Photo by Bradley Hanson
Billy Spaulding got his music influence at a very young age by listening to his Grandpa Rufus and Uncle Leroy. Both were consummate piano players and Billy began playing at age 6. About age 10 he began playing drums. His musical influences started with classic rock but moved to blues when he was about 21 years old. He had an original rock band in the early 1980's and then met two guitar players that were big blues enthusiasts. They started a band called the Wayback. This was the start of Spaulding's professional career.
In 1988 Billy helped start a band called the Exile Blues Band that later changed its name to the Nightcrawlers. Working and playing at the Old Timers Cafe gave him a chance to get into the Pioneer Square venues and meet many top performers in the Seattle blues scene. A few years later he started to play with Hugh's Blues, which featured G. W. Levell on vocals and harp and Jack Cook on guitar with Mike West on tenor sax. This opened up opportunities for Billy to play behind many great performers including Dick Powell, Sweet Talkin' Jones, Fat James, Rod Cook, Jim King, Seattle Slim, and others.
Billy has also appeared on bills with luminaries such as The Fabulous Thunderbirds, James Harman, Duke Robillard, B.B. King, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, and Booker T. and the M.G.'s. In 2004 Billy toured with Little George Sureff and Lazy Lester and also backed up Honey Boy Edwards. Currently he plays with Don & Diane Forsythe of the Blue Healers and Sheldon Zero of Bent Reed & Company as well as holding down the drum chair and singing for The Mighty Titans of Tone.