I surrounded myself with music from a young age. At the age of 12, after studying the clarinet for 3 years and trying my hand at the piano, drums, saxophone, bagpipes (seriously), harmonica, and didgeridoo, I picked up my first guitar: my padre's 30 year old Yamaha 12 string. Within a year, I had moved on to the electric guitar and formed a three-piece classic rock and blues band, Howl. Together for only two years, we actively gigged throughout MA and CT at schools, regional fairs, and fundra...
I surrounded myself with music from a young age. At the age of 12, after studying the clarinet for 3 years and trying my hand at the piano, drums, saxophone, bagpipes (seriously), harmonica, and didgeridoo, I picked up my first guitar: my padre's 30 year old Yamaha 12 string. Within a year, I had moved on to the electric guitar and formed a three-piece classic rock and blues band, Howl. Together for only two years, we actively gigged throughout MA and CT at schools, regional fairs, and fundraisers - I played lead guitar and sang lead vocals.
Looking for a new direction, I returned to the acoustic guitar. As per the norm, I came to write my first song after a breakup with a girl whom I had barely known. It was pathetic. The breakup and the song. Continuing to develop my song writing skills for the next few years, I moved to New York to attend NYU. It was during his freshman year that I started actively writing and recording music, which lead to the release of my self titled EP. I was soon gigging at New York institutions like the Bitter End, Arlene’s Grocery, the Knitting Factory, and the Canal Room.
In December 2007, I released my debut album, The Joker’s Hand, and soon thereafter began to support acts such as Dave Matthews collaborator Tim Reynolds, Susan Tedeschi, Pete Francis (of Dispatch), and many others. Met by warm and receptive audiences at every show, the uber-loyal fan base continues to grow.
Capitalizing on this momentum, I returned to the studio with producers Tim Hatfield and Sammy Merendino to record the EP, Sessions on a Hill, in the summer of 2008. With Merendino (of Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Joan Osbourne) on the drums, Graham Maby (of Joe Jackson) on the bass, and Jeff Golub (of Rod Stewart) on electric guitar, we recorded my most successful release to date.
January of 2009 was a milestone. I played a show in Suffield, Connecticut at The Academy. Recorded and released as "Billy Simons Live at The Academy" (April 2009), this solo acoustic album, is my truest-to-form release, covering songs from The Joker’s Hand, Sessions On A Hill, and my upcoming studio album.
Continuing to play all over the northeast, I have recently returned to the studio to record my follow-up to 2007’s The Joker’s Hand. With Grammy-nominated producer Jack Gauthier (John Hammond, Dispatch, State Radio, Duke Robillard) at the helm, I anticipate a release late in the summer of 2009.
Typically performing as a solo act, my shows are (hopefully)captivating, acoustic performances featuring beatboxing, guitar tapping, and lyrics to which audiences can relate - the quirky lyrics are meant to leave you lauging, crying, or both.
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