Sounds Like:
ELVIS PRESLEY, Roy Orbison, Dion and the Belmonts, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry
Label:
Independent
Manager:
Billy, DH Events & Entertainment
Bio:
A little country twang, some southern Delta blues mixed with sweet gospel harmonies creates a dazzling potion that will start your toes tapping, and your heart racing! Billy and The Rockets is Rockabilly/Do-Wop styled the way it was meant to be played, then wrapped in a show that pleases the entrie family!
Performance:
We happily perform at weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, holiday parties corporate events, conventions, educational seminars school classes, memorials, civic clubs, etc.
Prices for our exciting “Rock’n’Roll Revival” vary depending upon the amount of sound equipment needed, and distance traveled.
The Rock’A’Billy Boys in the Band
BILL Rock’a’Billy COLEMAN:
Performing as a professional entertainer since 1973, Billy made up half of the popular Northwest folk/rock recording duo, “Blackhawk County.” Their 1976 hit single, “Oregon (I Can’t Go Home)” brought national recognition to the plight of JoAnn McDaniels, a political prisoner held in Turkey for nine years. As a diverse single entertainer he continues to perform in some of the Northwest’s most popular resorts and clubs. Following his interest in 19th century American history he, with wife Carla, produced five CD collections and toured nationally performing their four original stage presentations based upon the Civil War. In addition to the “Rockets,” Bill has organized a traditional country band, “Bronco Billy” and plays with Gospel combinations with some of the area’s finest musicians.
KEN Mr. Bassman OSCHNER:
Ken started his bass career playing the tuba in The Salem Pops Orchestra, The Chehalem Valley Orchestra, and The Newberg Community Band. About 1993 he taught himself to play the bass fiddle, and the electric bass. He has recorded with some of the northwest’s finest musicians including: The Capitol City Jazz Band, Dr. Jazz and the Interns, and the Bourbon Street Band. His driving Rockabilly stand up bass provides a solid foundation to the Rockets!
Barry Saxy Man Benson:
The most recent addition to the Rockets, Barry brings his jazz influenced saxophone to spice up the mix. A background of traditional jazz serves his playing very, very well. Hear Barry shine on songs like “Tequila,” “Yakety Yak,” and steamy love songs like “In the Still of the Night,” “Fly Me To the Moon,” or our own, “Looking For What I Find.”
Mike Cross – Drums and Vocals
Mike learned his chops at the tender age of 14 playing guitar along side his dad and 8th grade science teacher at the Evergreen Hotel in Cashmere, WA near Wenatchee. In and out of several high school and church bands, he switched to drums through the early ’70’s and ’80’s in the Portland dinner club scene with a pop/jazz oriented three piece called “The Best of Friends.” After a 20 year hiatus in which he formed a successful awning business, Mike has returned to the music scene dividing his time between playing guitar and singing with the 13 piece blues band, “Pin & the Horn-its,” and drumming and singing with the “Rockets.”