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& Family:
Billy, 20, lives in Rhode Island, with his parents, Bill and Fran, and his younger brother, Colin.
Musical History:
Billy discovered his love of singing at age 3 when he heard Pam Tillis’ hit song, “Cleopatra, Queen of Denial.” When he turned 8, Billy met Angela Bacari, a veteran performer and voice coach, who continues as his manager.
As an avid music lover, Billy enjoys and sings everything from country to standards to pop and rock. His recorded and live performances receive rave reviews from critics and fans nationwide.
Accomplishments:
Billy’s first album, the double-platinum (2 million sold) and Grammy-nominated “One Voice,” was released in June 2000. He is listed in Guinness World Records as the youngest performer
to record a No. 1 country hit (One Voice). He eclipsed the previous record set in the 1960s. Less than four months later, Billy followed with “Classic Christmas” (certified gold),
and his third album, “Dare to Dream” (certified gold), hit record stores before his 13th birthday.
In 2001, Billy earned four Billboard Music
Video Awards, including Best New Artist in three categories (Country, Jazz/Adult Contemporary
and Contemporary Christian) and Best Video in the Contemporary Christian category. He won the American Music Award for Favorite
New Country Artist, became the youngest artist to be nominated for an Academy of Country Music Award and starred in his own television special.
On April 15, 2003, Billy released his fourth album, “Music Through Heartsongs: Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek.” The CD was the result of a yearlong collaboration
between Billy and Mattie, the best-selling poet who served as MDA’s National Goodwill Ambassador until his death at age 13 from a rare form of muscular dystrophy in June 2004. The CD debuted at number 15 on the Billboard country music charts.
Billy’s 5th album, “Everything and More,”
dedicated to Mattie, was released on May 3,
2005. The title track won Single of the Year at
the New Music Weekly Awards in 2005.
On September 5, 2006, Billy’s sixth CD, the
self-titled “Billy Gilman” was released. This
latest effort shows significant growth in Billy’s
vocal range and brings him back full
circle to country music with guitar, fiddle and steel
accompaniment.
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