Billy Strings
Billy Strings | |
|---|---|
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | Rounder |
| Spouse(s) | Ally Apostol (m. 2023) |
| Website | https://www.billystrings.com |
Billy Strings (born William Lee Apostol, October 3, 1992) is an American guitarist and bluegrass musician.[1] His album Home won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2021.
Early life
Billy Strings was born William Lee Apostol on October 3, 1992, in Lansing, Michigan. His father died of a heroin overdose when he was two and his mother remarried Terry Barber, an accomplished amateur bluegrass musician whom Strings regards as his father. The family later moved to Morehead, Kentucky, and then to Muir, Michigan. While he was still a preteen, his parents became addicted to methamphetamine. He left the family home at the age of 13 and went through a period of hard-drug usage. His family eventually achieved sobriety; Billy stopped using hard drugs and drinking alcohol, becoming "California Sober" and consuming only cannabis and similar "light drugs" (ie psychedelics).[2][3]
Barber was a heavy influence on his stepson, introducing him to traditional bluegrass artists at a young age,[1] including Doc Watson, Del McCoury, David Grisman,[4] Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs and Larry Sparks.[5][6] Strings is also a rock and metal fan, influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Widespread Panic, Phish, Grateful Dead, Def Leppard, Between the Buried and Me and Black Sabbath, and played in hard rock and indie rock bands in his teens.[3][7]
Apostol got his stage name, Billy Strings, from his aunt, who saw his ability on multiple traditional bluegrass instruments.[8]
Career
Beginnings and Turmoil & Tinfoil (2012-2019)
In 2012, Don Julin, a mandolin player from Traverse City, Michigan, and author of Mandolin for Dummies, asked Strings to join him on a paying gig. The partnership lasted for the next four years.
He has been invited to play on stage with artists including
In February 2017, Strings was named one of the six new rising stars of bluegrass by Acoustic Guitar.[24] He also collaborated with Molly Tuttle on the songs "Sittin' on Top of the World" and "Billy in the Lowground".
In March 2018, PBS announced that Strings was to be the inaugural performer at the new cave for the renowned series Bluegrass Underground in the caverns of Pelham, Tennessee.[25][26]
Home and Renewal (2019-2021)
In January 2019,
His album Home won the
In 2021, he joined Bill Kreutzmann's Billy & the Kids for a number of shows, along with James Casey (saxophone).
As a solo artist, he was part of the Newport Folk Festival in July 2021.[31] On September 24, 2021, he released his third studio album, Renewal.[32][33]
Me/And/Dad (2022-present)
Billy Strings' touring band was expanded from a quartet to a five piece when frequent guest fiddler Alex Hargreaves was asked to become a permanent member during a show in Baltimore on July 3, 2022.[34] The band consists of Billy Failing (banjo), Royal Masat (bass), Jarrod Walker (mandolin) and Alex Hargreaves (fiddle).
At the 2022 International Bluegrass Music Awards, Strings was nominated for six awards, winning Entertainer of the Year for the second consecutive year, while "Red Daisy" won Song of the Year.[35]
On October 3, 2022, Strings announced the album Me/And/Dad, a project with his father Terry Barber.[36] While Barber is not his biological father, Strings credits Barber with raising him: "Terry raised me and taught me how to wipe my ass, tie my shoes, and play guitar. That's my fucking dad."[36]
The album is a collection of traditional, country and bluegrass music from
Discography
| Billy Strings discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 3 |
| Music videos | 10 |
| EPs | 2 |
| Singles | 10 |
| As featured artist | 7 |
| Collaboration albums | 3 |
| Other appearances | 4 |
Albums
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart position | Sales | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [37] |
US Country [38] |
US Folk [39] |
|||||
| Turmoil & Tinfoil[42] |
|
— | — | — | 3 | 18 | |
| Home[29] |
|
— | 41 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
|
| Renewal[44] |
|
82 | 9 | 4 | 1 | — | |
| "—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Collaborations
| Title | Album details | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| US [37] | ||
| Rock of Ages (with Don Julin) |
|
— |
| Fiddle Tune X[45] (with Don Julin) |
|
— |
| Me/And/Dad[36] (with Terry Barber) |
|
37 [46] |
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart position | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Strings |
|
— | |||||
| Billy Strings | An OurVinyl Sessions |
|
10 | |||||
| "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||
Singles
As lead artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "All the Luck in the World" (with Circles Around the Sun) |
2020 | Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal |
| "The Great Divide (with Luke Combs) |
2021 | Non-album singles |
| "Wargasm" (featuring RMR )
| ||
| "Midnight on the Stormy Deep" (with Del McCoury) | ||
| "Globe" (with Fences) | ||
| "Fire Line" | Renewal | |
| "In the Morning Light" | ||
| "Long Journey Home" (with Terry Barber)[36] |
2022 | Me/And/Dad |
| "Life to Go" (with Terry Barber)[36] | ||
| "California Sober (featuring Willie Nelson)[47] |
2023 | Non-album single |
As featured artist
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Bells of Every Chapel" (Sierra Ferrell featuring Billy Strings) |
2021 | Long Time Coming |
| "Charm School" (Béla Fleck featuring Chris Thile and Billy Strings) |
My Bluegrass Heart | |
| "Dooley's Farm" (Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway featuring Billy Strings) |
2022 | Crooked Tree |
| "High Note" (Dierks Bentley featuring Billy Strings) |
Gravel & Gold | |
| "For Your Love" (Michael Cleveland featuring Jeff White and Billy Strings) |
2023 | For Your Love |
| "Muscle Car" (Andy Hall featuring Billy Strings)[48] |
Squareneck Soul | |
| "Brown Ferry Blues" (Terry Trischka featuring Billy Strings)[49] |
2024 | Earl Jam: A Tribute to Earl Scruggs |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | "Away From the Mire" | Home |
| "Must Be Seven" | ||
| 2020 | "Home" | |
| "Watch It Fall" | ||
| 2021 | "In the Morning Light" | Renewal |
| "Heartbeat of America" | ||
| 2022 | "Love and Regret" | |
| "Long Journey Home" (with Terry Barber) |
Me/And/Dad | |
| "Catch & Release" | — | |
| 2023 | "California Sober" (featuring Willie Nelson) |
— |
Other appearances
| Title | Year | Credited artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Slippery Eel" | 2021 | Béla Fleck (featuring Chris Thile and Billy Strings) |
My Bluegrass Heart |
| "This Old Road" | Béla Fleck (featuring David Grisman and Billy Strings) | ||
| "Tentacle Dragon (Revenge of the)" | Béla Fleck (featuring Billy Strings) | ||
| "Road Trip" |
2022 | Cory Wong (featuring Billy Strings) |
Power Station |
Awards and nominations
| |||||||||||||||||
| Totals[a] | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
| Nominations | 26 | ||||||||||||||||
Note
| |||||||||||||||||
Americana Music Awards
The Americana Music Honors & Awards are awarded annually by the Americana Music Association to honor the best in Americana and American roots music. Strings has received two wins from four nominations.[50]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Emerging Artist of the Year | Billy Strings | Nominated |
| 2021 | Artist of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2022 | Won | ||
| 2023 | Won |
Grammy Awards
The
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
2021
|
Best Bluegrass Album | Home | Won |
| 2022 | Renewal | Nominated | |
| Best American Roots Performance | "Love and Regret" | Nominated | |
| 2024 | "California Sober" (featuring Willie Nelson) |
Nominated | |
| Best Bluegrass Album | Me/And/Dad | Nominated | |
| Best Country Duo/Group Performance | "High Note" (Dierks Bentley featuring Billy Strings) |
Nominated |
International Bluegrass Music Awards
The International Bluegrass Music Awards are awarded annually by the International Bluegrass Music Association to honor the best in bluegrass. Strings has won seven[52] awards from 16 nominations.[53][54][55]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | New Artist of the Year | Billy Strings | Won |
| Guitar Player of the Year | Won | ||
| 2020 | Nominated | ||
| Entertainer of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Album of the Year | Home | Nominated | |
| Instrumental Recording of the Year | "Guitar Peace" | Nominated | |
| 2021 | Guitar Player of the Year | Billy Strings | Won |
| Instrumental Group of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Entertainer of the Year | Won | ||
| 2022 | Won | ||
| Guitar Player of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Instrumental Group of the Year | Nominated | ||
| Album of the Year | Renewal | Nominated | |
| Song of the Year | "Red Daisy" | Won | |
| Instrumental Recording of the Year | "Ice Bridges" | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Entertainer of the Year | Billy Strings | Won |
References
- ^ Rolling Stone. August 8, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
- ^ Hudak, Joseph (June 22, 2022). "Drugs, Bluegrass, and Bass Fishing: How Billy Strings Outran His Past and Infiltrated the Mainstream". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Amazing Billy Strings". Northern Express.
- ^ "Watch Billy Strings Crush Garcia & Grisman's "Dreadful Wind & Rain"". liveforlivemusic.com. March 23, 2018.
- ^ "Midwestern Gentleman - Keep Stringin': The Billy Strings Interview". December 8, 2019.
- ^ "Billy Strings: Just Beginning An Already Wild Ride". NPR. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ "JUMPING INTO THE DEEP END: A CONVERSATION WITH BILLY STRINGS". The Bluegrass Situation. October 18, 2017.
- ^ "Billy Strings Is A Fascinatingly Unpredictable Performer". Greenville Journal. May 4, 2017.
- Rolling Stone. February 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Crossover Touring". crossovertouring.com.
- ^ "Year in Review: Favorite musical picks for 2017". Huffington Post. January 2018.
- Rolling Stone. March 13, 2018.
- ^ "Steeped in versatility, Billy Strings Keeps Returning to His Bluegrass Roots". Daily Progress. May 2, 2018.
- ^ "WMOT Fundraiser: An Evening with Dierks Bentley". wmot.org. March 6, 2018.
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass Collaborate with Sam Bush and Billy Strings in Nashville". Jambands.com. January 21, 2018.
- ^ "Marcus King & Billy Strings To Team For 'King & Strings' Set At Rooster Walk". Jambase.com.
- ^ "The Infamous Stringdusters, Fruition, & More To Bring The Pickin' To Aiken Bluegrass Festival". liveforlivemusic.com. April 13, 2017.
- ^ "John Hartford Memorial Festival - Previous Lineup History". hartfordfest.com. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
- ^ "Lineup". delfest.com. November 15, 2021.
- ^ "2018 Lineup". greyfoxbluegrass.com.
- ^ "Cave Concert Venue Gives New Meaning to Underground Music Scene". NY Post. March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass & Billy Strings Take Manhattan". Jambase.
- ^ "Billy Strings breaks away from his mentor and is set to take his new band to the 'stratosphere'". Marquee Magazine. February 1, 2018.
- ^ "Next-Gen Pickers: 6 Rising Stars are Carrying on the Bluegrass Tradition by Making It Their Own". Acoustic Guitar. February 16, 2017.
- ^ "First Look: Bluegrass Underground's New Home The Caverns". The Tennessean.
- ^ "Music and Magic in the Pelham Valley". The Grundy County Herald. October 6, 2023.
- Rolling Stone. January 2, 2019.
- ^ Lawless, John (June 25, 2019). "Billy Strings to Rounder Records". Bluegrass Today.
- ^ Rolling Stone.
- ^ Zellne, Xander (October 9, 2019). "Billy Strings, Dayseeker and Temples Debut On Emerging Artists Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "Newport Folk Festival stage schedule 2021". Newport Folk. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "New album #RENEWAL out September 24. Preorder now".
- ^ "Grammy Winning Bluegrass Artist Billy Strings Has A New Album". NPR.org. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "Billy Strings Makes Alex Hargreaves Official Band Member". Jambase.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ^ Grein, Paul (September 30, 2022). "Billy Strings, Béla Fleck, Dolly Parton Win Big at 2022 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards: Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ a b "Billy Strings Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Billy Strings Chart History: Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Billy Strings Chart History: Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ a b "Billy Strings Chart History: Bluegrass Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Billy Strings Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
- ^ "Turmoil & Tinfoil track debut from Billy Strings - Bluegrass Today". July 27, 2017.
- ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ "Renewal [Explicit]". Amazon.
- ^ "Fiddle Tune X". Amazon.
- ^ @billboardcharts (November 28, 2022). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/3)..." (Tweet). Retrieved November 29, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Willman, Chris (April 27, 2023). "Billy Strings and Willie Nelson Commit to Going 'California Sober' in Duet Released for Willie's Birthday". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ Lawless, John (June 1, 2023). "Muscle Car from Andy Hall, with Billy Strings". Bluegrass Today. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
- ^ "Awards".
- ^ "Billy Strings". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ "Awards". AmericanaMusic.org. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ "IBMA Awards 2019: See the Winners". September 27, 2019.
- ^ "IBMA Awards 2021: See the Full List of Winners". October 2021.
- ^ "2022 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards nominees announced". July 26, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Billy Strings at IMDb
- Billy Strings discography at Discogs