Billy Hancock

about

Billy Hancock (William C. Hancock Jr., November 4, 1946 – January 22, 2018) was an American singer, guitarist, bassist and multi-instrumental recording artist. He has made numerous recordings, primarily in the rockabilly genre but also has a large body of recorded work in rock 'n' roll, blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, and country music. He performed live primarily in the Washington, D.C., area, but also played regularly at European roots music festivals. Hancock was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Alexandria, Virginia, where he has lived most of his life. He attended George Washington High School in Alexandria, graduating in 1964. He came from a musical family. His maternal grandmother Katie sang with Minstrel shows in black face accompanying herself on piano and harmonica. Two of his aunts Eileen and Anita were a singing duo in the 1940s who sang at two or three Washington DC radios stations on a regular basis. His paternal grandfather Mitchell (Mitch) Hancock played mandolin from about 1897 until 1902. He often played on River Boats in New Orleans and recorded for the Edison Label. Billy's father worked for the Southern Railway and his mother worked for Waxie Maxie's, a local record store chain, and other record stores. The records his mother brought home from work, primarily rhythm and blues from the late 1940s, played a large and influential role in his musical development. Hancock began his career playing in bands around Washington, D.C., while still a teenager. A

top songs

albums

The Birth Of A Billy, Anthology

Anthology, Vol. Two

PASSIONS

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Out Of The Darkness

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The Best of Ripsaw Records, Vol. 3

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Blastered

Shakin' That Rockabilly Fever

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Rockabilly Fever

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The Best of Ripsaw Records, Vol. 1

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The Ripsaw Recordings

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For Rockabilly Fans Only - The Lost Tapes

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Waves (An Anthology Of New Music Vol 2)

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