Billy Block (born William Donald Block; August 10, 1955 – March 11, 2015) also known as Mr. Nashville,[1] was a musician, journalist, actor, publisher, television and radio personality. Block was a tireless promoter of independent musicians, primary in the Alternative country - Americana genres.[2] He hosted Billy Block's Western Beat, a live concert-format radio show for over thirty years.[3]

Billy Block
Birth nameWilliam Donald Block
Also known asMr. Nashville
Born(1955-08-10)August 10, 1955
Houston, Texas
OriginHouston, Texas
DiedMarch 11, 2015(2015-03-11) (aged 59)
GenresAlternative country, Americana
Occupation(s)Musician, journalist, broadcaster
Instrument(s)drums, bass
Years active1972–2015
WebsiteBilly Block Documentary (Facebook)

Background

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At age 15, Block worked around his school schedule in a music store and playing clubs in the Houston, Texas area with artists: Shake Russell, B.W. Stevenson, Roger Tause and Billy Joe Shaver. Huey Mo hired Block at Sugar Hill Studios where he played drums on two Freddy Fender albums.[4] Block was also the Houston editor of Buddy Magazine.[5]

In 1985, Block moved to Venice, California, he landed a job as the house drummer for the Palomino Club for the Ronnie Mack Barn Dance show in 1987, he held the job until his departure to Nashville in 1995. Block also worked as a bandleader, actor, dancer and singer at The Walt Disney Company. A national commercial for Disney led to additional commercials for Carrows Restaurants, Miller beer and Kentucky Fried Chicken.[6][4]

In 1991, Block met and married his wife Jill Rochlitz,[7] and Western Beat was created at the Highland Grounds coffee house in Hollywood in the same year. The first Western Beat show included: Wendy Waldman, Rick Vincent, Jim Lauderdale, slide guitarist Jimmy Sloan, Mandy Mercier and Annie Harvey among others.[4]

Western Beat

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Increasing the show's reach in 1993, Western Beat hosted a showcase of Los Angeles artists at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. By 1995, Billy and Jill were interested in owning a home and starting a family, they were considering Nashville. Block had been writing for Music Connection magazine for six years, and his band, the Zydeco Party Band, was calling it quits, Block took a writing gig at Music Row Magazine in 1995.[4]

"It was a great place to start in Nashville, because Music Row Magazine is the epicenter of the industry. All the information about everything comes through that office. [...] Working there put me on the fast track into the very heart of Nashville. Six months into my tenure at Music Row, I got a call from Woody Bomar to start doing some sessions with John Scott Sherrill."
Billy Block, "A Conversation with Billy Block, Western Beat Impresario", by Frank Goodman, September 2001.

In 1999, Billy Block's Western Beat Roots Revival began airing on Saturday nights on WSIX-FM Nashville, the five hour show previously aired on Power Country 102.9 (WZPC) until the station moved to a rock format.[8]

Western Beat With Billy Block premiered on Country Music Television (CMT) on July 2, 2003, featuring guest performers, Trisha Yearwood, Allison Moorer and Lonesome Bob.[9] The show was short lived, other artists included: Gary Allan, Hank Williams III, The Derailers, Michael McDonald, Buddy and Julie Miller, Ralph Stanley, Allison Moorer, BR549 and Kevin Gordon.[10][11]

Death

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Block's death at age 59 in 2015 was a shock to the community. His fight with cancer was documented in Nashville Scene magazine,[12] he was eulogized in USA Today,[11] CMT[13] Music Connection magazine,[14] and Taste Of Country magazine.[15] Block is survived by his wife Jill and sons Rocky and Grady Block, Micheal Hughes and Shandon Mayes.[11]

  • Nashville Downtown Partnerships sponsored Billy Block Day concerts in 2016 and 2017.[16][17]

Discography

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Billy Block Discography[18]
Year Album Artist Role
1973 Apothecary Apothecary Bass
1977 If You Don't Love Me Freddy Fender Drums
1984 Elvis: The First Live Recordings Elvis Presley Bass
1990 King Cake Party Doug Legacy Drums, Rub
1991 Cutting Their Own Groove Big Daddy Guest Artist, Drums
1991 Fables and Other Realities John Trudell Drums, Percussion
1992 20 More Explosive Fantastic Rockin' Mega Smash Hit Explosions! Drums, Percussion
1992 AKA Grafitti Man John Trudell Piano, Percussion
1992 Town South of Bakersfield, Vol. 3 Drums, Tambourine
1992 Traveler California Drums
1993 Conmemorativo: A Tribute to Gram Parsons Percussion
1994 Johnny Damas and Me John Trudell Drums, Percussion
1994 Kindred Way Kindred Way Drums
1994 Land of Hope and Crosby The Coal Porters Drums, Timbales
1994 Vol. 1: Rhythm & Folk Kindred Way Drums
1995 Big Hits Tony Orlando Drums
1995 Los London The Coal Porters Drums
1995 Next Time Katie Trickett Musician
1996 Invisible Birds Will Ray Drums
1996 Man Like Me Alan Boivin Drums
1996 Rebels Without Applause The Coal Porters Drums, Percussion
1998 Pink & Black Rick Vito Drums
1998 Real: The Tom T. Hall Project Drums
1999 R&B: From Doo Wop to Hip Hop Editorial Director
2000 Fire, Honey and Angels The Walt Wilkins Band Drums, Percussion
2000 The Best of Big Daddy Big Daddy Drums
2000 Wisteria Robin Pearl Drums
2001 The Fine Print Mark Islam Drums
2002 Dressed in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash Vocals, Drums
2002 Rivertown Walt Wilkins Drums
2002 Time Spent Shake Russell Band Drums
2003 Rockin' Thru the Years Billy Adams Producer
2003 You're Not Alone Essra Mohawk Drums
2004 Bac Mike Cullison Drums, Musician
2004 Teardrops & Diamonds The Woodys Additional Personnel, Drums
2004 The Best of Zydeco Party Band Zydeco Party Band Vocals, Drums, Rubboard
2004 The Blue Side Ericson Holt Drums
2004 Uncomplicated Ellis Hooks Drums
2005 Godson of Soul Ellis Hooks Main Personnel, Drums
2005 Honeycomb Frank Black Main Personnel, Drums
2005 Texas Fed, Texas Bred: Redefining Country Music, Vol. 1 Vocals, Drums
2005 The Hand of God Ellis Hooks Main Personnel, Drums
2005 Think of Me Little Milton Drums
2005 To: Kate - A Benefit for Kate's Sake Producer, Drums, Percussion
2006 15 Years Crazy Music Primary Artist
2006 American Music: The Hightone Records Story [Box Set] Tambourine
2006 Fast Man Raider Man Frank Black Main Personnel, Drums, Vocals (Background)
2006 Lucky Star Buck Jones Producer, Drums
2006 Sailover P.F. Sloan Drums, Tabla, Tambourine, Percussion
2007 93-03 Frank Black Musician
2007 Another Saturday Morning Ellis Hooks Drums
2007 Another Sleepless Night David Serby Drums
2007 Intuition Betty Harris Drums
2008 Detachment Pete Mroz Drums, Musician
2008 Hello Cruel World Mars Arizona Drums
2008 Is Anybody Out There? Garnet Mimms Drums
2008 Some Unfinished Business, Vol. 1 Walter Hyatt Drums, Percussion
2009 Alchemy Tom Mason Vocals, Drums
2011 Dedicated: A Salute to the 5 Royales Steve Cropper Photography, Tambourine
2011 The Collection 1983-1992 John Trudell Drums, Percussion
2012 Shortcuts To Infinity/Symptomology Stephen Kalinich / Jon Tiven / Yo Ma Ma Drums, Guest Artist
2012 Stick Pony Bum Steers Composer
2015 Needle in a Haystack Ellis Hooks Drums
2016 Break Time Garry Tallent Washboard
2017 Battle Creek Transit Authority: Live in Concert Brass Band of Battle Creek Composer
2017 Honkin' & Jivin' at the Palomino! Big Jay McNeely Drums

References

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  1. ^ Thanki, Juli (March 12, 2015). "Billy Block, 'Mr. Nashville,' dies at 59". The Tennessean. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  2. ^ "Famed Nashville Radio Host, Drummer and 'Champion of the Underdogs' Billy Block Dies at 59". Nashville Scene. March 11, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  3. ^ WKRN web staff (March 11, 2015). "Longtime Nashville radio host Billy Block dies at 59". WKRN Nashville. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Goodman, Frank (September 2001). "A Conversation with Billy Block, Western Beat Impresario" (PDF). PureMusic. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Oermann, Robert K. (March 11, 2015). "LifeNotes: Americana's Impresario Billy Block Passes". MusicRow. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  6. ^ Goodman, Frank (September 2000). "A Conversation with Billy Block, Western Beat Impresario". Pure Music. p. 6. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  7. ^ "Jill Block returns to her roots (June 04, 2003)". Almanac Online. June 4, 2003. Archived from the original on June 27, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Flippo, Cheg (May 29, 1999). "Nashville Scene". Billboard Magazine. p. 32. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  9. ^ Shannon Wayne Turner (June 12, 2003). "CMT Salutes Country's Independence: Alt-Country Bows in New Show From Nashville". CMT. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  10. ^ "CMT's Block Party". CMT. August 11, 2003. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "Billy Block, champion of roots music, dies at age 59". USA Today. March 11, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  12. ^ "Famed Nashville Radio Host and Drummer Billy Block Fighting Cancer". Nashville Scene. January 6, 2014. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  13. ^ Shelburne, Craig (March 11, 2015). "Billy Block, Advocate for Alt-Country, Dies at 59". CMT News. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  14. ^ "R.I.P. Billy Block". Music Connection Magazine. March 11, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  15. ^ "Americana King Billy Block Dead at 59". Taste of Country. March 12, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  16. ^ "Inaugural Billy Block Day Reunion Concert & Nashville Spirit Awards - Events Calendar". Downtown Nashville. April 15, 2018. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Billy Block Day - Events Calendar". Downtown Nashville. April 15, 2018. Archived from the original on May 27, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  18. ^ "Billy Block - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved May 27, 2018.