Billy Talbot
Encyclopedia
Billy Talbot is an American
singer-songwriter
and musician
, best known as the bassist
of Crazy Horse
.
, Talbot started his musical career singing on street corners at the age of 14. He moved to New Jersey
with his family the next year, and by 17 he had moved to Los Angeles
. There, he befriended Ralph Molina
, Danny Whitten
and Benjamin Rocco. Together they formed a Doo-wop
group called Danny and the Memories. After moving the group to San Francisco, they morphed into The Psyrcle, which eventually grew to encompass Leon and George Whitsell along with Bobby Notkoff
. At this point, Talbot and his bandmates renamed the group The Rockets.
In 1967, the group met Neil Young, who at the time was a member of Buffalo Springfield
. This meeting saw Molina, Whitten, and Talbot join forces with Young to create Crazy Horse.
Talbot began performing solo in 1999 at small venues, supported by fans of Crazy Horse. In October 2004, Talbot struck out on his own with The Billy Talbot Band, releasing the album Alive in the Spirit World on Sanctuary Records
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, best known as the bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
of Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
.
Music career
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Talbot started his musical career singing on street corners at the age of 14. He moved to New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
with his family the next year, and by 17 he had moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. There, he befriended Ralph Molina
Ralph Molina
Ralph Molina is an American musician, best known as the drummer for Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse.Born in Puerto Rico, Molina has been a member of Crazy Horse since they were formed in 1962 as Danny & the Memories. He has remained throughout the band's many personnel changes, and has...
, Danny Whitten
Danny Whitten
Daniel Ray Whitten was an American musician and songwriter best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and for the song "I Don't Want To Talk About It", a hit for Rita Coolidge, Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl.- Biography :Whitten was born on May 8, 1943, in Columbus, Georgia....
and Benjamin Rocco. Together they formed a Doo-wop
Doo-wop
The name Doo-wop is given to a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music that developed in African American communities in the 1940s and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1950s and early 1960s. It emerged from New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and...
group called Danny and the Memories. After moving the group to San Francisco, they morphed into The Psyrcle, which eventually grew to encompass Leon and George Whitsell along with Bobby Notkoff
Bobby Notkoff
Bobby Notkoff is a violinist who played with The Rockets in the 1960s and Family Lotus in the 1970s. He was a founding member of Electric Flag, one of the first supergroups, with Mike Bloomfield and Buddy Miles.He lives in New Mexico.-Selected discography:...
. At this point, Talbot and his bandmates renamed the group The Rockets.
In 1967, the group met Neil Young, who at the time was a member of Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
. This meeting saw Molina, Whitten, and Talbot join forces with Young to create Crazy Horse.
Talbot began performing solo in 1999 at small venues, supported by fans of Crazy Horse. In October 2004, Talbot struck out on his own with The Billy Talbot Band, releasing the album Alive in the Spirit World on Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
.
Tours
- 1976 Japan tour
- 1976 European tour
- 1976 US tour
- 1978 Rust Never Sleeps US tour
- 1985 Australia/New Zealand tour
- 1986 Rusted Out Garage US tour
- 1987 European tour
- 1987 Life US tour
- 1991 Smell The Horse US tour
- 1996 Year of the Horse European tour
- 1996 Year of the Horse North American tour
- 1997 H.O.R.D.E. US tour
- 2001 South American mini-tour
- 2001 European tour
- 2001 Bridge School Benefit 9/11 Memorial
- 2003 Greendale North American tour
- 2003 Asia/Australia tour
- 2004 Greendale North American tour