Growing up, Billy played many instruments, but eventually settled on guitar. He also plays a pretty mean blues harp (harmonica). As a youngster, Billy traveled often to the island of Bermuda where his musical style was influenced by the legendary calypso band, “The Talbot Brothers”, as well as reggae artists like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.
Billy attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
After college, Billy moved to Los Angeles where he honed his skills and learned the ropes playing in rock, dance and R&B clubs in LA and the western US. Eventually this led to work as a session musician and gigs with some top artists such as Edgar Winter, Maxine Nightingale and the Australian superstar, Kate Ceberano.
Billy is married to the beautiful, amazing singer and actress Vikki Lorentzen, with whom they have a son, Matt Lorentzen, an in-demand Los Angeles keyboardist, bassist, arranger and composer.
Billy plays and sings all over the Tampa Bay area, from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs to St Petersberg, specializing in rock, reggae, calypso, blues, Latin and jazz (you call that “specializing”?)
Billy plays Tom Smith, John Buscarino and Ibanez guitars, and Lee Oskar harmonicas.