Billy Reeves
Encyclopedia
Billy Reeves is a British songwriter, musician, record producer and broadcaster.
In the early 1990s he formed the band Congregation (not to be confused with The Congregation), releasing one album, Egham, on the Fire Records
label for whom Reeves has previously worked as a public relations
manager. The group never achieved much success. In 1996 he formed the London
-based indie-band Theaudience
, (featuring Sophie Ellis Bextor on vocals).
Theaudience quickly established themselves in the Camden scene of '97. They scored two top 30 (UK) hits ('A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
' and 'I Know Enough') and a top 30 (UK) eponymous album
before Reeves left the band after a disastrous Glastonbury
'98 performance.
Reeves signed to Sony Records with a new act ('Yours') in 1999. He also ran the club ('Uncle Bob's Wedding Reception') which provided The Darkness with their first London show. Around this time he also had a brief stint in Los Angeles Producing new artist demos for Rondor publishing. His performing career was cut short by injuries sustained in a near-fatal car accident in 2001.
After recovering from his accident Reeves studied under the noted writer and journalist Chris Horrie
at the University of Westminster. Reeves achieved a distinction in his post graduate degree under Horrie and was therefore able to reinvent himself as a radio Producer and Broadcaster on BBC London 94.9
. His travel and sports reports are distinctive due to an eccentric and exaggerated delivery which his friend Danny Baker
has compared to the late Cyril Fletcher
.
He produced the 2005 Sony Award winning Charlie Gillett
show (which featured Mavis Staples
) - and as part of the BBC London Travel Team has won two Frank Gillard Awards
- in 2009 and 2011. The team was nominated for the 2011 Sony in the 'Mulitplatform' category (for coverage of the Tube Strike) and commended in the 2011 Online Media Awards in the 'Twitter
feed of the year' category.
Reeves has also turned his hand to sports commentary for BBC Radio. He lends a Stuart Hall
-style eloquence to reports from Brentford FC, and commentates live on the club's website.
He also presents a podcast entitled 'Nostalgia of the Future' which indulges his love of the early 1960s, and can be heard on Domino Records radio station too.
In the early 1990s he formed the band Congregation (not to be confused with The Congregation), releasing one album, Egham, on the Fire Records
Fire Records
Fire Records was an independent record label set up in 1959 by Bobby Robinson . Among others, it released records by Lightnin' Hopkins, Elmore James and Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup.-Selected discography:...
label for whom Reeves has previously worked as a public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
manager. The group never achieved much success. In 1996 he formed the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based indie-band Theaudience
Theaudience
Theaudience were a Britpop group active in the 1990s. They released one album and saw three singles enter the UK Singles Chart. The band's singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor became a successful solo artist after the band's disbandment....
, (featuring Sophie Ellis Bextor on vocals).
Theaudience quickly established themselves in the Camden scene of '97. They scored two top 30 (UK) hits ('A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed
"A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" is an indie-rock song written by Billy Reeves for Theaudience's epynomous album Theaudience, released as the third single on May 11, 1998. "A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed" became one of the band's most popular songs, peaking at #27 on the UK Singles Chart...
' and 'I Know Enough') and a top 30 (UK) eponymous album
Theaudience (album)
Theaudience is the debut album from British band Theaudience. The album was released on August 17, 1998, peaking at #22 on the UK Albums Chart. The band featured now-solo artist Sophie Ellis-Bextor on lead vocals.-Background:...
before Reeves left the band after a disastrous Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
'98 performance.
Reeves signed to Sony Records with a new act ('Yours') in 1999. He also ran the club ('Uncle Bob's Wedding Reception') which provided The Darkness with their first London show. Around this time he also had a brief stint in Los Angeles Producing new artist demos for Rondor publishing. His performing career was cut short by injuries sustained in a near-fatal car accident in 2001.
After recovering from his accident Reeves studied under the noted writer and journalist Chris Horrie
Chris Horrie
Chris Horrie is a journalist and writer specialising in investigative journalism, finance and profiles of major public figures.As a freelance feature writer his work can be found in the following British newspapers: The Independent, Independent on Sunday, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, The...
at the University of Westminster. Reeves achieved a distinction in his post graduate degree under Horrie and was therefore able to reinvent himself as a radio Producer and Broadcaster on BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
. His travel and sports reports are distinctive due to an eccentric and exaggerated delivery which his friend Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
has compared to the late Cyril Fletcher
Cyril Fletcher
Cyril Fletcher was an English comedian; his catchphrase was 'Pin back your lugholes'. He was most famous for his Odd Odes, which was a section of the television show That's Life!. Fletcher had first begun performing the Odd Odes in 1937, long before they first appeared on television...
.
He produced the 2005 Sony Award winning Charlie Gillett
Charlie Gillett
Charlie Gillett , was a British radio presenter, musicologist and writer, mainly on rock and roll and other forms of popular music...
show (which featured Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples
Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
) - and as part of the BBC London Travel Team has won two Frank Gillard Awards
Frank Gillard Awards
The Frank Gillard Awards are awards for BBC Local Radio stations in the UK. They are named after Frank Gillard who initiated the BBC's local radio network...
- in 2009 and 2011. The team was nominated for the 2011 Sony in the 'Mulitplatform' category (for coverage of the Tube Strike) and commended in the 2011 Online Media Awards in the 'Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
feed of the year' category.
Reeves has also turned his hand to sports commentary for BBC Radio. He lends a Stuart Hall
Stuart Hall
-People:*Stuart Hall , British radio and television presenter*Stuart Hall , British cultural theorist and first editor of the New Left Review...
-style eloquence to reports from Brentford FC, and commentates live on the club's website.
He also presents a podcast entitled 'Nostalgia of the Future' which indulges his love of the early 1960s, and can be heard on Domino Records radio station too.