2006

blue dot On Oct. 5, Billy leaves for his annual trip to the UK along with Jeff Foskett. The duo are being billed as the “Music Legends.” Billy says, “I thought Jeff and I should call this the 'Back to the Basics' tour, since this all started with just the two of us performing for the Beach Boys Britain Fan Club and the German Fan Club back in 2002.” There are 2 shows scheduled at the Brentwood Center Marquee on Saturday, Oct. 14 (2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.). (9/25/06)

blue dot On Saturday, Sept. 2, Billy did his very own show at “The Club” at the Cannery in Vegas, performing a 1 hour set that featured the hits of Dino, Desi & Billy, his original teen group from the '60s. Billy's backup band was the popular local Vegas group, Tripsitter. Billy kicked off an all day '60s show featuring the Kingsmen (“Louie, Louie”), the Outsiders (“Time Won't Let Me”), the Looking Glass (“Brandy”), and his Aussie pals, Sixtiesmania. Immediately after his performance, Billy hopped a plane to Reno, NV, where he joined Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Beach Band for a evening show at the Red Hawk Resort. (9/25/06)

blue dot John Hall, president of Rickenbacker International Corporation, asked Billy to host and perform during a 3-day weekend fundraising event commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the company, benefiting the Museum of Making Music located in Carlsbad, CA. Friday, Aug. 25 was a tour of the RIC guitar factory in Santa Ana, CA; Saturday, Aug. 26 was the VIP reception at the Museum, and the weekend culminated with a stellar lineup of Rickenbacker owners at the House of Blues on the famous Sunset Strip in LA. Along with Billy, there were performances by the Smithereens, Peter Buck (REM), Matthew Sweet, Susanna Hoffs (Bangles), Chris Squire (Yes), and others. The headliner was Jefferson Starship with San Francisco rocker Paul Kantner. Billy's backup band included Dennis Diken on drums (Smithereens and USA Legends), nephew Murphy Karges (Sugar Ray) on bass, and the incomparable Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan) on lead guitar. Skunk has been a good friend to RIC, Billy and Carl Wilson over the years, having produced Carl's second album, Youngblood. (9/25/06)

 

2005

blue dot Editing has begun on 1974, the title of Billy's new DVD project, shot entirely on the road during the Beach Boys' summer tour of the same year. This black and white footage is the same from which the “One in a Million” and “The Match” short-subject films were gleaned. (10/13/05)

blue dot Billy has assembled a collection of over 30 songs which he has written and recorded over the past 25 years and plans to release them on his new CD, Mixed Messages. The CD (likely to be a double disc set) represents the entire range of Billy's musical influences, including rock, pop, R&B, country, Latino, and gospel. Recorded in many different studios, both professional and otherwise, the recordings reflect different levels of production value that vary from simple to full-blown productions. “I have wanted to do this project for many years and really need to get this done,” says Billy. Look for a December release on RD&B Records. (10/13/05)

blue dot Billy has released a DVD set, The Road Well Traveled, which includes the rock 'n' roll travel tips tutorial hosted by Billy, “Know the Road” (1995); a special song and video tribute to Dennis Wilson, “One in a Million” (1974); and a short subject comedy featuring Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Billy, Ricky Fataar, Bobby Figueroa, Ed Carter, and Carli Muñoz, “The Match” (1974). Footage from "The Match" is rare, never-before-seen video, shot during the Beach Boys' 1974 summer tour and recently edited. Total DVD running time is 80 minutes approximately. More. (updated 2/17/05)

blue dot Billy continues to write and edit more chapters for his long awaited book, I Got Around (Volume 1). The book is now being “shopped around” to major publishers. More info. (updated 1/4/05)

 

2004

blue dot Billy has incorporated the harmonica into his music lessons that already include guitar and piano. Of course, one of the first songs the students learn is “Mountain of Love” on which Billy played harmonica for the Beach Boys' Party album back in 1965. (5/2/04)

blue dot The 2004 CineVegas Film Festival screened a short subject, black & white, 3.5 minute film dedicated to the late Dennis Wilson that Billy shot on tour with the Beach Boys in the summer of 1974 as part of a UCLA film project. The film's soundtrack is Billy's composition of “One in a Million.” The film is also titled One in a Million and was debuted publicly at the Dennis Wilson Bash in Santa Monica, CA in December 2003. The film festival runs from June 11-19. (5/2/04)

blue dot In a related story, Endless Summer Quarterly has chosen Billy's “One in a Million” as the title track on ESQ's special release for their subscribers (and Dennis Wilson Bash attendees), featuring tracks submitted by many talented artists, including Al Jardine, Adam Jardine, Scott Bennett (with Brian Wilson), David Marks, In Bloom's Carl B. Wilson and Justyn Wilson, Michael Angeloff (with Beach Boy Carl Wilson), Gary Griffin (with Jeff Foskett), and others. (updated 5/2/04)

blue dot The April 2004 issue of Las Vegas Food & Beverage magazine features a generous 2-page article and interview with Billy and his lifelong friend, Desi Arnaz, Jr., in which the two talk about the historical town of Boulder City, NV, its fine restaurants, and Desi's Boulder City Theatre. Billy is the magazine's “Music & Atmosphere Editor,” and will be writing about various restaurants in Las Vegas, with the emphasis on their musical ambiance and conviviality. (5/2/04)

blue dot Billy has written two new songs entitled “Merima” and “With This Heart,” that he plans to record sometime in the near future. (5/2/04)

blue dot The Boulder City Dance Studio (Nevada) will present a musical recital on Valentine's Day (Saturday, February 14) featuring the young people with whom Billy has been teaching guitar and piano. The age of the students ranges from 8 to 14 years old. Featured songs will include the Everly Brothers' “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” “Let It Be,” “On Broadway,” and a Beach Boys segment including “Little Deuce Coupe,” “In My Room” and “Kokomo.” (2/3/04)

blue dot Billy has been chosen to be a talent judge at the USA World Pageant to be held at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 21. Other judges will include BluBlocker Calendar model Leila Sas (former Miss Hungary), one of the Platters, and Billy's old buddy from the '60s rockin' pop group Paul Revere & the Raiders, bassist Phil “Fang” Volk. (2/3/04)

blue dot Ricci Martin and the Pack (of which Billy is the Musical Director) have been hired to play a private party for Washington, D.C. bigwigs on Friday, April 30. (2/3/04)

 

2003

blue dot Billy will once again return to Europe with his partner, Jeff Foskett, for return engagements at the Wycliffe Rooms in Lutterworth, UK Midlands (Saturday, March 15); Park View House Hotel at 14 Hermitage Place, Leith Links, Edinburgh (Tuesday, March 18); and Bergischer Hof in Solingen, Germany (Saturday, March 22). Current plans for the Lutterworth appearance call for a 1 p.m. start time, running until 6 p.m. Entrance fee will be £20; the program format should be similar to last year's Chingford appearance. Tickets are obtainable by sending a check, made payable to “Beach Boys Britain” to: Billy & Jeff Tickets, Beach Boys Britain, 3 Mill Grove, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 4BS, UK. An SASE must accompany the check in order for the ticket request to be honored (no SASE, no tickets). Edinburgh tickets are £15, the program runs from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For the latest information on the shows, please check the BBBritain message board. (1/16/03)

blue dot Billy Hinsche and Jeff Foskett will be joining original Beach Boy David Marks as Dave's special guests, along with the California Girls, in concert on Saturday, October 4 at the Apache Gold Casino/Resort near Globe, AZ. For ticket information and directions, please visit the Apache Gold website or call 1-800-APACHE-8. (8/10/03)

blue dot In a surprise Roast of Martin Sheen (ala the Dean Martin television Roasts) Billy Hinsche, Ricci Martin, and Wayne Tweed provided some musical and comedic entertainment for the packed VIP party held at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 15. The cast and crew of television's The West Wing were treated to a “straight” version of Dean Martin's signature song, “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime,” and Billy wrote some “special lyrical material” for Ricci to sing for their second and last song of the night, “Martin Sheen is Made of This” (nee: “Memories Are Made of This”), which satirized Sheen's illustrious career. (11/17/03)

blue dot Billy has moved to Las Vegas, NV, and will be teaching beginning guitar and piano lessons to children at his new office in the Boulder Theatre in Boulder City, NV, owned by his partner and friend, Desi Arnaz, Jr. (updated 5/20/03)

blue dot I Got Around (Volume 1) is scheduled to be published by Parlor Grand Publishing. The book, the first in a series, was written by Billy and will be a collection of true, nonfiction, short stories which are autobiographical in nature. The stories will reflect a wide range of experiences both personal and professional. Billy has currently shifted his focus to the graphic side of the project and has been compiling photos. A cover photo has already been chosen.

blue dot Endless Summer Quarterly featured an excerpt from the book in its summer 2002 issue. The chapter is titled “The Great White Hunters” and is about a hunting trip that Dennis Wilson took Billy on when he was just 15. ESQ says “the story is touching, frightening, and hysterical.” (updated 1/16/03)

 

2002

blue dot Billy was a featured performer at the The Carl Wilson Foundation Benefit Concert that was held Sunday, October 6, 2002 at Royce Hall on the campus of his alma mater, UCLA. Billy and Matthew Sweet joined with Brian Wilson and his band to sing “Sail On Sailor.” The concert also featured Eric Clapton, Sugar Ray, The Wilsons, and In Bloom. Billy joined with Ricci Martin and Jeffrey Foskett as tour guides for the first CWF Historical Bus Tour of Beach Boys-related sites (including Brian Wilson's lemonade stand) earlier the same day. Billy and Jeff also led the sing-a-long at the CWF's post-Walk Beach Party the day before. (updated 11/17/02)

blue dot Billy is now part of a group of veteran musicians and singers calling themselves Beach Party! He'll be singing and playing a lot more guitar in this brand new configuration which specializes in Beach Boys material. David Marks personally asked him to be a part of this group. (1/26/01)

blue dot Billy Hinsche and Jeffrey Foskett are back from their successful world tour, having played a number of dates during February and March of 2002 in New Zealand, including the ROAR festival in Hokitika. Singer-songwriter Andy Kim and Chicago's Robert Lamm were also part of this show. Billy and Jeff played dates in Germany and England and then joined Ricci Martin's all star band for a show at the Sunset Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV on April 6. (updated 4/13/02)

 

2001

blue dot Billy played with Al Jardine's Family & Friends Beach Band at a private party in Pebble Beach, CA on Saturday, January 12, 2002, and performed with David Marks' Beach Party! at a private engagement in Newport Beach on Tuesday, January 15, 2002. (12/18/01)

blue dot The critically acclaimed I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special will be re-run on CBS sometime in January 2002 in which Billy's composition, “Patria,” is performed by Desi and Lucie Arnaz along with the legendary Grammy Award winning Cuban trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval. (12/18/01)

blue dot Billy is gearing up for another round of shows with Ricci, Desi & Billy at Desi's Theatre in Boulder City, Nevada, tentatively scheduled for May, 2002. He has written some new songs which will be incorporated into the set. (12/18/01)

blue dot Billy Hinsche just completed a successful appearance with Jeffrey Foskett on March 10 at “The Roar” in Hokitika, New Zealand. (3/17/01)

blue dot I Love Lucy is celebrating its 50th year anniversary. As part of the extended “Lucy” family, Ricci, Desi & Billy are making a number of appearances related to this celebration.

blue dot Billy will be joining Ricci Martin & the All-Star Band for the Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg, WV on Sunday, Sept. 2. (5/25/01)

blue dot Guitar One magazine ran interviews with Carl Wilson and Alan Jardine in their November 2001 issue. Billy conducted both interviews, the one with Carl in 1981 and the one with Al in 2001. Carl discusses his guitars, influences, and recording. (updated 11/29/01)

blue dot Once again, Billy served as organizer and music director for the Carl Wilson Foundation Benefit Concert held at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, October 14. Participating artists included Brian Wilson, Timothy B. Schmit, In Bloom, The Honeys, The Wilsons, Robert Lamm from the band Chicago, and America. Visit the Carl Wilson Walk Against Cancer IV site for details and photos of the weekend's activities. (updated 9/5/01)

 

2000

blue dot Billy has written the liner notes for John Hunter Phillips' new CD Diamonds On The Beach. He also sings a duet with John on “One More Night Alone.”(1/14/00)

blue dot Billy, along with his nephews/Carl's sons Jonah and Justyn Wilson, were present at the opening NAMM (National Association of Music Manufacturers) ceremonies on Feb. 3 for interviews, autograph signing and for a casual, personal “meet and greet” in support of the official release of the Carl Wilson LE Rickenbacker guitar. All three have looked forward to this moment for a long time (guitar has been in the works for three years). (1/18/00)

blue dot “Patria” is a new song which Billy wrote for a project his partner Desi Arnaz, Jr. had been working on last year. The project (a musical) is about a Cuban family who relocated to the United States in the 1950s. Desi mentioned the song and the project during a recent TV Guide Online interview, “Arnaz just says 'No' to Castro.” (5/00)

blue dot Billy will be a guest on Mike McCann's nationally syndicated radio show The Oldies Countdown, in July. Several stations will be webcasting the program, including the following sites and times:

blue dot Billy has been working with Van Dyke Parks, helping to assemble and organize an overture of Brian Wilson compositions for Brian's upcoming symphonic tour. Billy says he is “very grateful and honored” for the opportunity. (6/1/00)

blue dot Billy will be playing keyboards with Michael Campion's band Surf City on July 14, 2000 at the Riviera Country Club in Beverly Hills. Look for Ricci, Desi and Billy to appear with Dean Torrance's Surf City All-Star Band at the Vegas Hilton July 15, 2000. (6/30/00)

blue dot Billy will be interviewed on Luxuriamusic.com on the Eric Bonerz show on Friday, July 21, 2000, 6-9 p.m. ET (3-6 p.m. PT). This Internet broadcast will include video and chat room appearance, with never-before-heard songs. Topics will include DD&B, RD&B, Alan Jardine's FFBB, The Carl Wilson Foundation, etc. Jonah and Justyn Wilson will be interviewed on same show on Saturday, August 5, 2000, from 5-7 p.m. ET (2-4 p.m. PT). (updated 7/20/00)

blue dot Billy was a featured guest at The Stomp's UK BB fan convention in London, England on Saturday, September 16. (updated 9/20/00)

blue dot Billy appeared with Robert Lamm, Gerry Beckley, Jonah and Justyn Wilson at the Barnes & Noble Book Store in Long Beach, CA (765l Carson Street) on Sunday, October 1, for a Like A Brother CD signing/ meet and greet session. (updated 10/15/00)

blue dot Billy organized the talent for the Carl Wilson Walk/Concert held at Calamigos Ranch, Malibu, CA on Sunday, October 8, 2000. Acts appearing included Brian Wilson, Christopher Cross, Robert Lamm, Blondie Chaplin and Ricci Fataar, The Honeys, The Wilsons, Ricci Martin, Michael Angeloff, and Jeffrey Foskett. Follow the link above to view a photo essay on the event. (updated 12/20/00)

blue dot Billy is writing a book — an autobiographical account focusing on highlights of his career with Dino, Desi & Billy and the Beach Boys to be called I Got Around. He is actively looking for a major literary publisher. (12/27/00)

blue dot Billy has been writing articles and song analyses for Endless Summer Quarterly. Recent contributions include analyses of “Caroline, No” and “Angel, Come Home.” “Wild Honey” is slated for a future issue of ESQ. Watch the Writings section of this website for upcoming samples of Billy's ESQ articles (currently under construction). (updated 12/27/00)

blue dot Billy is working on a solo CD tentatively titled Mixed Messages, which will include unreleased recordings and demos spanning from the '70s through the '90s. (7/20/00)


 

Updated on April 24, 2007 •  Contact the web team.