Biography
Bill was born in 1949 in New Orleans, LA and grew-up in the Cajun Country Town of Thibodaux, LA about 1-hr. away. In the 50's and 60's, Bill was surrounded by live music as well as all the radio airplay coming out of New Orleans' mainstream AM radio stations like WTIX and WNOE. New Orleans' own Artists of the 50's and 60's were played constantly and their music was played by all the "cool" cover bands of the area. Frankie Ford ("Sea Cruise"), Irma Thomas ("Anyone"), Fats Domino ("Blueberry Hill"), Art and Aaron Neville ("Tell it Like It Is"), The Meters...it was a "Who's Who" of the Music Industry and Allen Toussaint's famous recording studio was a busy place for those who had the "MoJo". Many friends of Bill played in bands, including his brother Earl and many of their friends like Tony Haselden (LeRoux), Harold Cowart ("The Bee Gees"), John Fred and his Playboy Band ("Judy in Disguise"), Tommy George ("The Saxons"). To say that he and his friends had many contacts and friends in the Music Industry would be an understatement. It was, and still is, a huge part of the Louisiana Culture and the styles were, and are, many and varied.
In 1963, Bill picked-up a guitar and discovered he had relative pitch sufficient to teach himself "The Limbo Rock" by Chubby Checker. After that, he was hooked and played more and more until he could handle The Beatles, Jim Croce, Dan Fogleberg, Chet Atkins (a little bit!) and other pop artists of the day. The 1960's British Invasion, the "Psychedelic Era" of the later 60's, Pop, Folk, etc. were all fair game to add to the repertoire as well. Many of those songs are still on Bill's song list and have been played in Coffee Shops in Austin, TX and now in Las Vegas, NV. The musical influences of the great Artists are being carried-on respectfully by Bill as an homage to the "good stuff" they have left us. It has stood the test of time and is appreciated by listeners of all ages as classic rock favorites.
In present day, Bill's entire Family has a personal connection to music and some are Musicians!! Candy Binnings (oldest daughter) played piano and clarinet in school band, along with younger brother Chris Binnings (oldest Son), who also played piano and trumpet. He now fronts a 40's themed band in San Francisco called Stompy Jones and has sung in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Northern California, Mexico and Europe. Scott, next Son, is a drummer and has been in several bands in Houston and Austin, TX and is currently in a project here in Vegas. All have some musical talent from both sides since Bill's wife Cynthia comes from a very musical Family as well. She herself was an Arian Award Medal winner in 1967 in Thibodaux, LA as a high soprano lead in her High School Choir. Her brothers all have been music performers since the 1950's in Louisiana and sang and played multiple instruments as well. There was just no getting away from it!!
Over the years, Bill has enjoyed playing the great cover songs for people at home and in coffee shop environments like "Sambalatte" in Las Vegas/Summerlin. Along the way, he has learned how to work on his own guitars and does great guitar setups and adjustments for his own axes as well as others. It is a logical extension of his love of guitars and his desire to get all the sound and performance possible from guitars which is essential for players to do their absolute best as performers. Many players are "hooked" on the feel and accuracy of his guitar work and depend on him to care for their axes and their playability. That is very gratifying to Bill and is a source of great satisfaction to him as a true guitar "buff". His love affair with guitars and guitar music continues into the present day and will never end as long as he can hold one in his hands !!
In 1963, Bill picked-up a guitar and discovered he had relative pitch sufficient to teach himself "The Limbo Rock" by Chubby Checker. After that, he was hooked and played more and more until he could handle The Beatles, Jim Croce, Dan Fogleberg, Chet Atkins (a little bit!) and other pop artists of the day. The 1960's British Invasion, the "Psychedelic Era" of the later 60's, Pop, Folk, etc. were all fair game to add to the repertoire as well. Many of those songs are still on Bill's song list and have been played in Coffee Shops in Austin, TX and now in Las Vegas, NV. The musical influences of the great Artists are being carried-on respectfully by Bill as an homage to the "good stuff" they have left us. It has stood the test of time and is appreciated by listeners of all ages as classic rock favorites.
In present day, Bill's entire Family has a personal connection to music and some are Musicians!! Candy Binnings (oldest daughter) played piano and clarinet in school band, along with younger brother Chris Binnings (oldest Son), who also played piano and trumpet. He now fronts a 40's themed band in San Francisco called Stompy Jones and has sung in Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Northern California, Mexico and Europe. Scott, next Son, is a drummer and has been in several bands in Houston and Austin, TX and is currently in a project here in Vegas. All have some musical talent from both sides since Bill's wife Cynthia comes from a very musical Family as well. She herself was an Arian Award Medal winner in 1967 in Thibodaux, LA as a high soprano lead in her High School Choir. Her brothers all have been music performers since the 1950's in Louisiana and sang and played multiple instruments as well. There was just no getting away from it!!
Over the years, Bill has enjoyed playing the great cover songs for people at home and in coffee shop environments like "Sambalatte" in Las Vegas/Summerlin. Along the way, he has learned how to work on his own guitars and does great guitar setups and adjustments for his own axes as well as others. It is a logical extension of his love of guitars and his desire to get all the sound and performance possible from guitars which is essential for players to do their absolute best as performers. Many players are "hooked" on the feel and accuracy of his guitar work and depend on him to care for their axes and their playability. That is very gratifying to Bill and is a source of great satisfaction to him as a true guitar "buff". His love affair with guitars and guitar music continues into the present day and will never end as long as he can hold one in his hands !!
