(Nov. 26, 1946 – Jan. 22, 2018)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Hancock
Billy Hancock was Ripsaw’s stalwart. Beginning in 1978, Ripsaw released or licensed 31 Billy Hancock recordings tailor-made for his vocal range and histrionics. Billy also co-produced and played guitar on five Ripsaw Tex Rubinowitz recordings and played guitar on one song on two other Ripsaw releases – Martí Brom’s 2010 “Not For Nothin’” (Ripsaw 223) and Louie Setzer’s 2015 “Jukebox Bluegrass” (Ripsaw 224). Perennial Washington Area Music Association award winner and nominee, Hancock remained active as a performer, record label owner, disc jockey, and TV host until shortly before his death.
“Billy Hancock … was one great vocalist, especially at gettin’ a true feel for rockabilly music. … When Billy Hancock & The Tennessee Rockets recorded their first couple of songs during the summer of 1978 … which were released on Ripsaw Records …, Billy and his group nailed two of the best examples of pure authentic rockabilly music … Hancock was a tremendous arranger and put the old drivin’, true-blue, authentic sound of the mid-fifties rockabilly on ‘em, and mixed ‘em in the great tradition of the mid-fifties original Sun sound of rockabilly music. He had the perfect voice for rockabilly of the true kind, he sure wailed on these cuts.”
Billy Poore, Rockabilly: A forty-year journey (Hal Leonard, Milwaukee 1998) at 236-37. ISBN 0-7935-9142-2
“The confidence and sincerity of [Hancock’s] performances place him in a sparsely populated category: less a [rockabilly] revivalist, more an authentic tradition carrier.”
Craig Morrison, Go Cat Go!: Rockabilly Music and Its Makers, (Univ. of Ill. Press 1996) at 241; ISBN 0-252-02207-6
Listen to a preview of Billy Hancock:
“Rockabilly Fever” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyWAn6s6As
“The Boogie Disease” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAG3jd2vh6k
“Miss Jessie Lee” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRPzORpdLlQ
“Christmas in Tennessee” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAFiVrVmBdg
Hancock, whom the Washington Post called a “musical treasure,” had been a rhythmic force for over 50 years. Best known as a versatile singer, Hancock fronted and played bass for Danny & the Fat Boys (led by guitar whiz Danny Gatton), sang and played guitar for his own world-renowned rockabilly band, Billy Hancock & the Tennessee Rockets (on Ripsaw Records), and, along with trumpeter Clyde Hunt, led the No Neck Jazz Band.
In addition to fronting other bands, Hancock has been a sideman at performances and sessions for a wide variety of artists, including Fats Domino, The Clovers, Roy Buchanan, Bullmoose Jackson, Charlie Feathers, and Tex Rubinowitz.
As a songwriter, Hancock recorded many of his own songs, as did Rockabilly legends Buddy Knox and Eddie Bond. As a producer, Hancock not only produced his own sessions, but also sessions for others, including the rockabilly classic “Hot Rod Man” session for Tex Rubinowitz.
As a promoter in the mid-1970’s, Hancock worked with DJs Alan Lee (WQLL-AM 1370 “Forgotten 45s”) and Lawrence Berry to put on a series of rock ‘n’ roll shows starring The Orioles, The Harptones, The Clovers, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, The Spaniels, The Chantels, The Five Keys, The Rainbows, The Shirelles, Gene Chandler, The Capris, Bullmoose Jackson, and The Cruisers. In addition to promoting those shows, Hancock often backed up the starring performers at them.
Hancock and his brother Dale owned Aladdin Records in the mid-1970’s. The label released the first recordings of The Nighthawks, Danny & the Fat Boys, Bobby Radcliffe, Powerhouse (Tom Principato on guitar), and Tex Rubinowitz & the Casaloma Cowboys. Aladdin also released recordings by The Clovers. In 2003, Hancock and his brother started Turkey Mountain Records that released several Hancock CDs.
Many of Hancock’s Ripsaw recordings have been licensed to other labels – Solid Smoke (U.S.), Bomp (U.S.), Big Beat (France), Run Wild (U.S.), Bluelight (Finland), Turkey Mountain (U.S.), and Part (Germany).
Billy – We all miss you.
