Bluegrass Guitarist and Composer Billy Strings

Award-winning guitarist, singer, and songwriter William Apostol, better known as Billy Strings, was born on October 3, 1992, in Lansing, Michigan. He grew up in Morehead, Kentucky, and later in Muir, Michigan.

Billy’s stepfather, Terry Barber, is a bluegrass musician and introduced his stepson to traditional bluegrass at a young age. In addition to bluegrass, Billy Strings is also influenced by rock and blues music.

In 2021, Billy Strings’ “Home” album, produced by Glenn Brown, won the Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Billy Strings’ 2021 album “Renewal,” a 16-song collection, reached well beyond bluegrass with elements of heavy metal, jam bands, psychedelic music and classic rock, even though it’s still primarily an acoustic record.

“I’ve learned, you’ve just got to let the song do its thing,” shared Strings. “So that’s what I try to do, write songs and let them come out however they do.”

Guided by producer Jonathan Wilson (Roger Waters, Father John Misty), Strings and his band were given the opportunity to explore new textures and unusual instrumentation on the album, resulting in a more expansive sound that still welcomed his roots. “After winning the Grammy, I went into the studio with newfound confidence. And was inspired by Jonathan’s studio and vibe. More than ever before, I trusted myself to experiment and push myself musically.”

“I called my last record Home, and then a few months later that’s where we all got stuck,” Strings said. “Right now, we’re heading back into opening back up, and doing some more touring with real concerts and real shows. Hopefully we can renew everything. I think it’s an interesting word. It reminds me of how every morning is a renewed day and another chance.”

Strings added: “I never set out to be the best singer. My goal was just to master expressing myself through bluegrass music, and so many of those players just sing how they talk. Then, when I grew up, I learned that I liked Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin, so that influenced me, too. A song on this record like ‘Red Daisy’ is totally a bluegrass song, but there’s also a song like ‘Leaders’ that I wrote with my buddy Steve Poltz. Who even knows how to define that one?”

On “Renewal.” Strings recorded with touring bandmates Billy Failing (banjo, vocals, piano), Royal Masat (bass, vocals), and Jarrod Walker (mandolin, vocals, guitar), as well as guests John Mailander (violin), Spencer Cullum Jr. (pedal steel) and Grant Millikem (synth). In addition to producing, Wilson played percussion, celesta, and harpsichord.

In 2022, Strings announced the release of “Me/And/Dad,” the first album he’s recorded with his dad, Terry Barber, scheduled for release November 18, 2022, through Rounder Records. The album is a longtime dream; it features new versions of fourteen bluegrass and country classics that the two have been playing together since Strings was a young child.

Reflecting on “Me/And/Dad,” Strings said, “As long as I can remember, I wanted to make a record with my dad. I’ve been burning up and down the highways the last 12 years, and as time slips away, you start thinking, ‘I need to make time.’ It’s been a bucket list thing for me, something I’ve been afraid I wouldn’t find the time to do. And that scared me; not doing this record scared me.”

Produced by Strings and Gary Paczosa and recorded at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studio, the record finds Strings and Barber playing with familiar ease, naturally trading off leads both vocally and on guitar. In addition to Strings and Barber, the album includes an all-star band including bassist Mike Bub, mandolinist Ron McCoury, banjo player Rob McCoury and fiddler Michael Cleveland as well as special guest appearances by Jerry Douglas, Jason Carter and Strings’ mother, Debra Barber, who sings on the final track, “I Heard My Mother Weeping.”

In 2024, Strings won the Artist of the Year award at the International Folk Music Awards.

(headline image: Billy Strings – Photo by Joshua Black Wilkin)

Discography:

Turmoil and Tinfoil (Apostol Recording Company, 2017)
Home (Rounder Records, 2019)
Renewal (Rounder Records, 2021)
Me/And/Dad (Rounder Records, 2022)

Author: Angel Romero

Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.