Billy Strange
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Biography
Pop and rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and arranger Billy Strange â born in Long Beach, California on September 29, 1930 â was best known as a member of legendary studio band The Wrecking Crew and as an arranger and conductor for Nancy Sinatra and other major artists. He is also remembered for composing music for television and motion pictures as well as co-writing songs for artists such as Elvis Presley. His musical career began in the 1950s as a session guitarist, playing on many country music recordings for Capitol Records. He made his mark in the industry in 1961 by writing and instrumental called âLimbo Rock,â which was then recorded by The Champs in 1961. Lyrics were later added to the song â by Karl Mann â and the song was re-recorded by Chubby Checker, who turned it into a hit in 1962. That same year, his iconic guitar solo on the Phil Spector-produced single âZip-A-Dee-Doo-Dahâ by Bob B. Sox & The Blue Jeans made him one of the most in-demand session guitarists in Los Angeles. As a member of a collective of studio musicians nicknamed The Wrecking Crew, Billy Strange played on sessions by The Beach Boys, Love, The Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley, and many others including Frank and Nancy Sinatra. He eventually became Nancyâs arranger and conductor on her albums in the 1960s. Alongside Scott Davis â later known as Mac Davis â Billy Strange co-wrote the song âA Little Less Conversation,â recorded by Elvis Presley for his 1968 movie Live a Little, Love a Little. The song was not a major hit but became a favorite several decades later when it was used in films and became an international number 1 hit when it was reworked into a dance hit by Junkie XL in 2002. Alongside his career as a professional session musician, he also recorded many albums under his own name including 12 String Guitar (1963), The James Bond Theme (1964), Mr. Guitar (1964), The Secret Agent File (1965), English Hits of â65, Strange Country (1966), Dyn-O-Mite Guitar (1975), and more. Billy Strange died on February 22, 2012, at the age of 81.
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Albums
Top Tracks
- Track Popularity
- Finger Buster Blues featuring Glen Campbell
- Let Go
- You Found Me
- Russian Meadows featuring Glen Campbell
- Nashville featuring Glen Campbell
- Sangaree
- Blues Wail by Glen Campbell
- Daddy Roll 'Em
- If I Were Free
- Tom Cat
- 12 String Guitar Rag featuring Glen Campbell
- Cockeyed Optimist by Billy Strange
- Dollface
- Heartache Addict
- Fine Line
- Holding Out
- Angel
- 1000 Reasons
- Dark, Meet Twisted
- White Flag
- Rightmares
- Temptress Policy
- Run
- Blood Thirsty
