Billy Strange | |
|---|---|
 Strange (right) with his then-wifeJoan O'Brien and their child, Rusty, in 1956 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | William Everett Strange (1930-09-29)September 29, 1930 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Died | February 22, 2012(2012-02-22) (aged 81) Franklin, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Occupations | Musician, composer |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Formerly of | |
William Everett Strange (September 29, 1930 – February 22, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, guitarist, and actor. He began as asession musician withthe Wrecking Crew, a famous session band of the 1960s and 1970s, and was inducted into theMusicians Hall of Fame and Museum as a member of that ensemble in 2007.
Billy Strange was born inLong Beach, California, on September 29, 1930.[1]
Strange teamed up withMac Davis to write several hit songs forElvis Presley, including "A Little Less Conversation", the theme fromCharro!, and "Memories". Strange also composed the musical soundtrack for two of Presley's filmsLive a Little, Love a Little andThe Trouble with Girls. He also wrote "Limbo Rock" which was recorded byThe Champs andChubby Checker.
Strange recorded arrangements ofJames Bond movie themes forGNP Crescendo Records and provided the instrumental backing and arrangement forNancy Sinatra's non-soundtrack version of "You Only Live Twice", as well as Nancy andFrank Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid". He was recognized by theRockabilly Hall of Fame for his pioneering contribution to the genre.[2]
Strange played guitar on numerousBeach Boys hits, including "Sloop John B" and thePet Sounds album. He also played guitar forNancy Sinatra,Jan & Dean,The Ventures,Willie Nelson,The Everly Brothers,Wanda Jackson,Randy Newman, andNat King Cole, among others. One of his most famous performances is on Nancy Sinatra's version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)".
Strange arranged and conducted all of Nancy Sinatra's Reprise albums as well as Nancy Sinatra's andLee Hazlewood's 1972 RCA Records release,Nancy & Lee Again and their 2003 album,Nancy & Lee 3. He also arranged the 1981 Sinatra andMel Tillis album,Mel & Nancy. He arranged and conducted for Frank Sinatra,Dean Martin,Sammy Davis Jr.,Duane Eddy, and Elvis Presley. One of his most famous arrangements was "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for Nancy Sinatra. Strange also performed the vocals forSteve McQueen inBaby the Rain Must Fall.[3]
Heard on the soundtracks of many Disney features, Strange played themes for such TV shows as "The Munsters" (1964), "Batman" (1966), and "Have Gun – Will Travel" (1957). He is the guitarist heard on the theme to "The Munsters".
"A Little Less Conversation", which he wrote withMac Davis, was on the soundtracks of theDreamWorks animated feature filmsShark Tale (2004) andMegamind (2010).[4]
He sang his own composition, "The Ballad of Bunny and Claude", in the Merrie MelodiesBunny And Claude (We Rob Carrot Patches) (1968) andThe Great Carrot-Train Robbery (1969).[4]
Strange was son of George Strange, a radio entertainer, and Vella Evans Strange.
Strange was married to singer and actressJoan O'Brien from 1954 to 1955. They had a son, Russell Glen Strange, born on October 4, 1955.
He was also married to Betty Jo Conrad (son: Jerry Strange) from 1960 to 1978. They had a daughter together, Kelly Kimberly Strange, born on November 11, 1964.
While separated from Betty Jo, Strange moved from California to Tennessee to open and run a publishing firm for the Sinatras and lived with/dated Tricia "LeAnn" King. They had a daughter, Mary "Micah" King (Strange), who was born on December 23, 1976, inLawrenceburg, Tennessee.
Strange was married to singerJeanne Black in his final years. He died on February 22, 2012, aged 81.[3]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Rawhide | Murphy | S3:E27, "Incident Before Black Pass" |
