Billy Hinsche BIO

Born on June 29, 1951 in Manila, the Philippines, and raised in Los Angeles, Billy began playing piano at the age of 5, violin at age 7, ukulele at 8 and at the age of 12. He formed a successful pop musical group in the mid-sixties with friends Dino Martin, Jr. and Desi Arnaz, Jr. and were the original teen idol band. The trio was known as Dino, Desi & Billy and their audition for Reprise’s lead to 4 successful albums, 6 songs on the Billboard and Cash Box singles charts with appearances on every local and national television show of the era including Shindig, Shivaree, Hullabaloo, Where The Action, 9th Street West, The Mike Douglas Show, The Joey Bishop Show, Sammy Davis, Jr.’s Wonderful World of Children and The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965 performing their back-to-back hits, “I’m a Fool” and “Not the Lovin’ Kind” written by their producer, the great Lee Hazlewood. DD&B appeared as themselves in the film Murderer’s Row starring Dean Martin (as Matt Helm), Ann-Margret and Carl Malden, and they did a television commercial for Royal Crown Cola that can still be seen on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymwK-n2VCms

The young trio toured extensively as the opening act for , Paul Revere & The Raiders, Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs and headlined their own tours throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Billy graduated from the Jesuit’s Loyola High School in 1969 and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Motion Pictures & Television from UCLA in 1974. He has made a series of documentary style films featuring his time spent with The Beach Boys as well as an instructional piano video “Play Songs of the Beach Boys: Piano Accompaniments to Rock Classics” that was released by Homespun Video in 1995.

Much of his archival footage has been used in all the significant documentaries that have been made about the legendary group including “The Beach Boys: An American Band,” “Endless Harmony: The Beach Boys Story,” “Beautiful Dreamer: and the Story of ‘Smile’” and others and has appeared in these programs himself for his valuable insights, commentary and recollections about the group. Billy is also a longtime teacher of music and a published writer for music magazines, fanzines, liner notes, other periodicals and has contributed to several books written about The Beach Boys and their place in history.

He recorded and toured with The Beach Boys as a member of the band playing piano, guitar, bass and singing both background and lead vocals (“I’m Waiting For the Day” and “Sail On Sailor”) during the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s and has performed in every major venue in the world including The Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden and the Reagan White House. Over the years he has shared the stage with Ringo Starr, Jimmy Page, , Joe Walsh and many other rock ‘n’ roll superstars. He has RIAA certified gold records for the work he did on “The Beach Boys In Concert,” “15 Big Ones,” “Still Cruisin’” and the “Good Vibrations Thirty Years of the Beach Boys” box set. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbZzHDie9vM

Billy toured with the Band in the early ‘80s and the Brian Wilson Band in 2007. He is currently Musical Director for Beach Boy ’s Endless Summer Band as well as being a member of California Saga, a new vocal group consisting of second generation Wilsons, Loves and Jardines. The group opened for The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour most recently at Irvine, CA and Lake Tahoe, NV.

https://www.facebook.com/calsaga?ref=ts&fref=ts

The group also did a special performance for The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on July 10, 2012.

http://www.grammy.com/videos/grammy-museum-an-evening-with-california- saga

Billy has enjoyed success as a songwriter and his compositions have been recorded not only by Dino, Desi & Billy but also by Dean Martin, Nelson Riddle and Carl Wilson, Billy’s brother-in-law. His songwriting credits include the theme song “Automan” (1984) for the television series of the same name, as well as a songwriting credit on the I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Television Special of 2002 for “Patria” featuring multi-Grammy Award winner Arturo Sandoval on accompanying trumpet. He co-wrote “Lady Love” with Brian Wilson, “Away” with Dennis Wilson” and “Let’s Build a World” with Carl Wilson.

His credits include singing background vocals on the original recordings of Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," The Beach Boys’ “Heroes & Villains,” Warren Zevon's "Desperados Under The Eaves," America's "Hat Trick," 's "Good Music" and many more.

In 2003 Billy released his first full-length solo CD called "Bay of Plenty" that was recorded live in New Zealand followed by "Mixed Messages” in 2006 – a double disc collection consisting of his lifelong work in the recording studio. With songs spanning his entire career from DD&B, The Beach Boys and original material, his last recording was called "Billy Hinsche Live at the Cannery" released as a CD in 2007.

In the past, his charitable work has benefitted organizations such as the Grassroots Aspen Experience (inner-city kids), the Utah Caring Program for Children (children with no medical insurance), Wings (battered women), the Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund for Disabled Musicians (cancer victims), Andrea Yeager's Silver Lining Foundation (terminal children), Artists Palooza (empowering artists), City of Hope (cancer research) and the Los Angeles Chapter of The American Cancer Society.

In 2002 he Produced The Whisky A Go-Go’s 35th Anniversary show: http://forum.johndensmore.com/index.php?showtopic=2665

In 2006 he hosted Rickenbacker International Guitar’s 75th Anniversary at L.A.’s House of Blues: http://www.rickenbacker.com/75th.asp

Billy has helped produce several events for and sits on the Board of the Carl Wilson Foundation (CWF) that is devoted to cancer research and improving the quality of life for those afflicted with this disease. Past performers for CWF events have included Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Eric Clapton, Heart, Jackson Browne, Joe Walsh, Robert Lamm, Timothy B. Schmit, Wilson Phillips, Brian Setzer, Sugar Ray, The Righteous Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, Christopher Cross, America and many others.

http://www.carlwilsonfoundation.org

Billy currently resides in Las Vegas. Find out more about Billy, his interests, and activities here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Hinsche

http://www.billyhinsche.com http://www.facebook.com/billy.hinsche