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Billy Blackwood 1
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Early family photo / l-r Mim, James, Billy, Jimmy. Check out those bowties.
Early family photo / l-r Mim, James, Billy, Jimmy. Check out those bowties.
In the early sixties Billy took voice lessons from Verle Pilant, and piano lessons from his wife, Marge. Their three boys, Gary, Doug, and Greg, Billy's cousin, Mark, and Billy formed the BLACKWOOD
In the early sixties Billy took voice lessons from Verle Pilant, and piano lessons from his wife, Marge. Their three boys, Gary, Doug, and Greg, Billy's cousin, Mark, and Billy formed the BLACKWOOD "LITTLE" BROTHERS, toured much of the south with the Blackwood Brothers, and appeared on one of the Blackwood Brothers records, "Family Album." Blackwood "Little Brothers" / l-r standing, Billy Blackwood, Mark Blackwood, Doug Pilant, Greg Pilant, seated, Gary Pilant.
An early promo picture, circa1967. Billy had graduated from bowties to ascots.
An early promo picture, circa1967. Billy had graduated from bowties to ascots.
From 1967-69 Billy traveled with J. D. SUMNER & THE STAMPS, playing drum(s). Standing l-r Roy McNeil, J. D. Sumner, Donnie Sumner, Jimmy Blackwood, seated l-r Tim Baty, Billy Blackwood, Tony Brown, Jimmy,
From 1967-69 Billy traveled with J. D. SUMNER & THE STAMPS, playing drum(s). Standing l-r Roy McNeil, J. D. Sumner, Donnie Sumner, Jimmy Blackwood, seated l-r Tim Baty, Billy Blackwood, Tony Brown, Jimmy, "Duke" Dumas. From 1967-69 Billy traveled with J. D. SUMNER & THE STAMPS, playing drum(s). Standing l-r Roy McNeil, J. D. Sumner, Donnie Sumner, Jimmy Blackwood, seated l-r Tim Baty, Billy Blackwood, Tony Brown, Jimmy, "Duke" Dumas.
In December 1969, Billy left the Stamps to join his dad in the BLACKWOOD BROTHERS, playing drums. Billy is kneeling at left. Standing/seated l-r Tommy Fairchild, Bill Shaw, Jimmy Blackwood, Cecil Blackwood, Ken Turner, Larry Davis, and Billy's dad, James.
In December 1969, Billy left the Stamps to join his dad in the BLACKWOOD BROTHERS, playing drums. Billy is kneeling at left. Standing/seated l-r Tommy Fairchild, Bill Shaw, Jimmy Blackwood, Cecil Blackwood, Ken Turner, Larry Davis, and Billy's dad, James.
In October 1973, Billy had an invitation to join Donnie Sumner in a group he had formed called
In October 1973, Billy had an invitation to join Donnie Sumner in a group he had formed called "VOICE" that had landed a gig opening for ELVIS PRESLEY, again, playing drums. Ah, the days of big hair, or at least lots of it. Interestingly they're all leaning to their right. Must have been the weight of the hair. L-r Pete Cummings, Billy, Sherrill Nielsen, Tommy Hensley, Donnie Sumner, Tim Baty, and Per Erik "Pete" Hallin.
Billy left Voice in the summer of 1975, and began traveling with longtime friends, Gordon Jensen, Larry Orrell, and Wayne Hilton, in a revised version of their group, The ORRELLS, called GORDON JENSEN & SUNRISE. In this picture they are
Billy left Voice in the summer of 1975, and began traveling with longtime friends, Gordon Jensen, Larry Orrell, and Wayne Hilton, in a revised version of their group, The ORRELLS, called GORDON JENSEN & SUNRISE. In this picture they are "out standing in their field." L-r Billy, Larry Orrell, Ron Fairchild, Wayne Hilton, Gordon Jensen, and Stephen Speer.
In 1978 Billy joined his cousin, Terry Blackwood, and Sherman Andrus, in their contemporary Christian band, ANDRUS, BLACKWOOD, & CO. Within his first year there they recorded a
In 1978 Billy joined his cousin, Terry Blackwood, and Sherman Andrus, in their contemporary Christian band, ANDRUS, BLACKWOOD, & CO. Within his first year there they recorded a "live" record that produced a huge hit for the group called "Jesus, You're So Wonderful," a fifties parody that was number one on CCM charts for over a year. This picture is about 1983. L-r Dave Innis, Sherman Andrus, John Mays, Terry Blackwood, Jeff Chambers, Billy, Randy Dennis.
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A "live" shot of ABC at a Jesus Festival in Illinois. Circa 1985
When Billy left Andrus, Blackwood, & Co. in 1985 he did so partly at the invitation of his pastor, Mike Nelson. Mike had founded a church fellowship in 1977 and it had grown to over 1,000 people. He stepped down in 1985 to travel and minister. Billy had led worship at that church on occasion and had written some songs as well, and Mike asked if he would accompany him in his travels. This is a promo shot of them at that time. Mike has since gone to heaven, but his imprint on his community and the lives of thousands of people is still being felt.
When Billy left Andrus, Blackwood, & Co. in 1985 he did so partly at the invitation of his pastor, Mike Nelson. Mike had founded a church fellowship in 1977 and it had grown to over 1,000 people. He stepped down in 1985 to travel and minister. Billy had led worship at that church on occasion and had written some songs as well, and Mike asked if he would accompany him in his travels. This is a promo shot of them at that time. Mike has since gone to heaven, but his imprint on his community and the lives of thousands of people is still being felt.
In 1987 Billy went on his first mission trip at the invitation of his good friend, Larry Orrell. That got Billy hooked and he has been many times in the years following, to Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, England, Russia, and Ukraine. Here Larry and Billy are ministering in the Caribbean island of Dominica in 1987.
In 1987 Billy went on his first mission trip at the invitation of his good friend, Larry Orrell. That got Billy hooked and he has been many times in the years following, to Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, England, Russia, and Ukraine. Here Larry and Billy are ministering in the Caribbean island of Dominica in 1987.
In the late 80's Billy's dad, James, brother, Jimmy and Billy did some concerts together, and even produced a live video from the PTL Club in Charlotte. Here is a picture taken at Heritage USA (PTL) Christmas 1986. L-r James, Mim, Jimmy, & Billy.
In the late 80's Billy's dad, James, brother, Jimmy and Billy did some concerts together, and even produced a live video from the PTL Club in Charlotte. Here is a picture taken at Heritage USA (PTL) Christmas 1986. L-r James, Mim, Jimmy, & Billy.
A promo picture of Jimmy, James, and Billy from their trio era.
A promo picture of Jimmy, James, and Billy from their trio era.
This photo of James and Billy was taken in Red Square in Moscow, Russia in January 1990, a trip in which they took suitcases of Russian Bibles in and ministered in churches in Moscow and Leningrad (renamed St. Petersburg in 1991).
This photo of James and Billy was taken in Red Square in Moscow, Russia in January 1990, a trip in which they took suitcases of Russian Bibles in and ministered in churches in Moscow and Leningrad (renamed St. Petersburg in 1991).
A mid-eigthies picture from a photo shoot for his first real solo record (he doesn't claim the first two) called
A mid-eigthies picture from a photo shoot for his first real solo record (he doesn't claim the first two) called "Nothin' But Love Songs."
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