Billy D William (born William A. Martin Jr.) is a self taught singer, songwriter, producer, musician from Baltimore, MD. Although he is strongly influenced by Funk, Jazz, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Latin and Afrobeat his first love was actually Gospel. His personal musical style often creates a hybrid of many of these genera's. In addition to his soulful singing voice, Billy also plays the guitar, harmonica & dejembe.
In 2005, under Stay Humble Music, he released his first full length LP "Lessons" as a member of The Big Hurt. That album currently has sales in Australia, Japan, Canada, The US and all over Europe. In July of 2011, he released his second album "Superheavy" along with his band mates in The 8 ohms. That record had sales in the US and overseas as well. His current musical venture Fake Flowers Real Dirt is a mix of generas from Funk, Soul and Free-Form Jazz to Breakbeat, Jungle and Drum n' Bass. Their first EP has generated sales all over the US and abroad. The band is currently in the studio working their second EP. Throughout his career, Billy has performed on bills with national artists such as G. Love & Special Sauce, Toot's and the Maytals, Galactic, Cypress Hill, Kanye West, Matisyahu, Rise Against, Panic! at The Disco, The Misfits, Long Beach Shortbus (Sublime & Long Beach Dub All Stars), Biz Markie, Papadosio, Ozomatli, Chuck Brown, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Jimmie's Chicken Shack, The Hackensaw Boys, Orgone, Days of the New, The Pietasters, Marky Ramone, L.A. Guns, Foghat and Kix. Additionally, Billy is one of the Worship Leaders at LifePoint Church in Reisterstown, MD.
"Fake Flowers Real Dirt combines a mixture of old school funk with a
contemporary sound on their self titled, four song EP release. This nine
piece band lays down a serious foundation of grooves, through the use
of driving bass lines, thick keyboard patches, and funky horn stabs, as
they twist and turn their way through a myriad of styles and
tempos..... With their new self titled EP release, Fake Flowers Real Dirt
has put themselves on the map as one of Baltimore’s most promising
up and coming bands to watch." - Scott Paddock of Mobtown Music
Guide
"Love it! It's like someone made a perfectly good stew, and then
someone slipped in a spoon of hot sauce!" - Neci of HFS 97.5
"Throughout time and also space, funk permeates our universe, from
the groove to the jams; funk may sometimes be invisible, but
undeniable
Read more
"Fake Flowers Real Dirt combines a mixture of old school funk with a
contemporary sound on their self titled, four song EP release. This nine
piece band lays down a serious foundation of grooves, through the use
of driving bass lines, thick keyboard patches, and funky horn stabs, as
they twist and turn their way through a myriad of styles and
tempos..... With their new self titled EP release, Fake Flowers Real Dirt
has put themselves on the map as one of Baltimore’s most promising
up and coming bands to watch." - Scott Paddock of Mobtown Music
Guide
"Love it! It's like someone made a perfectly good stew, and then
someone slipped in a spoon of hot sauce!" - Neci of HFS 97.5
"Throughout time and also space, funk permeates our universe, from
the groove to the jams; funk may sometimes be invisible, but
undeniable. Fake Flowers Real Dirt are the real deal, no two ways
about it. This group, and the inevitable changes that come with a large
band, do a splendid job of carrying on the funk tradition" - Molly
Shores / Shutter 16 Magazine
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