Celebrating the life and times of Billy Constable
The Memorial Jam 10/8/15
Isis Restaurant & Music Hall
Asheville NC
Born March 23, 1959, Billy Constable was a well known and much loved musician from WNC.
Billy formed his first band Leather Britches, and at the age of 14 he hit the road professionally joining Charlie Moore's band in the early 1970's. He went on to play with Doug Dillard and in the 80's his family band The Constables was formed. They also appeared with the late great Rose Maddox in that band. In addition he played with Dick Tyner and Train 45, Ray Parks, and toured with Kenny Baker and Josh Graves.
In recent years he recorded with the Big Daddy Bluegrass Band with Steve McMurry, and Curtis Burch, Larry Keel, String Cheese Incident, Acoustic Forum, Hypnotic Clambake, and formed his own band Sassagrass.
He has shared the stage picking with; Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Butch Robins, Mac Wiseman, Leftover Salmon, Byron Berline, Sam Bush, Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt, Jim and Jesse, and the Osborne Brothers, to name a few.
Steeped in the rich knowledge of traditional bluegrass and Appalachian music, but reaching far beyond into gypsy jazz and other eclectic forms of music, he is well known as a musician's musician.
A master of guitar, banjo, and mandolin, Billy has often been credited with teaching his musical compadres how to play and "play it right," and we have all become better musicians and better people for knowing him.
The lineup for the Memorial Jam so far includes:
Sassagrass, Butch Robins, Steve McMurry (of Acoustic Syndicate), Jon Stickley & Lyndsay Pruett (of Jon Stickley Trio), Bearwallow (2015 Merlefest Band Competition Winners), Amanda Platt (of The Honeycutters), Taylor Martin, Sam Wharton
Darren Nicholson Band, Blue Wheel Drive, Robert Greer (with members of Town Mountain), Jim Rollins, Adam Masters, Billy Cardine, Bobby Miller, Jason and Jacob Burleson, Mary Lucey. and more to be announced.
www.isisasheville.com
Listening to:
npr - morning edition
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