the Baltimore area.
Hancock hooked up with guitar wizard Danny Gatton
Danny Gatton
Danny Gatton was an American guitarist who fused rockabilly, jazz, and country styles to create his own distinctive style of playing. A biography, Unfinished Business: The Life and Times of Danny Gatton by Ralph Heibutzki, was published in 2003. It has a voluminous discography...
in the early 1970s and they formed Danny and the Fat Boys with Hancock on vocals and bass, Gatton on lead guitar, and Dave Elliott
Dave Elliott
Dave Elliott is a former English professional footballer and manager.A midfielder, he began his career as an apprentice at before moving to and . In 1975 he joined as player/manager and made 21 Football League appearances in the 1975–76 season before joining as player/manager...
on drums. In 1975, the group released a critically acclaimed album, American Music on a label that Hancock and his brother owned. The album's title was taken from a rhythm and blues song Hancock had written. It was later re-issued on CD.
In 1978, Hancock recorded four rockabilly songs under the name Billy Hancock and the Tennessee Rockets for Ripsaw Records, a small independent label. He continued to record rockabilly for Ripsaw under that name for two years. Ripsaw released four singles during that time and licensed those and other titles to larger labels both in the U.S. and France. It is these rockabilly recordings for which Hancock is known internationally.
In 1983, Hancock recorded another rockabilly record, "Hey Little Rock And Roller" that was released in France on the Big Beat Label. Later that year, he returned to Ripsaw to record various rock and roll songs, six of which Ripsaw released in 1985. All of the Ripsaw material was later released on CDs.
Throughout his career, Hancock has played in backing bands for prominent musicians, including Fats Domino
Fats Domino
Antoine Dominique "Fats" Domino, Jr. is an American R&B and rock and roll pianist and singer-songwriter. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Creole was his first language....
, Gene Vincent
Gene Vincent
Vincent Eugene Craddock , known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly...
, blues guitarist Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan
Roy Buchanan was an American guitarist and blues musician. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, Buchanan was a sideman and solo artist, with two gold albums early in his career, and two later solo albums that made it on to the Billboard chart. Despite never having achieved stardom, he is still...
, rockabilly-st Charlie Feathers
Charlie Feathers
Charles Arthur "Charlie" Feathers was an influential American rockabilly and country music performer.-Biography:...
, the Clovers
The Clovers
-History:The group formed in 1946 at Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C., with members Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods. John "Buddy" Bailey was added soon after, and they began calling themselves the "Four Clovers", with Bailey on lead...
, Amos Milburn
Amos Milburn
Amos Milburn was an African American rhythm and blues singer and pianist, popular during the 1940s and 1950s...
, and country stars Dottie West
Dottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
and Jean Shepard
Jean Shepard
Ollie Imogene Shepard , better known as Jean Shepard, is an American honky tonk singer-songwriter who was a pioneer for women in country music. Shepard released a total of 73 singles to the Hot Country Songs chart, one of which reached the #1 spot...
. He co-produced and played guitar on Tex Rubinowitz's rockabilly classic recording of "Hot Rod Man."
In 2002, Hancock and his brother Television Director, Dale Hancock founded TURKEY MOUNTAIN RECORDS TM (an Indie record label. The label was formed to find and promote talented artists of all genres who for whatever reasons have been ignored by other record labels.
Their TURKEY MOUNTAIN RECORDS TM Archival Series is now busy re-releasing material on artists of the past whose works have been unavailable until now.
TURKEY MOUNTAIN RECORDS TM roster of artists includes: Danny Gatton, Coastal People (featuring Carol Ann Blum), The British Walkers (featuring Roy Buchanan), Bobbie (The kid) Howard with Link Wray and The Ray Men, Rockabilly King Charlie Feathers, and Billy Hancock himself.
In 2005, the Washington Area Music Association
Washington Area Music Association
The Washington Area Music Association is a regional music industry not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.. WAMA's activity centers around highlighting the area's cultural contribution by assisting regional musicians with becoming recognized on a national scale.The organization...
(WAMA) awarded Hancock a Special Recognition Award for his 40 plus years as a vocalist, musician, songwriter, producer, promoter, and label owner. In 2006, WAMA presented him two "Wammie" awards for 2005 Roots Rock Vocalist and Roots Rock Recording.
In 2010, Hancock was inducted into the Southern Legends Hall of Fame. He is already a member of 3 other International Hall of Fames.
Hancock continues to play in his usual diverse and various styles, having released on his own label: jazz, blues, rock, and rockabilly albums and even a country album.
Hancock now resides in Nashville, TN, but continues to tour and make records internationally.
Discography
- 1975 - American Music
- 1981 - Rockabilly Fever
- 1981 - Shakin' That Rockabilly Fever
- 1983 - Hey! Little Rock and Roller
- 1985 - Wanted: True Rock 'n' Roll
- 1988 - Vintage Masters
- 1997 - American Music
- 2000 - Live at Colonial Beach
- 2000 - Shakin' That Rockabilly Fever
- 2002 - On the Jazz
- 2003 - Wanted: True Rock 'n' Roll
- 2005 - Billy Hancock & the Tennessee Rockets Live!
- 2005 - Passions
- 2006 - Birth of a Billy: Anthology
- 2008 - Out of the Darkness
- 2010 - Rockabilly Fans Only “The Lost Tapes”
- 2011 - Anthology Volume Two