Billy Constable
Billy Constable | |
---|---|
Birth name | William Tarcisius Constable III |
Born | Avery County, North Carolina | March 23, 1959
Origin | Spruce Pine, North Carolina, US |
Died | August 22, 2015 North Carolina | (aged 56)
Genres | Appalachian music, Bluegrass, Cajun, country, jazz, klezmer, polka, reggae, rock, zydeco |
Occupation(s) | Bluegrass artist |
Instrument(s) | Banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin |
Website | billyconstable |
Billy Constable (March 23, 1959 – August 22, 2015) was an Appalachian musician from Spruce Pine, North Carolina, best known for his three-finger-picking banjo technique and his vigorous acoustic guitar leads.[1] He came from a rich musical background and from a young age started performing with bluegrass greats, including Charlie Moore, Josh Graves, the Doug Dillard Band, Kenny Baker and Vassar Clements.[2][3] Constable has remained a key player in the Appalachian and bluegrass music scenes for several decades.
Constable developed a seizure disorder in 2011, found to be the result of a brain tumor which was surgically removed.[3] His cancer later progressed, and he died peacefully on August 22, 2015.[4][1]
Career
Constable grew up playing music as a part of the Wiseman family from western North Carolina. He began his professional career playing guitar with his mother's husband, the accomplished bluegrass musician Charlie Moore. As a teenager, he found work touring with Doug Dillard. He later moved to California to play with family band the Constables.[2]
Despite his equable
Constable played regularly with
References
- ^ Lohud.com. October 3, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Billy Constable: Bluegrass Musician", Blueridge National Heritage Area, retrieved May 15, 2012
- ^ a b c Chandler, Travers (October 21, 2011). "A Call to help for Billy Constable". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
- ^ Billy Constable (official website) http://www.billyconstable.com/, retrieved June 4, 2012
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(help) - ^ Crews, Eric (May 20, 2010). "Mark Schimick & Billy Constable Bring Fast-Pickin' to Murphy's Friday". High Country Press. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2012.