Billy Block (born William Donald Block; August 10, 1955 – March 11, 2015) also known as Mr. Nashville, 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. He hosted Billy Block's Western Beat, a live concert-format radio show for over thirty years.
Background 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. Block was also the Houston editor of Buddy Magazine.
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.
In 1991, Block met and married his wife Jill Rochlitz, 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.
Western Beat
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.
"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.
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. 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.
Death Block's death at age 59 in 2015 was a shock to the community. His fight with cancer was documented in Nashville Scene magazine, he was eulogized in USA Today, CMT Music Connection magazine, and Taste Of Country magazine. Block is survived by his wife Jill and sons Rocky and Grady Block, Micheal Hughes and Shandon Mayes.
Nashville Downtown Partnerships sponsored Billy Block Day concerts in 2016 and 2017.
Discography + Billy Block Discography 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