Saw Billys first night playing open mic night, my cousin was the host at the Hayloft in Traverse City and he blew me away. Watched him busking on the streets, play the basement at our local bookstore and every chance I got, probably at least a couple dozen times!! So happy to see his success! Great video.
@@tom_esquire Remember the night well but not what songs. He took the stage with a cut off sleeve flannel covered in the tats, wasn’t really sure what to expect. He impressed us all needless to say. It was always a bluegrass\country older crowd of regulars and a lot of the same players usually occupied the stage all night. By the end of the night Billy was part of the gang! He played a decent amount of banjo back then too. Never would have guessed I was witnessing a star being born, always hoped for it, but know also the chances. Feel fortunate to have been able to have saw him as many times as I did.
Never heard Billy talk about being neglected by his parents. He's constantly praising his mom and is always talking about how his Dad (Terry) has been his hero his entire life.
Billy is the modern voice of Bluegrass and true Country that is clearly becoming popular because of Billy. Not a Corporate music machine but by all accounts Billy is being true to the music, his art and talents on his terms. I wish him much success.
I have loved Bluegrass and many other styles of music, I am 67, been into music for a long time. I see Billy as the great hope for music, this young man is humble and kind. The first time I herd him he was really young, I knew as did many others, this kid can pick. Look at the age range at his shows, Really special person.
I grew up listening to Doc Watson as a young kid as well as many other bluegrass bands. My father was a big fan. The first time I saw the video of Billy at the house party singing Dust in A Baggie, I thought “Holy Cow, this kid is the embodiment of Doc’s picking style. He’s definitely the embodiment of living the true American dream!
Definitely one of the best players and song writers in our generation. I was also born in 92. His music brought me out of a huge depression. Can't wait to finally see him this coming February. Hope to meet him as well.
Not a big jam grass guy but Billy strings is one of the most authentic musicians I’ve heard in a long time. Really dig him in all his iterations and projects he’s played in
Marcus King is the greatest thing in music and he doesn't pink up his dome. Sorry but Marcus both plays and sings very large circles around Baily Springs lol
@@K131399 such an ignorant comment. An electric and acoustic guitar are completely different. Marcus king cannot play an acoustic 1/1000000th as good as billy and Billy cannot play an electric like Marcus can.
@@gt8432 I grew up playing all the Doc Watson stuff then in my teens became an SRV fanatic. Don't call people ignorant when you're the moron. Flat-picking on an acoustic for most of us is a step to much more difficult things. What makes Bluegrass guys like Bryan Sutton (who makes Baily Springs look like a child in the flat-picking realm) special is they didn't move on. They stayed on the acoustic. So Bryan Sutton might be able to throw down with a Marcus King, Baily Springs plays like a kid just learning bluegrass. If you disagree, listen to Bryan play anything. And most importantly, Marcus is special. Listen to him play Wildflowers And Wine by himself here on youtube. You're gonna have to trust me that Marcus would have to spend very little time playing acoustic exclusively to blow poor Baily Springs off a bluegrass stage in a manner of speaking. Baily could play electric for the next 10 years solid and he just doesn't have Marcus' hands and never will.
Over the past several years I have seen Billy a couple of dozen times and had the honor of talking with him on many occasions. Billy is very gracious, kind, giving and humble soul. I feel blessed to have been able to follow his career and watch him grow into the "super star" that he is today, all the while keeping his feet firmly planted and not forgetting where he came from.
I had no idea. I've admired him for his skill, versatility and humility. I had no idea that he's gone through so much! So much more to admire about him, though, I suspect that he'd be the last one to accept it... Keep on, Billy Strings!!
I had no idea how tough Billy had it growing up. He is a gifted young man. I've been pleased to see video of him playing Grateful Dead tunes and appearing with Bob Weir!
Met him when he was an opening act. He couldn't figure out how to work his credit card reader or find anyone who could so he gave me a bunch of free merch. Gave me more than I was planning on buying. Super nice guy, glad to see him doing so well.
Billy has led me to some very important healing in my personal life. I have the up most respect and love for him and his band mates. Keep shining sir! 🐐🔥 Iconoclast.
I have known this baby before he was even born..our moms were best friends and my mom is thee aunt Mondi who called him lil billy strings..his dad was an amazing person and his father Terry is a saint❤ CONGRATULATIONS BOOMER I am proud and very happy for all yous!!!
I came to take a big liking to the band the years following my father's fatal stroke at age 62, and me age 20. I am born and raised in Louisville Kentucky. I had an amazing childhood that was uprooted by divorce and moving around. I became a trouble teen along with my older brother or three years. We were always best friends and when I graduated we moved in together. My dad moved in with us after his second divorce. 2 years later he had a stroke. My brother and I lost a lot of friends to drugs. We didn't go down that road to that extent. Last November I lost my brother and best friend to Depression. He took his life at age 27. Today is his 28th birthday. We attended Billy strings the three nights on the waterfront last May. Away from the Mire
I was lucky enough to catch Billy and his band live about a year ago, and was 100% blown away! Their talent, both individually and how they play together, is insane! What I enjoyed the most was how much they were enjoying themselves. Billy's smile never left his face for the whole show, and they seem so humble. It was a really awesome experience, and I hope they continue to ride the wave.
Got to hang with Billy for about an hour on night.... dude it the real deal and in a lot of ways he has picked up the traditional torch of bluegrass on took it to a whole other level.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE BILLY !! The first song I ever heard was dust in a baggie when he was very young but this young man impressed me so much I feel forever blessed to have accidentally heard him that night through my still wonderful boyfriend!! Growing up rough teaches us...yeah us that there is always a better day awaiting us! He amazes me each and every time I hear him, coming from an addict that's really a wonderful way to say there's Definitely a light at the end of that long dark tunnel
First time I heard Billy I was floored. Now, after seeing this short bio of his young life I'm even more impressed and in awe of a person's ability to not only persevere but to triumph. Gotta go now , gonna put on some Billy.
I discovered Billy jamming with one of the greatest guitar players in the world. Tommy Emanuel .I saw immediately‘ being a Guitar player myself that he was special .when you can hold your own with Tommy you are . and I began following him and Molly and all of the young Bluegrass players. He’s easily the best thing going today as far as a musician and guitar player goes but the thing that got me most as I got to know him was how , humble ,sweet , assuming he was and still is . My guess is he is so good and he knows it and he doesn’t need conceit or constant stroking . His boys qualities are not “put on” . They are real. He doesn’t seem 30 at all as a result of his music is always fresh and exciting and fun. He’s the best flatpicker in the Land And because of this, he has revived the art and given it a broad popularity,so that now there may be technically faster flatpickers, no one has his creativity or appeal and accessibility. It’s like going to an art exhibition to see van Gogh paintings, and all the students who can copy van Gogh perfectly …. But they’re not van Gogh and other flatpickers though very good …are not Billy not by a long shot ! I grew up with Hendrix and Clapton , Paige Beck , SRV And believe me, he is right there with them in this generation
So pleased that Billy is intelligent enough to understand the pitfalls that can drag him down. His talent will never die on him. Love hearing your history Billy. Another TrCty fan.
Wow several of his songs make so much more sense now that I know they came from his own life experiences. Billy is a legend. His music speaks to the soul. Can’t wait to see him again at renewal festival in a month!
First heard of Billy in spring of '19. That fall, my buddy lucked out and scored 2 tickets to a sold out show at a tiny venue called Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC. Didn't know much of his stuff then. But, after that show we both walked out dumbfounded by how amazing it was. 3 years later and I'm glad to see the world is taking notice. Billy Strings, Billy Winning, Jarrod, Royal, and the whole crew behind the scenes are masters of their craft. Can't wait to see what the future holds for these boys!
@@tom_esquire It is a great one, probably my favorite venue. Crazy I saw him there and then last month I saw him play the largest indoor arena in the country at the Greensboro Coliseum! These guys are going places! Great video btw!
At 70 years old I went thru a period where I believed the future of music was in peril. Billy, Marcus King, Ryan Bingham and a few others have renewed my faith in music’s future.
Billy is blessed with an incredible talent. I’m really glad that he capitalized on it and reached the level he’s at today. Strength and perseverance are powerful traits. He and his dad do an incredible job playing together. Mor power to you, Billy!
Billy is the voice for our “TIME & PLACE”. He has used, & still experiments with psychedelics. He’s a voice against the dredges of drugs without being a prude. Billy is applauded by my grand kids, my kids, me, my parents, & most of all my grandpa would have been thrilled! I’m 60 yo. & grew up with bluegrass every Sunday at my grandparents!! I live in Nile’s, Michigan so I know ALL the places Billy prowled.
When I first heard of Billy, I remember saying to my friends: "Well anyone named after a part of the guitar had better be damn good! I can play the hell out of a Moog; but you don't hear me calling myself Jimmy Oscillator." Flash forward just a couple months; I'm with the same friends at a bluegrass festival. There was this kid up on stage with Ricky Skaggs, playing some of the most mind blowing things I had ever witnessed... and I am a producer, composer, and multi-instrumental musician and have been playing guitar as my primary instrument since I was 6 years old... so I have witnessed a lot. I turned to one of my friends and said: "Who is that kid up there, playing like a god?" My friend answered: "That's Billy Strings!" Remembering my prior criticism of his stage name, I looked at my friends and said: "He should change his name to Billy Guitar!"
Thank you for this short bio on Billy Strings. It gave me so much more love and respect for him. Knowing how much trauma, affliction, poverty and heartache he endured before he became so successful. What a strong soul he is 💓
Billy and his crew (and Terry).. have been growing on me like mold!!! Never use to care much for bluegrass until I started listening to greensky and Billy Strings!! .... now,I can't get enough!!! Live long Billy!! ...the world needs you!! And thank you Terry for what you have done for Billy!
Billy, you did an amazing job raising yourself. I bet there are struggles still today with relationships, but I hope you have a suited for partner who can help you continue your growth journey. Peace Love and Light ☯️
His name suits him (his birth surname). He is indeed an apostle, which is how he has overcome the adversity in his life and risen to this level. A true earth angel.
Great story, I really love the way it was narrated and pieced together! I've listened to music for 50 years, and I love just about everything, I have never seen someone so passionate, determined and absolutely amazing as Billy Strings! There is no better name to describe someone like him, it's literally the perfect fit! 0 #LOVEBILLYSTRINGS
HEEJ ALL, (from the Netherlands)just Want to say I LOVE BILLY's MUSIC!! So few years ago, strolling around on the internet my eye picked up the name Billy strings,dust in a baggie,my curiosity made me listen,and from that day on..there doesn't goes a week by without his songs!!and tell the Dutch people around me you HAVE to hear this guitar guy Billy..and they love him also!!! I wish/hope one day that maybe I could experience billy and his guy's live on stage!!!
Playing music is a powerful drug and for me it was more important than real world expectations of get a haircut and a real job am 65 now and just retired from live performances but still have to write play and record everyday. Started teaching my son to play music when he was 8 by the time he was 15 he was teaching me and had mastered the guitar by the age of 20 he reminds me of Billy Story here his up ringing wasn't quite as tuff as billy's but there were drug addictions in the family which turned him away from drugs all together he can play any stringed instrument you give him and he reminds me of Billy so much being a great inspiration and playing music with your son there's nothing better go Billy you deserve everything and more especially for the joy you give to others without an overblown ego like so many in the shallow world of showbizz.👍👁👀✌️
Insightful, poignant, inspiring and real. John Stienbeck couldn't have put it better. I'm from Australia . We have a great Guitarist. His Name is Tommy Emmanuel. Tommy and Billy did gigs together. Gnarly and Bluesy and Bluegrassy. True tributes to America and Australia. Loved this Biography of Billy Strings. Awake .
Hi Peter, much respect to you, Australia, and Tommy Emmanuel. Tommy is one of the guitar greats! Thank you for your kind words and thank you for watching!
I've been listening to Billy since the end of 2020 and he's reinvigorated my guitar playing and love of bluegrass. Because of him I'm thinking of starting a bluegrass thing where I live. And to watch this video and learn a bit about his background makes me respect him even more. It's folk who have been through the darkness and come out the other side smiling that have the best things to say. 🤓🏴🎸👍
I’m 75, a half assed guitar player, and been following Billy and Molly for many years. He’s just a phenom! This documentary is probably the best I’ve ever seen. Short and sweet. Best to all envolved.
Gotta tell ya his life sounds similar to a lot of his fans. At least mine. We all go through hardships, some shake it off more than others. That boy can play and my boys loved watching him yesterday. And I've broken a cycle of violence with my own sons, and I give lot of thanks to Jerry, Melvin and Billy
Love this guys music!!!! So happy to see him bring some old time blugrass and mix it with some modern styling while keeping the Doc Watson tradition. Hes bringing this to a new generation and that gives me hope- all is not lost. It seems to come from his experience i guess. God has a purpose for us all and we need to remember hes got us if we just listen to our hearts beat
my favorite artist in the world, I true idol and living legend. I live in Mexico and went up to the US, saw 4 of his shows, and fell in love with him even more! amazing quality on the video, thanks for the upload!! def just got a new subscriber
I saw him earlier this year in SD...it was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. It sounds silly but some of it almost just kind of went by cuz in my mind the thought of "am i really hearing this music right now?" Like i needed to be pinched to wake up. He even played some fiddle tunes and he IS the reincarnation or DOC! I got teared up during china doll...you check out the video od china doll from that nite( SD china doll 2022) its heavenly euphoric. If anyone deserved to make it, its billy.
The tears were flowing g watching this! I am quite a bit older than Billy so j imagine he has dealt with what I have but times 10! Things just seem to get worse and worse
I'd like to hear the whole story from Billy in a movie or a book he should tell his own story it's one hell of a story to come from there to Rockstar never heard of him a couple years ago to the way it is now it's amazing
