Billy Byron (Boston Performing Songwriter)

1. KENS STEAKHOUSE RESTAURANT
"The Event Manager at Ken's Steakhouse, Erich Chaves, was delighted with your music and requested your contact information. I gave him the postcard that Bill provided. I'm sure he will be happy to hear from you!" `~ Kens Steakhouse Manager, Framingham, MA

2. SITZUNJIBERS SOCIAL CLUB
"Thank you for your glorious Band & Bouzouki music during the Reception and Dinner for our Guest Of Honor: May 2015 National Inventor's Hall Of Fame Member and Noble Prize Candidate, "Yanni" ( Current MIT Professor and Researcher, Ioannis Yannas ). ~ President Vale, Sitz Club

3. THE EDGAR CAYCE ORG
"Hi Billy, Thank YOU, so much for your presence at our summer Pool Party Billy. Your music is a special treat... I 've always wished for somebody to appear with a guitar & a song to sing! I think you will be a great Craigville A.R.E. Retreat Entertainment s our Entertainment show night!!! Thank you again & blessings on your day! Patty Mc (Assoc Research & Enlightenment, Edgar Cayce Org)

4. WINGATE MEDICAL FACILITY
"Hi Christine, Yes... I'm looking forward to our one-on-one, room to room work, on the July 23rd. Your Troubadour Program (Rehab) is a special experience for me in the field of Healing and Rehab Work." ~ Wingate of Needham, Rehab, ALF, Memory Unit

5. METRO WEST RESTAURANT
"Yanni and I and the other 60 attendees greatly appreciated and enjoyed the upscale environment that your Cats Band created for this "Once In A Lifetime Event". After the pleasure of listening to your wide variety of tunes , all attendees are Official Members of your Fan Club! " Rec Mngr, Social Meet-Up

6. VNA MEDICAL HOSPICE FACILITY
" I'm now completely qualified, thanx to your recommendation, as a Certified Volunteer Hospice Patient music visitor. Of course, I've done Hospice Work for many years." regarding For VNA Visiting Nurse Assoc. Hospice, Woburn

7. NEVILLE PLACE MEDICAL FACILITY ~ Thanks so much for your band;s "Grab Your Passport for Canada" show !! You guys sounded hot . As requested by Management, The 'Cats' are presented another one of your many unique & exciting 3 & 4 man shows. " Susan Bowbridge, Activity Director (Previous shows: Celebrating England, Folk Songs Through The Ages, Halloween Spooky Favorites, Byron's Island Show.)

8. WELLESLEY RETIREMENT FACILITY Waterstone
Using the Euro Cafe Bouzouki-Guitar sound, we kave been requested to play playing their Happy Hour and Greek Day. (No Zorba dancing on the tables!) ! Waterstone Activity Director, Leslye

9. NEW BEGINNINGS WELLESLEY
We are very very thankful for your"Byron's Welcoming Arms" Instrumental Solo Piano job at "New Beginnings", For many years, your regular weekly job at our Loss Support Group, in Wellesley, MA is both Entertaining, Creative and Therapeutic." ~ New Begin Administration - Restaurants, Hotels, Medical Facilities, Private Functions, Weddings, etc.

I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU A SONGWRITING STORY

By Billy Byron

I was born and raised as an American overseas. After college, I found myself back home working living in the laconic isles of Bermuda. I used to drive a lorry, a van, up and down the island for a linen shop, The Irish Linen Shop. As I came into the main shop of the three shops of the Irish Linen stores located on Front Street, Hamilton, the elderly sales ladies handed me a package to take to the post office...and, on the front it said, to: Mrs. John Yoko Lennon (New York address). Well I thought the staff at the shop were foolin' with me, pullin' my leg, since, they knew I was a hotel musician/entertainer at the Elbow Beach Hotel. They also knew I was a songwriter and was making my first record. They didn't know I took the job SO I COULD WRITE songs in the van. So I went back into the quaint, and small main floor of the shop, and joked around with them...and, they looked confused!!! They had no idea who John Lennon was! When I saw their baffled expressions, I urgently shouted: "was it a man, with some sort of glasses and hair down to about here." When they said yes I gasped: "Where did he go?!" They said that he just went out the door and around the corner. I rushed out on the busy Hamilton sidewalk, looking everywhere, but did not spot him. He was gone. I had no idea he was in Bermuda...until later. Then, I learned he was visiting and eventually writing a few of the Double Fantasy songs in Bermuda. I learned he had even created the LP Title from the name of a flower in the Botanical Gardens in Bermuda. I went back in to the Irish Linen Shop and sat down mumbling. They asked me what was the matter. I said: "You know I am a Bermuda songwriter, right?!" They said yes. "Well... I just missed meeting one of the best songwriters in the world!! John Lennon of the Beatles!" A few months later, the world... missed him. At the sad, sad news, I held my own private, silent vigil. I stood outside the gates of the harbor-side house in Pembroke, Bermuda where John stayed. I placed some island hibiscus flowers and some Bermuda ferns on the pastel-colored, concrete gate posts. That was my goodbye to John Lennon.


A brief coda: Recently I visited my relatives in Bermuda and the bass guitarist from my old Top 40 cover band invited me to a jam with six of his musician friends out on an island...Agars Island. An abandoned underground aquarium on the island had been renovated by the new owner and we were invited over to jam, as loud as we wanted, in this perfect practice place. As the boat carrying me and my friends, now aging but spirit-filled musicians, in front of the dock near the old aquarium entrance, I looked back behind the boat across a few hundred yards of waves, and there was the very house on the harbor that Lennon visited. On this sunny December day in 2004, with salty air and a sea breeze, I mentioned to the disembarking musicians, that we may have been inspired to pick up a guitar, struggle with new chords, and form bands by the exciting music and stories of the Beatles. I looked across the tourquoise, blue-green water and I could see the painted gate pillars of that house where the former leader of the Beatles, retreated and wrote starting-over songs. This was the same stone gate where, on December 8, 1980, I held my little vigil to John Lennon.

http:// www.bostonsongwriters.org - Boston Songwriters Workshop

(The BILLY BYRON BSW Interview)
By Maria-Hannah Joseph


Is inspiration something born of serendipity? Or is it something more available? A gift for opening our eyes? An illumination that shines through emotional openness? Does inspiration drive creativity? Or does creativity find that which is inspiring? What of that inspiration noted, but unsung? Artist Billy Byron seems to travel along each of these paths between inspiration and creativity. In fact, for him, it's the traveling that has been particularly poignant.

One of Billy's many outstanding accomplishments has come through his song, "Texas," which title punctuates the pivotal place in the odyssey that led Billy to notable songwriting success. "The Texas Campfire Song" began on an Amtrak traveling from Boston to San Antonio in the summer of 1997. While in Texas,it evolved further with artist Sammy Lee Smith at the Kerrville Music Festival. The song was finished in Billy's hometown of Cambridge, 3 blocks from where it came to climactic fruition by virtue of its "live" recording at Club Passim in the winter of 1999.

The Texas song has been sent out to various contests in the world and USA, winning several prizes (visit his website at http://www.mp3.com/billbyron In November 2001, "Texas Campfire" won a top prize in the USA International Songwriting Competition (FL). Be it >inspiration's reward, its relation to a divine plan, or just plain irony, the contest promoters plan to have the finalist winners showcase in Club Passim on May 23,2002, 3 blocks from Billy's house.

Billy's artistry also cycles back the inspiration he draws from and responds to. He is heavily involved in community performances that offer entertainment and more. And it's the "more" that Billy seems especially moved by. In hospitals in Somerville and Cambridge, he plays as a therapeutic group coordinator for med-psych patients aged 20-100. He also plays music in many nursing homes where it is used in conjunction with patients' movement therapy, education, memory work, not to mention that the genre-specific/appropriate songs also allow for endorphin-raising reminiscing and joyful participation. He notes that his performances for challenged children and adults offer the opportunity for psychic release, spiritual recovery, sharing, skill development and relationship bonding. Indeed, the artist is sometimes unable to avoid the emotion that flows forth, from and between.

In both traveling geographically, and traveling within the artist circle, Billy's artistry has also been enhanced by the collaborative experiences journeying offers. As a hotel performer in the international seaport of Bermuda for many years, Billy was significantly influenced by visitors to the island which gave him and his music a "world view." "Obviously, sharing songs, asking advice and collaboration all occur when participating in the songwriting artistic community." Billy met engineer Steve Friedman at a Club Passim open mike, and Sammy Lee Smith at an ASCAP song collaboration at the Kerrville Music Festival, among others. Billy also touts "other extra benefits," includingfinding a life partner, a professional long running collaborator, a band mate, a web site designer, a promoter, a manager, a valuable instrument, interstate songwriting friends, and new professional contacts. For example, he says he has met,"professional singer-songwriter insider music biz staff and hot studio musicians who offer information about on-the-road professional management, day planners, and lifestyle organization."

When asked what he seeks most to convey with his inspired music, Billy hopes it creates "an atmosphere of positive regard, openness, acceptance, possible healing ... aware vigilance [and] expanding human potential." "Craft-wise," he " wishes to create what songwriters call ˜evergreens.'"

As beguiling the concept of inspiration is, far more compelling is the sublime power it can hold over us... Billy mentioned that he once was a driver for an Irish Linen Shop in Bermuda. "I took this job driving back and forth across the 21 mile island in order to write songs while driving. Anyway..." He sends his thanks for the support of the BSW and offers to correspond over any questions from readers through e-mail at: bermudabillbyron@hotmail.com "Thank you, Billy!"

Billy Byron Site: http://www.songramp.com
Maria Hannah Joseph
http://www.songwriting.net/newswire49.html
Email: mhannajo@aol.com
(c)2002 Boston Songwriters
http://www.bostonsongwriters.org Workshop Newsletter; February 20, 2002

-o-O-o-

- BOSTON SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP

Last modified: January 03. 2002 9:54 AM

A Voyage of Discovery

By Nancy Acton

From the days when fellow student Paul Muggleton, later of The Savages, surreptitiously passed him guitar chords in class, professional entertainer and singer Billy Byron has come a long way. Today, he not only writes his own chords, but composes and records award-winning songs.
The road to the top still stretches before him, and financially he cannot yet rely on music as his sole source of income, but some day he hopes to make it big. With that in mind, he leaves no stone unturned either creatively or professionally.
"I am aggressively pursuing a musical songwriting career, and I write everything - children's music, folk, rock...," he says.
Meanwhile, Mr. Byron also works two jobs in Massachusetts, where he makes his home. One is in Somerville Hospital, where he is an activity coordinator in the medical-psychiatric unit, and the other is running his own health service business, `People Love Music Company', which he founded a decade ago.
"At the hospital I am a motivational therapist trained in psychology and occupational therapy, with a little music therapy thrown in," he says. "I write my own songs, and the patients sing along to them, which helps them to do movement participation. When people move, it changes them metabolically and then mentally. The job is very intense and I work a 40-hour week."
He describes his company as one which is "basically in the field of therapeutic music groups for nursing facilities, whose patients include people with Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as the elderly and seniors' assisted living".
"The groups combine music and occupational therapy, and I am also developing successful motivational music tapes for the specialised areas of Alzheimer's and dementia. This brings me enough income to record."
Certainly, recording has been an important component in Mr. Byron's artistic life, and he now has several albums to his credit. The first, an island tourist/environmental recorded in Bermuda, is entitled `Bermuda Island Spirit'. The second, `Yellow Bicycle Band', is a collection of original children's songs, recorded live with a Berklee School of Music band and 300 singing children, and his latest album, `American Campfires', also recorded live, has a song on it that is currently getting a lot of attention.
"The song is called the `Texas Campfire Song', and was co-written by myself with Sammy Lee Smith, a gospel songwriter and bandsman from Jacksonville, Texas," Mr. Byron says.
The two met by chance at a camper's festival for amateur and professional songwriters, and were paired up by chance to write a song together. Both men had already written a song each, so they combined the two, and the final version is the synthesis of subsequent reworking and fine-tuning.
"It took three years to complete, I've submitted it to some 30 competitions, and so far I have won 15 prizes," the singer says proudly. "In November I was one of 33,000 entrants in 15 categories in the USA Songwriting Competition held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I won a big monetary prize - my first - in the children's category, of all things, even though I wrote the song for adults. It went right to the top because it is family oriented and jubilant. It has also won prizes in folk and novelty categories."
In one of many coincidences in his life, one contest was held at the famous Club Passim in Harvard Square, Boston, which happens to be just three blocks from Mr. Byron's home, and where he occasionally performs.
"I deliberately positioned myself near this great place so I could could go in and out hearing great performers, and attending lectures at the Passim School of Music," he says. "Passim is the most famous café for singer-songwriters on the East Coast, and a grooming area for them. The likes of Stevie Goodman, Dylan, Rambling Jack Elliott, and Grammy winner Sean Colvin have all played there."
Another of Mr. Byron's songs, `Invisible Helper', was a pop hit, and `On Christmas Eve' was performed at evangelist Robert Schuller's Crystal Catheral in California. What makes the successes of `Yellow Bicycle Band' and `Texas Campfire Song' so significant, the composer says, is that they were not recorded in a high-tech studio but before live audiences.
"That is very unusual, and as a result I have travelled across the US fulfilling my goal of self-promotion. I am also on the internet (www.mp3.com/billybyron) and some of the friends I have made in my travels have visited my website and are now playing my songs," he says. "In addition, I have a mailing list to which I send my newsletter."
In fact, through his career as a singer/songwriter Mr. Byron has performed at major venues across the US, and beyond its shores. He has also given free concerts to benefit Save the Whales and similar causes, as well as fund-raisers for the homeless, disabled and support groups. In addition, he is an active volunteer and member/participan - The Royal Gazette (Bermuda)

April 3, 2006

Local talents find favour in Great American Song Contest
By Nancy Acton


----------------------------------------------

Bermuda has been put on the map not once but twice in the Great American Song Contest thanks to Billy Byron and Mathew Joseph, each of whom won recognition for their work.
Both won ‘Outstanding Achievement’ awards, Mr. Byron in the Country category for his ‘Texas Campfire Song’ which he co-wrote with American Sammy Lee, and Dr. Joseph in the instrumental category for his composition, ‘Kaliyug’.
Mr. Byron also placed in the ‘Honor Award’ winners list for his socio-political song, ‘Hey, Dr. King!’
“I’m so excited,” the songwriter said of his successes.
Seventeen hundred songwriters from around the world competed in the annual contest, which is designed to offer songwriters a positive alternative to the “big cash prize corporate contests”. All work must be in English, and there are nine songwriting categories in which to compete, including pop/adult contemporary, country, contemporary acoustic/folk, instrumental, R&B/hip-hop/rap, Christian/Gospel.
In addition to emphasising networking and educational benefits, multiple awards and practical prizes for songwriters, the Great American Song contest also ensures that all participants get a fair and thorough review from knowledgeable music-industry pros. Its multiple awards/practical prizes philosophy also helps songwriters to open doors in the music business.
Mr. Byron is a veteran entrant in many similar competitions, and has previously won recognition for his work.
Born William Watlington and raised in Bermuda, Mr. Byron – who holds degrees in psychology and occupational therapy – was a well-known figure on the local entertainment scene before moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts. As a professional entertainer/singer-songwriter and band leader, he performed in hotels, pubs, and at sea, both in Bermuda and abroad.
Today, he runs his own health service company, People Love Music, in Cambridge, Massachusetts which combines music and occupational therapies, among other related activities.
In addition, Mr. Byron continues to actively pursue his singer/songwriter career, performing in a broad range of venues, and also regularly competes in songwriting contests, which continue to earn him recognition and awards.
Dr. Joseph, a surgical officer at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, was raised in south western India, and first began playing the guitar and writing songs in his teens. In Bermuda he studies at the Bermuda School of Music with Steven Crawford, whom he describes as his “guide and friend”.
Dr. Joseph’s first album, ‘Firefly’, is an all-acoustic album which was recorded in 2004 and released to critical acclaim, including interviews on BBC radio and Power 95.
His Great American Song contest award is the latest in a series of awards for ‘Kaliyug’, a track from the ‘Firefly’ album. Earlier this year it also won the Billboard songwriting contest, and will be featured on the Billboard compilation CD which is circulated throughout the entire industry.
“‘Kaliyug’ refers to the ‘age of destruction’ we live in, and was written as an explosive instrumental track, featuring some fiery solos by Alex Coke on steel flute, Oliver Rajamani on tabla and dumbek, and Harry Miller on piano. It’s my favourite track from the ‘Firefly’ album because it really showcases their brilliant musicianship,” Dr. Joseph says.
Of his award in the Great American Songwriting contest, the musician says: “Success in a contest of this stature is always gratifying. It also provides exposure to the music industry because the judges are professionals actively involved in (it).”
Dr. Joseph scored and performed the music for Waterspout Theatre’s production of ‘The Tempest’, staged at Fort Hamilton last summer, and his composition, ‘Need to Rest’, performed with Bermudian singer Joy Barnum, opened the final night of the tenth annual Bermuda Music Festival. The guitarist/songwriter is currently producing and recording his next album, ‘Mathew Joseph and Friends’, to be released at this year’s local Guitar Festival in May.
For further information on the contest and awardees, see the following web sites: www.greatamericansong.com www.songramp.com/BillyByron www.mathewjoseph.com. - Royal Gazette (Bermuda)

Last modified: January 03. 2002 9:54 AM

A Voyage of Discovery

By Nancy Acton

From the days when fellow student Paul Muggleton, later of The Savages, surreptitiously passed him guitar chords in class, professional entertainer and singer Billy Byron has come a long way. Today, he not only writes his own chords, but composes and records award-winning songs.
The road to the top still stretches before him, and financially he cannot yet rely on music as his sole source of income, but some day he hopes to make it big. With that in mind, he leaves no stone unturned either creatively or professionally.
"I am aggressively pursuing a musical songwriting career, and I write everything - children's music, folk, rock...," he says.
Meanwhile, Mr. Byron also works two jobs in Massachusetts, where he makes his home. One is in Somerville Hospital, where he is an activity coordinator in the medical-psychiatric unit, and the other is running his own health service business, `People Love Music Company', which he founded a decade ago.
"At the hospital I am a motivational therapist trained in psychology and occupational therapy, with a little music therapy thrown in," he says. "I write my own songs, and the patients sing along to them, which helps them to do movement participation. When people move, it changes them metabolically and then mentally. The job is very intense and I work a 40-hour week."
He describes his company as one which is "basically in the field of therapeutic music groups for nursing facilities, whose patients include people with Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as the elderly and seniors' assisted living".
"The groups combine music and occupational therapy, and I am also developing successful motivational music tapes for the specialised areas of Alzheimer's and dementia. This brings me enough income to record."
Certainly, recording has been an important component in Mr. Byron's artistic life, and he now has several albums to his credit. The first, an island tourist/environmental recorded in Bermuda, is entitled `Bermuda Island Spirit'. The second, `Yellow Bicycle Band', is a collection of original children's songs, recorded live with a Berklee School of Music band and 300 singing children, and his latest album, `American Campfires', also recorded live, has a song on it that is currently getting a lot of attention.
"The song is called the `Texas Campfire Song', and was co-written by myself with Sammy Lee Smith, a gospel songwriter and bandsman from Jacksonville, Texas," Mr. Byron says.
The two met by chance at a camper's festival for amateur and professional songwriters, and were paired up by chance to write a song together. Both men had already written a song each, so they combined the two, and the final version is the synthesis of subsequent reworking and fine-tuning.
"It took three years to complete, I've submitted it to some 30 competitions, and so far I have won 15 prizes," the singer says proudly. "In November I was one of 33,000 entrants in 15 categories in the USA Songwriting Competition held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I won a big monetary prize - my first - in the children's category, of all things, even though I wrote the song for adults. It went right to the top because it is family oriented and jubilant. It has also won prizes in folk and novelty categories."
In one of many coincidences in his life, one contest was held at the famous Club Passim in Harvard Square, Boston, which happens to be just three blocks from Mr. Byron's home, and where he occasionally performs.
"I deliberately positioned myself near this great place so I could could go in and out hearing great performers, and attending lectures at the Passim School of Music," he says. "Passim is the most famous café for singer-songwriters on the East Coast, and a grooming area for them. The likes of Stevie Goodman, Dylan, Rambling Jack Elliott, and Grammy winner Sean Colvin have all played there."
Another of Mr. Byron's songs, `Invisible Helper', was a pop hit, and `On Christmas Eve' was performed at evangelist Robert Schuller's Crystal Catheral in California. What makes the successes of `Yellow Bicycle Band' and `Texas Campfire Song' so significant, the composer says, is that they were not recorded in a high-tech studio but before live audiences.
"That is very unusual, and as a result I have travelled across the US fulfilling my goal of self-promotion. I am also on the internet (www.mp3.com/billybyron) and some of the friends I have made in my travels have visited my website and are now playing my songs," he says. "In addition, I have a mailing list to which I send my newsletter."
In fact, through his career as a singer/songwriter Mr. Byron has performed at major venues across the US, and beyond its shores. He has also given free concerts to benefit Save the Whales and similar causes, as well as fund-raisers for the homeless, disabled and support groups. In addition, he is an active volunteer and member/participan - The Royal Gazette (Bermuda)

All you need is a good song: Bermudian Byron is finalist in Lennon competition
----------------------------------------------
By Nancy Acton

August 03. 2005
----------------------------------

Bermudian singer-songwriter Billy Byron has added yet another prize to his growing list of awards, this time as a finalist in the children’s section of the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for the composition,’The Texas Campfire Song’, which he wrote in conjunction with fellow songwriter Sammy Lee Smith.
The award, only recently announced, marks the third time Mr. Byron (born Francis Watlington) has been a winning finalist in the Lennon Contest, the two previous awards being for his compositions, ‘Stop that Cat’ and ‘Yellow Bicycle’.
This link with the late John Lennon is particularly meaningful to the entertainer because years ago, while employed by a Front Street store, he apparently missed by moments the celebrated Beatle during a shopping expedition for his wife, Yoko. Months later, John Lennon was dead.
Bermuda-born and raised, Mr. Byron’s association with music stretches back to his childhood when he learned to play piano, guitar, harmonica, bugle and drums.
Later, he studied at the North Shore Community College in the US, before returning home to become a professional entertainer/singer-songwriter and band leader, performing in hotels, pubs and other locales.
Mr. Byron, who holds degrees in psychology and occupational therapy, now lives in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts where his health service company, People Love Music, presents therapeutic music for seniors. He has also created motivational sing-along cassettes for the mentally handicapped.
As a professional musician, Mr. Byron – a distant cousin of actor Michael Douglas – continues to perform in Cambridge, and elsewhere, and is a frequent and successful entrant in songwriting contests.
His CDs include ‘Bermuda Island Spirit’ and ‘American Campfires Live’ as well as the children’s album, ‘The Yellow Bicycle Live!’ A Christmas single, ‘On Christmas Eve’, was played at The Hour of Power’s Crystal Cathedral to an audience of 20,000. Mr. Byron has also created a motivational music tape, ‘Hello Everybody’, which is used for therapeutic intervention by human service professionals. Further CD releases are imminent.
Further information related to Mr. Byron and his music can be found at the following websites:
www.bostonsongwriters.org/page4.htm , www.songramp.com/BillyByron www.coolsongs.us/nsai www.jlsc.com/winners/2004/finalists.php
Mr. Byron’s e-mail address is: bermudabillybyron@hotmail.com
- Nancy Acton

All you need is a good song: Bermudian Byron is finalist in Lennon competition
----------------------------------------------
By Nancy Acton

August 03. 2005
----------------------------------

Bermudian singer-songwriter Billy Byron has added yet another prize to his growing list of awards, this time as a finalist in the children’s section of the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for the composition,’The Texas Campfire Song’, which he wrote in conjunction with fellow songwriter Sammy Lee Smith.
The award, only recently announced, marks the third time Mr. Byron (born Francis Watlington) has been a winning finalist in the Lennon Contest, the two previous awards being for his compositions, ‘Stop that Cat’ and ‘Yellow Bicycle’.
This link with the late John Lennon is particularly meaningful to the entertainer because years ago, while employed by a Front Street store, he apparently missed by moments the celebrated Beatle during a shopping expedition for his wife, Yoko. Months later, John Lennon was dead.
Bermuda-born and raised, Mr. Byron’s association with music stretches back to his childhood when he learned to play piano, guitar, harmonica, bugle and drums.
Later, he studied at the North Shore Community College in the US, before returning home to become a professional entertainer/singer-songwriter and band leader, performing in hotels, pubs and other locales.
Mr. Byron, who holds degrees in psychology and occupational therapy, now lives in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts where his health service company, People Love Music, presents therapeutic music for seniors. He has also created motivational sing-along cassettes for the mentally handicapped.
As a professional musician, Mr. Byron – a distant cousin of actor Michael Douglas – continues to perform in Cambridge, and elsewhere, and is a frequent and successful entrant in songwriting contests.
His CDs include ‘Bermuda Island Spirit’ and ‘American Campfires Live’ as well as the children’s album, ‘The Yellow Bicycle Live!’ A Christmas single, ‘On Christmas Eve’, was played at The Hour of Power’s Crystal Cathedral to an audience of 20,000. Mr. Byron has also created a motivational music tape, ‘Hello Everybody’, which is used for therapeutic intervention by human service professionals. Further CD releases are imminent.
Further information related to Mr. Byron and his music can be found at the following websites:
www.bostonsongwriters.org/page4.htm , www.songramp.com/BillyByron www.coolsongs.us/nsai www.jlsc.com/winners/2004/finalists.php
Mr. Byron’s e-mail address is: bermudabillybyron@hotmail.com
- Nancy Acton

Billy Byron History:
"It's Harmony Between Singer, Pupils"
BYRON's Childrens Music * April 26, 1984|by SONIA CSENCSITS, The Morning Call

"Yellow, yellow, yellow," echoed through the Lehigh Elementary School last week as the pupils shouted to Billy Byron,

a singer-song writer from Bermuda. They were "telling" Byron that they wanted to hear "Yellow Bicycle," a song he wrote.

Byron was at the school to visit the students he got to know through their music teacherhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png Martha J. Schneider. Miss Schneider

met Byron while on a trip to Bermuda and liked his music so much she asked for sheets of music to take back with her to

Pennsylvania.

http://articles.mcall.com/images/pixel.gif
http://articles.mcall.com/images/pixel.gif
She taught the music to her students and they performed his songs during the annual spring concerthttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png several weeks ago.

Last week, Byron came to the schools courtesy of the PTAs and the Lehigh Township Lions Club. He performed a variety

of numbers, from the old Kingston Trio song "MTA" to the Phil Collinshttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png of Genesis "That's All" and Beatles "Yellow Submarine."

The youngsters knew the words to all of the songs. They sang along spiritedly and clapped their hands. For Byron's compositions, they recognized the song after only a few notes were played on the guitar.

Byron sang several selections from his album "Bermuda Island Spirit" including "Laugh at the Way You Are" and "Harvest of the Whales."

The album features sounds of the island. There are sounds of tree frogs, tropical birds, Bermuda kites, ocean waves, humpback whaleshttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png

and mopeds that can be heard in the background. Byron is a native Bermudian, whose roots go back 300 years.



He said he was "shocked" by the reaction of the childrenhttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png to his songs. Some of the music is 8 to 10 years old, he said. They sent him fan letters, tapes and pictures of their interpretations of his songs. Byron said "The children are showing me that I have some songs with a magic that sparks the kids into automatic participation. They evokes joy. This has been an enlightenment to me. I took some of the same songs and performed them for adults and they went over just as well. Yellow Bicycle is very therapeutic and uplifting. Basically that is my philosophy." He majored in psychology and English at West Virginia Wesleyan college.


He added "The notes I get from the kids tell me the songs are really a part of their lives. Many songs today are dehumanizing and make the youngsters hard core before their time. It kills their youth. They watch MTV, (the-24 hour video music television station) it is not censored.

Some of the songs are for adults. There is hard-core stuff going into their minds."

He added "The music business is ruthless. This is healthy and refreshing. It is therapeutic for me. The teachers are pleased and the teachers saw to it that the students had a healthy good timehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png."

Among the more popular songs during the concert was one titled "Lollypoppin' Scallawaggin' Ragamuffin Girl." But it was Yellow Bicycle that the students wanted to hear and sing.

And they did-twice. Byron joked with the youngsters, and asked them to sing along. He gave the students a Bermuda kite and an instruction book for making the kites. The kites he told the children, have "hummers" on them so as they soar, they make a humming noise. - The Morning Call

Mr Byron, who was born Francis Watlington, was a member of the Bermuda Island Spirit Band in the 1970s and 1980s.
Since 1986 he’s lived in Massachusetts, where he works as an occupational therapy assistant. He also has a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Music is part of the treatment he provides at Boston hospitals and nursing homes, through his company People Love Music.
He tries to tailor his music to his client’s background and age.
He sings, plays the piano, harmonica and guitar for patients. - The Royal Gazette