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Billy's Bio

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, I was born into a musical family.  My father was a musician with the talent to play just about any instrument you placed in his hands.  His love for music was so strong he never made it past the seventh grade.  Once free from school he began a journey that took him all the way to Nashville, where he earned the right to be inducted into the Country Music Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

I must have inherited his passion for music because my life started out much the same way.   At age nine I began playing drums.  By age eleven I was playing at small teen dance clubs.  At age thirteen my focus changed to guitar.  By age sixteen I had been in several garage bands and was ready to get serious about my career, but life had plans of its own!  Just prior to leaving school something happened that I did not anticipate, I met my wife.  Before I knew it my focus had turned to marriage & kids , so I laid down my guitar and picked up my tools and built a career in floorcovering.  Not very glamorous, but it paid the bills!  Music became a dream, but the desire to play never faded away.  For the next 30 years I was without any gear so I listened and I learned. Now at age 53, with kids grown and my wife by my side, it's my turn to fly!  So begins my journey in hopes of leaving behind some small contribution to the world of music!

Learn about my father Redd Stewart, and his contribution to Country Music.

Billy's Influences

Because I have been exposed to so many styles of music and enjoy most of them equally, my influences are very broad sweeping.  About the only style of music I don't like is opera.  I love jazz, fusion, rock , metal, bluegrass, new Country, traditional Country, hip hop, some rap, blues, and the list goes on.  I also don't like pop music or what I call bubble gum music.  Out of all these different styles of music the following is at the top of my list:  Country both old and new, bluegrass, instrumental rock and blues. The following are my favorite artists in each of these styles:  
New Country - without a doubt my favorite New Country artist is Travis Tritt.  
Old Country:  this is simple, my dad Redd Stewart.
Instrumental Rock: this is a tough one, but the winner is still Steve Vai.  
Blues:  the one and only mighty Joe Bonamassa.  There are so many artist that have influenced me over the years that it would take an entire website just to name them all, so I won't even begin to try and go there.  

The musicians that earn my highest respect are those who are what I call the total package.  These artists have not only mastered their instrument, which for some is their voice, but they have also mastered the art of an outstanding visual performance along with writing music that moves a person deep in their soul.  They have also survived the industry with their integrity still somewhat intact, which by the way is not easy.  The four mentioned above have done that in my eyes. Of course as we all know, this is only my opinion!