Billy Hector
{{Short description|American musician (born 1956)}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Billy Hector (cropped).jpg
| caption = Hector performing at Big Danny's wake at Red Fusion in Asbury Park, New Jersey, 2007
| alias =
| birth_place = Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1956}}
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| genre = Blues, rock, folk rock
| occupation = Musician, singer-songwriter
| years_active =
| label = Ghetto Surf Music
| associated_acts = Billy Hector Band, Fairlanes, The Shots
| website = {{url|billyhector.com}}
}}
Billy Hector (born 1956) is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter from Orange, New Jersey.Coyne, Kevin, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/07colnj.html, Still Strumming and Rocking After All These Years]. September 7, 2008. The New York Times. Retrieved July 2011.
History
Hector was initially lured into the music world after seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show. He says this changed his world.{{cite news|last=Semet|first=Scott|title=Band of the Week: Billy Hector|newspaper=Press of Atlantic City|date=September 18, 2013}} He soon found himself drawn to the blues. He started taking guitar lessons at age 9, and later studied jazz guitar and music history at William Paterson University.
Hector started playing regularly in a blues band in 1985. He has been producing albums for over 20 years while performing primarily in small clubs.DeMasters, Karen, [https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/01/nyregion/jersey-footlights-album-party-for-billy-hector.html "JERSEY FOOTLIGHTS; Album Party for Billy Hector"], The New York Times, April 1, 2001. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
Hector's guitar style is a combination of Jersey Shore blues and rock n roll.Selzer, Hal B. [http://www.theaquarian.com/2010/03/26/local-noise-billy-hector-stayin%E2%80%99-alive/ Local Noise: Billy Hector – Stayin' Alive]. March 26, 2010. The Aquarian. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
As of 2013, his band consisted of Hector on guitar and vocals, Timmy Tindall on bass, and Dan Hickey on drums.
Hector received the Best Guitarist Award from music critic Bob Makin of The Aquarian Weekly{{'}}s East Coast Rocker section twice.[http://www.jsjbf.org/bands_detail.php?id_band=211 Billy Hector Band] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213140005/http://jsjbf.org/bands_detail.php?id_band=211 |date=December 13, 2010 }}. Jersey Shore Jazz Blues Foundation. Retrieved July 9, 2011. He is also the recipient of three Asbury Park Music Awards: "Best Guitarist", "Best Blues Band" and the "Living Legend." Hector and his band were billed alongside Bonnie Raitt at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Tribute to Muddy Waters".
Hector has played with B. B. King, Bo Diddley, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Dr. John, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, but is most at home in small clubs. He was the touring guitarist for Hubert Sumlin and Joe Louis Walker.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
He appeared in the movie Hellhound on My Trail backing Sonny Landreth, and in One Way Out.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}
Discography
- 1988 (45 rpm single) "Your Time Is At Hand" / "If You Love Me Like You Say (You Wouldn't Treat Me Like You Do)"
- 1989 All The Way Live
- 1993 Wild, Wild Beast
- 1993 And The Crowd Went Wild!!!
- 1994 Cold Wind
- 1997 Hard to Please
- 2000 What Can a Poor Boy Do?
- 2001 Duct Tape Life
- 2002 Busy Man
- 2002 Undertow
- 2003 Stonehenge
- 2003 Out of Order
- 2005 Alive and Kickin'
- 2007 Hard Rockin' Blues
- 2009 Traveler
- 2013 Choice Cuts
- 2014 Fire Within
- 2015 Old School Thang
- 2019 Someday Baby
- 2022 Rock Night in Jersey
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hector, Billy}}
Category:American folk singers
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:American rock guitarists
Category:American blues guitarists
Category:American male guitarists
Category:Jersey Shore musicians
Category:Musicians from Orange, New Jersey
Category:Singer-songwriters from New Jersey
Category:Guitarists from New Jersey