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{{otherpeople}}
{{other people}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2011}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Billy Roberts
| name = Billy Roberts
| image =
| image = File:American musician Billy Roberts.png
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption =
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = William Moses Roberts Jr.
| birth_name = William Moses Roberts Jr.
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date |1936|08|16}}
⚫
| birth_place = [[Greenville, South Carolina]], U.S.
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date |1936|08|16}}
⚫
| origin =
⚫
| birth_place = [[Greenville, South Carolina]], United States
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|10|07|1936|08|16|mf=y}}
⚫
| origin =
| death_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|10|07|1936|08|16|mf=y}}
⚫
| genre =
| death_place = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], United States
| genre =
| occupation =
| occupation =
| instrument =
| instrument =
| years_active = 1960s–1990s
| years_active = 1960s–1990s
| label =
| associated_acts =
⚫
| label =
| associated_acts =
| url =
| url =
}}
}}
'''William Moses Roberts Jr.''' (August 16, 1936 – October 7, 2017) was an American [[songwriter]] and musician credited with composing the 1960s [[rock music]] standard "[[Hey Joe]]"<ref>[http://www.billystapleton.com/BillyRoberts.html Billy Stapleton Guitar Stories: Billy Roberts]</ref><ref>{{discogs artist}}</ref> (of which the best-known version is the hit by [[The Jimi Hendrix Experience]]).
'''William Moses Roberts Jr.''' (August 16, 1936 – October 7, 2017)<ref name="amg">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-roberts-mn0000770223 |title=Billy Roberts |website=[[Allmusic]] |access-date=2023-12-14 |quote=Born: August 16, 1936 in Greenville, SC; Died: October 17, 2017.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hicks |first=Michael |date=1999 |title=Sixties Rock: Garage, Psychedelic, and Other Satisfactions |url=https://archive.org/details/sixtiesrockgarag00hick/page/40/mode/2up/ |location=Urbana, Illinois |publisher=University of Illinois Press |page=41 |isbn=0-252-02427-3}}</ref> was an American [[songwriter]] and musician credited with composing the 1960s [[rock music]] [[Standard (music)|standard]] "[[Hey Joe]]."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billystapleton.com/BillyRoberts.html |title=Billy Stapleton Guitar Stories: Billy Roberts |access-date=2009-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406060721/http://www.billystapleton.com/BillyRoberts.html |archive-date=2009-04-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Roberts attended [[The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina]] but left school for the life of an itinerant musician. He learned to play the [[12-string guitar]] and [[blues harmonica]], on which he claimed to have been tutored by [[Sonny Terry]]. In the early 1960s he went to New York's [[Greenwich Village]] where he [[busker|busked]] on the street and played in [[coffeehouse]]s. It was there that he composed the song "Hey, Joe," which he copyrighted in 1962. Early the same year, after a brief and turbulent marriage, Roberts traveled to [[Reno, Nevada]] to obtain a divorce. After that, he went to [[San Francisco]] where he again played in coffee houses. It would become his base of operations for the rest of his career.
Roberts attended [[the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina]] but left school for the life of an itinerant musician. He learned to play the [[12-string guitar]] and [[blues harmonica]], on which he claimed to have been tutored by [[Sonny Terry]]. In the early 1960s he went to New York's [[Greenwich Village]] where he [[busker|busked]] on the street and played in [[coffeehouse]]s. It was there that he composed the song "Hey, Joe," which he copyrighted in 1962. Early the same year, after a brief and turbulent marriage, Roberts traveled to [[Reno, Nevada]] to obtain a divorce. After that, he went to [[San Francisco]] where he again played in coffeehouses. It would become his base of operations for the rest of his career.
In 1964-1965, Roberts was part of a San Francisco-based folk trio called The Driftwood Singers (with [[The Daily Flash|Steve Lalor]] and Lyn Shepard).<ref>''Music in Washington: Seattle and Beyond'', Blecha, Peter, Arcadia Publishing, 2007, pp48 </ref><ref>http://stanforddailyarchive.com/cgi-bin/stanford?a=d&d=stanford19641113-01.2.21#</ref> Signed by David Allen, manager of the [[hungry i]], the group did several month-long stints at the i, opening for the likes of [[Bill Cosby]], [[Carmen McRae]], [[Godfrey Cambridge]], and [[Joan Rivers]]. The group also toured the West Coast, playing supper clubs and summer concert touring around Seattle and Vancouver, BC. On New Years Day 1965, they participated in a huge entertainment event at [[San Quentin]] Penitentiary with [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Sarah Vaughan]], [[Johnny Cash]], a [[Mariachi]] Band, and [[hula dance]]rs. [[Dino Valenti]] was very likely in the audience, serving a term for a drug charge.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}
In 1964-1965, Roberts was part of a San Francisco-based folk trio called The Driftwood Singers (with [[The Daily Flash|Steve Lalor]] and Lyn Shepard).<ref>''Music in Washington: Seattle and Beyond'', [[Peter Blecha|Blecha, Peter]], Arcadia Publishing, 2007, pp48</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.stanforddaily.com/1964/11/13?page=1|title=1964-11-13
|website= The Stanford Daily Archives}}</ref> Signed by David Allen, manager of the [[hungry i]], the group did several month-long stints at the i, opening for the likes of [[Bill Cosby]], [[Carmen McRae]], [[Godfrey Cambridge]], and [[Joan Rivers]]. The group also toured the West Coast, playing supper clubs and summer concert touring around Seattle and [[Vancouver]], British Columbia. On New Years Day 1965, they participated in an entertainment event at [[San Quentin State Prison]] with [[Louis Armstrong]], [[Sarah Vaughan]], [[Johnny Cash]], a [[Mariachi]] Band, and [[hula dance]]rs. [[Dino Valenti]] was very likely in the audience, serving a term for a drug charge.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}


In 1965, Roberts was alerted by a friend to a recording of "Hey Joe" by the Southern California rock band, [[The Leaves]]. Roberts knew nothing of the recording and the friend (Hillel Resner, later his producer) offered to ask his father, an attorney in San Francisco, to look into the matter. The attorney discovered that folk singer [[Dino Valenti]] had claimed authorship of the song and signed a publishing contract with Third Story Music of Los Angeles. This led to negotiations that resulted in Roberts retrieving his author's rights, but it did not prevent numerous recordings being released that named several other songwriters, in addition to Valenti, as the author.
In 1965, Roberts was alerted by a friend to a recording of "Hey Joe" by the Southern California rock band, [[The Leaves]]. Roberts knew nothing of the recording and the friend (Hillel Resner, later his producer) offered to ask his father, an attorney in San Francisco, to look into the matter. The attorney discovered that folk singer [[Chet Powers|Dino Valenti]] had claimed authorship of the song and signed a publishing contract with Third Story Music of Los Angeles. This led to negotiations that resulted in Roberts retrieving his author's rights, but it did not prevent numerous recordings being released that named several other songwriters, in addition to Valenti, as the author.


In 1967, [[David M. Overton]] left Detroit to attend [[Hastings College of Law]] in San Francisco, but in 1968, decided to be a drummer, performing with the Billy Roberts Blues Band.<ref name="cheesecake-factory-timeline">{{cite web |title=Five decades of cheesecake: A history |url=http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/frames.asp?fm=aboutus&pg=http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/aboutus_timeline.htm |website=[[The Cheesecake Factory]] |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103175227/http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/frames.asp?fm=aboutus&pg=http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/aboutus_timeline.htm |archive-date=3 November 2005}}</ref>
⚫
In September 1968, Roberts played at the [[Sky River Rock Festival]] in Washington, and jammed with [[Big Mama Thornton]], [[James Cotton]], and members of the [[Grateful Dead]].<ref>http://seattletimes.com/html/musicnightlife/2015887006_river12.html</ref> His friend Dino Valenti was also on the bill.


⚫
In September 1968, Roberts played at the [[Sky River Rock Festival]] in [[Washington (state)|Washington]], and jammed with [[Big Mama Thornton]], [[James Cotton]], and members of the [[Grateful Dead]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1968's Sky River Rock Festival revisited Friday |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/1968s-sky-river-rock-festival-revisited-friday/ |website=The Seattle Times |access-date=October 27, 2021 |date=August 12, 2011}}</ref> His friend Dino Valenti was also on the bill.
⚫
While residing in the Bay Area, Roberts performed in many of the local clubs and as the opening act for the [[Steve Miller Band]] at the Straight Theater in [[Haight-Ashbury]] in September, 1967. He also opened for the [[Santana (band)|Santana]] Band at a [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]] Winterland concert in 1970.


⚫
While residing in the Bay Area, Roberts performed in many of the local clubs and as the opening act for the [[Steve Miller Band]] at the Straight Theater in [[Haight-Ashbury]] in September 1967. He also opened for [[Santana (band)|Santana]] at a [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]] [[Winterland Ballroom|Winterland]] concert in 1970.
⚫
In 1975, Roberts recorded the country rock album ''Thoughts of California'' with the band Grits, which he produced with Hillel Resner.


⚫
In 1975, Roberts recorded the country rock album ''Thoughts of California'' with the band Grits, which he produced with Hillel Resner.
⚫
After a serious car accident in the early 1990s, Roberts was hospitalized for a time in Sonoma County, California. He later moved to Atlanta, Georgia to undergo rehabilitation. Roberts has not performed or recorded since, but he held copyrights on nearly 100 songs. He passed on October 7, 2017 at 6:00 AM EDT in a care facility in Georgia, USA.


⚫
After a serious car accident in the early 1990s, Roberts was hospitalized for a time in [[Sonoma County, California]]. He later moved to [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] to undergo rehabilitation. Roberts did not perform or record subsequently, but he held copyrights on nearly 100 songs. He died on October 7, 2017.
⚫
Like hundreds of other artists, guitarist [[Roy Buchanan]] recorded a version of "Hey Joe" (on the 1974 LP ''That's What I Am Here For''); Buchanan also recorded Roberts' "Good God Have Mercy" on the 1976 LP ''[[A Street Called Straight]]''.

⚫
Guitarist [[Roy Buchanan]] recorded a version of "Hey Joe" (on the 1974 LP ''That's What I Am Here For''); Buchanan also recorded Roberts' "Good God Have Mercy" on the 1976 LP ''[[A Street Called Straight]]''.

Roberts had been residing in [[Atlanta]] at the time of his death on October 7, 2017.<ref>{{cite news |date=2017-10-11 |title=Obituaries |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |page=B5 |quote=Roberts, Jr. William M. "Billy": Age 81, of Atlanta, passed away October 7, 2017.}}</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
* 1975, ''Thoughts of California'', album
* ''Thoughts of California'' (1975)


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.billystapleton.com/BillyRoberts.html Billy Stapleton Guitar Stories: Billy Roberts]
*{{discogs artist}}
*{{discogs artist}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Billy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Billy}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
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[[Category:Songwriters from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Songwriters from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Musicians from Greenville, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Musicians from Greenville, South Carolina]]
[[Category:The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina alumni]]

Latest revision as of 01:46, 15 December 2023

For other people named Billy Roberts, see Billy Roberts (disambiguation).

Billy Roberts
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Moses Roberts Jr.
Born(1936-08-16)August 16, 1936
Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedOctober 7, 2017(2017-10-07) (aged 81)
Years active1960s–1990s

William Moses Roberts Jr. (August 16, 1936 – October 7, 2017)[1][2] was an American songwriter and musician credited with composing the 1960s rock music standard "Hey Joe."[3]

Biography

[edit]

Roberts attended the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina but left school for the life of an itinerant musician. He learned to play the 12-string guitar and blues harmonica, on which he claimed to have been tutored by Sonny Terry. In the early 1960s he went to New York's Greenwich Village where he busked on the street and played in coffeehouses. It was there that he composed the song "Hey, Joe," which he copyrighted in 1962. Early the same year, after a brief and turbulent marriage, Roberts traveled to Reno, Nevada to obtain a divorce. After that, he went to San Francisco where he again played in coffeehouses. It would become his base of operations for the rest of his career.

In 1964-1965, Roberts was part of a San Francisco-based folk trio called The Driftwood Singers (with Steve Lalor and Lyn Shepard).[4][5] Signed by David Allen, manager of the hungry i, the group did several month-long stints at the i, opening for the likes of Bill Cosby, Carmen McRae, Godfrey Cambridge, and Joan Rivers. The group also toured the West Coast, playing supper clubs and summer concert touring around Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. On New Years Day 1965, they participated in an entertainment event at San Quentin State Prison with Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Cash, a Mariachi Band, and hula dancers. Dino Valenti was very likely in the audience, serving a term for a drug charge.[citation needed]

In 1965, Roberts was alerted by a friend to a recording of "Hey Joe" by the Southern California rock band, The Leaves. Roberts knew nothing of the recording and the friend (Hillel Resner, later his producer) offered to ask his father, an attorney in San Francisco, to look into the matter. The attorney discovered that folk singer Dino Valenti had claimed authorship of the song and signed a publishing contract with Third Story Music of Los Angeles. This led to negotiations that resulted in Roberts retrieving his author's rights, but it did not prevent numerous recordings being released that named several other songwriters, in addition to Valenti, as the author.

In 1967, David M. Overton left Detroit to attend Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, but in 1968, decided to be a drummer, performing with the Billy Roberts Blues Band.[6]

In September 1968, Roberts played at the Sky River Rock Festival in Washington, and jammed with Big Mama Thornton, James Cotton, and members of the Grateful Dead.[7] His friend Dino Valenti was also on the bill.

While residing in the Bay Area, Roberts performed in many of the local clubs and as the opening act for the Steve Miller Band at the Straight Theater in Haight-Ashbury in September 1967. He also opened for Santana at a Bill Graham Winterland concert in 1970.

In 1975, Roberts recorded the country rock album Thoughts of California with the band Grits, which he produced with Hillel Resner.

After a serious car accident in the early 1990s, Roberts was hospitalized for a time in Sonoma County, California. He later moved to Atlanta, Georgia to undergo rehabilitation. Roberts did not perform or record subsequently, but he held copyrights on nearly 100 songs. He died on October 7, 2017.

Guitarist Roy Buchanan recorded a version of "Hey Joe" (on the 1974 LP That's What I Am Here For); Buchanan also recorded Roberts' "Good God Have Mercy" on the 1976 LP A Street Called Straight.

Roberts had been residing in Atlanta at the time of his death on October 7, 2017.[8]

Discography

[edit]
  • Thoughts of California (1975)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Billy Roberts". Allmusic. Retrieved December 14, 2023. Born: August 16, 1936 in Greenville, SC; Died: October 17, 2017.
  2. ^ Hicks, Michael (1999). Sixties Rock: Garage, Psychedelic, and Other Satisfactions. Urbana, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. p. 41. ISBN 0-252-02427-3.
  3. ^ "Billy Stapleton Guitar Stories: Billy Roberts". Archived from the original on April 6, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  4. ^ Music in Washington: Seattle and Beyond, Blecha, Peter, Arcadia Publishing, 2007, pp48
  5. ^ "1964-11-13". The Stanford Daily Archives.
  6. ^ "Five decades of cheesecake: A history". The Cheesecake Factory. Archived from the original on November 3, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "1968's Sky River Rock Festival revisited Friday". The Seattle Times. August 12, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  8. ^ "Obituaries". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 11, 2017. p. B5. Roberts, Jr. William M. "Billy": Age 81, of Atlanta, passed away October 7, 2017.
[edit]
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