Bill Roberts
Bill plays guitar, sings, plays bass, drums, harmonica, keyboards and other instruments. He records songs in the recording studio and uses the backing tracks (minus lead vocal and guitar) to perform his solo show. He performed all instruments and vocals on the new album Raw Material. Raw Material pays homage to the great guitarists and other band members who influenced Bill to play. Guitarists like Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher and Billy Gibbons are emulated on the album. "Even though American Blues music influenced these great players, it was their music that reached thousands of guitarists and inspired them to play." Bill says of his teachers. Bill has played guitar for the Cat Daddy band, the Richmond Jazz Trio, drums for Big Boss Man, bass for Ron Moody and the Centaurs and various instruments for many other groups throuout his career. He has shared stages with everyone from B.J. Thomas to the Dirty Dozen Brass band.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I love to play live and do so several times per month around Richmond, Virgina.
Your musical influences
This album is about my primary influences, the Yardbirds alumni, Clapton, Beck, Page as well as Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Billy Gibbons and others from the era.
What equipment do you use?
I use Fender Strats and Teles and a Dr Z Prescription Extra Strength head with two 1x12 Dr.Z Cabinets. Until recntly I used all Fender amps including a Vibrolux, Super Reverb and Twin Reverb. I have a vintage Bandmaster currently on order.
Anything else?
I've been playing and contributing to my living with music for so long it doesn't seem logical to hope for the "big break". I just want to keep playing good music with with good musicians and have fun doing it.
