Billy Strange

Dave Biller · Post by **Dave Biller** » 23 Feb 2012 6:57 am

for those interested, Singer, songwriter, guitarist and arranger Billy Strange passed away yesterday. Age 82

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 23 Feb 2012 8:00 am

That's a real shame. RIP indeed.

Chuck S. Lettes · Post by **Chuck S. Lettes** » 23 Feb 2012 2:41 pm

What a great career! Speedy West always spoke highly of Billy.
Chuck

Kirk Eipper · Post by **Kirk Eipper** » 23 Feb 2012 3:21 pm

RIP Billy.He was a part of history plying with Speedy and Jimmy.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 23 Feb 2012 4:43 pm

So sorry to hear about Billy passing on. We were friends in the early years when we were both in our later teens in So. Calif. One of the So.Calif. Bands Billy started out with was: Joe Bean and the San Antonions. Later on he tied up with Cliffie Stone and the Home Town Jamboree bunch and Tennesse Ernie. Billy had a Movie Actor Uncle: Glenn Strange, who was the Bartender on Gunsmoke and was usually the Heavy in many Movie Westerns . Billy was a monster Musician, moving into Arranging and Conducting for many Major Entertainers. May he R.I.P.

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 24 Feb 2012 7:25 am

I knew the name when I saw it in Alt obits but did not realize his days with Capital went back to the early 50's.

Our chatter was about his work with Nancy Sinatra and the Wrecking Crew. Billy conceived the Nass Guitar work on "These Boots Are Made For Walking"

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 24 Feb 2012 7:51 am

L.A. Times Obituary: http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/ ... 7015.story

p.s. Hey, Bus! Nice to see you again around these parts. I hope we don't only get to see you at funerals!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 24 Feb 2012 8:18 am

I had one remarkable lunch and afternoon with Billy Strange on a day when I was up in Nashville visiting my friend Boomer Castleman.

Boomer called me at the motel and said we were gonna have lunch with Billy Strange. Billy was running Frank Sinatra's publishing co. office in Nashville and they had some publishing business to do. Billy was super friendly and fun, told jokes and inside stories not for publication

, and reminisced about Los Angeles, our mutual home town. Because I was aware of his history, I felt like I was in the presence of a real heavyweight in the world of guitar.

Billy Easton · Post by **Billy Easton** » 24 Feb 2012 10:03 am

Sorry to hear of his passing.....I got to spend some time with Billy right after Speedy's funeral. Several of us went to Speedy's home after the funeral, and I sat at the kitchen table with Billy , Speedy Jr., Mary and some others who reminisced about Speedy's career. Billy was a real gentleman and a giant in the industry. May he rest in peace.

Billy Easton