The powerhouse that is Billy Newton-Davis!
Here is a brief interview with everybody's favorite powerhouse performer and pioneering pop star Billy Newton-Davis! He will be joining us Dec 1st as our first special guest for our "Christmas in New York" Month Of Sundays at The Jazz Bistro! Now thats rockin' the Holidays!!
must have seemed likely for you. Was your family encouraging?
Micah: Your family had many famous musicians already so a career in this business
Billy My family has always been very supportive of my career. My Dad and My Aunt
sang in churches around the Grenville, South Carolina area in the 40's. My
cousin Billy Davis Jr. was a member of The Drifters. When he was in town,
he always tried to put me on the stage... always!
My Dad played every genre of music. Somehow inherently I could pick up the
rhythm, the style, the lyric from mimicking artist like Aretha, Dinah
Washington, and Sarah Vaughn...My most memorable style was that of Sam Cooke. My Dad in his later years, Iwould have been five years old, sang in a quartet in Cleveland capturing the quartet, and a'capella style of his roots from the south.
Micah: Thats why The Nylons A Capella was such a good fit! I believe before that you started out singing in The Church. How has that influenced the way you make music?
Billy: My voice is my gift. Having gospel roots shaped my career.
Micah:Your early years included a stint on Broadway with Sammy Davis Junior How do you think working with "greats" helped you achieve your own career?
Billy: I was enamored with Sammy Davis every since I can remember. He just tore
down the colour wall. I have always loved cool, unique, and sassy. He was
just so Hollywood... ha ha ha ...Many times I saw what I did not want to
become ha ha ha ha .
Micah:Did you know you were born to make history as one of Canada's first Afro-Canadian pop stars?
Billy: No I did not... I am flattered, and much honored.
I would like to think more like... I hope that I have contributed something
to make a change, and some things a bit easier for young artist in our
community, and across the country.
Micah: What advice to you have for up and coming artists who are considering a
career in this business?
Billy: Ha ha ha ha! Take a business course; take a promotion and marketing course.
Have great social media skills. Of course study your craft of voice, music,
and dance. Acting courses don't hurt. The big thing is connections
...putting yourself out there..one more thing. Remember...
Song writing and touring is where you make your money!
And by all means never ever give up on your dream..ever...
Micah: Awesome words for all! Your recent collaborations with Electronic Dance Music's biggest star Deadmaus lead to yet another juno win. What was working with him like?
Billy: Deadmau5 is a force to always be reckoned with. He is genius. He has a
great ear. He is totally savvy in the world of dance music. He has a very
unique sound, and a wicked sense of time, and rhythm. He is a business man
obviously.
He knew my voice, and just surrounded it with magnificent sound. Winning
another Juno was just a blast!
Micah: Singing with you in The Nylons was one of the highlights of those years for
me. Any special memories from those years?
Billy: We were all comrades'. I thought in our years we brought another dynamic to
something that was already quite established, and we put a new twist on that
era of The Nylons. I remember a lot how much we laughed. I also remember
the loving arms around me when I joined.... Oh I learned a lot about my
voice and my talent. I met the fabulous Micah Barnes. a great friend for ever!
The Jazz Bistro
251 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1T8
Cover $15; Reservations recommended at Tel: 416.363.5299 (JAZZ)
Doors open at 11:30 am, Music starts at 12.30 pm
