Billy Mack Ham (February 4, 1937 – June 20, 2016)[1] was an American music impresario, best known as the manager, producer, and image-maker for the blues-rock band ZZ Top.[2] Ham also gained prominence in the country music world by discovering and managing multi-platinum singer-songwriter Clint Black.
Bill Ham | |
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 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Billy Mack Ham |
| Born | February 4, 1937 Waxahachie, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 20, 2016 (aged 79) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1958–2006 |
| Spouse |
Cecile Ham (died 1991) |
Career
editHam began his career as a singer, releasing a single, "Wanderer," on Dot Records in 1960. Cash Box called the song a "bright rocker" with a "sensational backbeat."[3]
In 1968, Ham was working as a record promoter for Bud Daily Distributing when he saw the Moving Sidewalks, the band that would become ZZ Top, perform at a Doors concert in Houston, and went backstage to compliment them.[4] When the Moving Sidewalks decided to fire their manager, they recruited Ham to replace him. Ham was instrumental to ZZ Top's success, co-writing songs, constructing their image, and producing every one of the group's albums from their debut through 1996's Rhythmeen.[2] Ham and ZZ Top parted ways in 2006.[5]
Ham also saw success in management and publishing outside of ZZ Top. His Lone Wolf Management produced such artists as Clint Black and Point Blank,[5] and songwriters signed to his Hamstein Music publishing company scored 100 Top 10 country singles, including 60 number ones.[4]
Personal life and death
editOn July 2, 1991, Ham's wife, 48-year-old Cecile Ham, was in a drugstore parking lot in Houston when she was kidnapped and murdered by 22-year-old Spencer Corey Goodman, a recently paroled repeat offender.[6] Goodman was apprehended five weeks later following a high-speed chase where he crashed Cecile's stolen car.[7] He was convicted of murder, sentenced to death, and executed by lethal injection on January 18, 2000. Ham witnessed the execution.[8]
Ham died on June 20, 2016, at his home in Austin, Texas, aged 79.[5]
References
edit- ^ Kurutz, Stephen. "Bill Ham Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Buckley, Peter (October 28, 2003). The Gough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. pp. 1223–. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
- ^ "The Cash Box Pick of the Week". Cash Box. Vol. 21, no. 38. June 4, 1960. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Shelburne, Craig (June 23, 2016). "LifeNotes: Bill Ham, Founder of Hamstein Music, Passes". MusicRow. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ a b c Blackstock, Peter (September 3, 2016). "Longtime ZZ Top manager Bill Ham dies at 79". The Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "Spencer Corey Goodman #605". Clarkprosecutor.org.
- ^ "Execution Report: Spencer Goodman - Page 1". Txexecutions.org.
- ^ "2000: Spencer Corey Goodman". Executedtoday.com. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
