Inducted 2009

Benefactor: The Dixie Echoes

Born on September 26, 1929 , in Alexander City, Alabama, Billy dedicated his life to singing gospel music. He started singing with his family at the age of eight. In 1942, he sang with a group from his church called the Freewill Four. In 1946, he began singing with The Sylacauga Melody Boys. Then he sang in a barbershop quartet along with Jim Nabors, who we all know as Gomer Pyle from the Andy Griffith Show.  

While serving in the Air Force, he used his musical ability by entertaining servicemen as he played drums with the Top & Blue Air Force Military Band. During this time, he competed and won awards on the Arthur Godfrey Show and Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour. After completing his military service he moved to Pensacola , Florida to sing with a newly organized quartet know as The Veterans Quartet. 

The Florida Boys hired Billy in January of 1958. Billy immediately captured the hearts of thousands across the country with his strong bass voice. Billy then left the Florida Boys in 1972 to become the principal at Berean Christian School in Pensacola .  He spent several years singing with a part-time quartet, The Songmasters. 

Billy joined the Dixie Echoes on May 11, 1996 and he remained with them for 8 years. Until his retirement in September of 2004, he was the oldest active bass singer in gospel music. 

Billy won the first two Singing News Fan awards for “Favorite Bass Singer” and in 1994, at the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion, Billy received the Living Legend Award.  In 1999, he was inducted along with the Florida Boys Quartet into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.