When I was about 7 years old we lived in Coolgardie W.A. and the circus was in town.  I went across the road to have a look at the animals and saw a man sitting on a stool outside a tent, singing, and playing an old guitar.

From memory I thought I heard someone say it was Dusty Rankin, maybe it was, I don't know.

But when I saw that,   I remember thinking "that's what I want to do".

All in all it took me 30 years to get around to doing it.

I bought my first guitar (a Fender) when I was 32 but didn't learn to play until I was about 36.

In 1981 I met a couple of blokes, Ted Nash, and Jim Harris and with 10 other people we formed the Coastal Country Music Club, Bunbury W.A.  My musical career started to take off.

With the help of other musicians like the Hall family, Tony Smith,  ( brilliant guitarist ) I learned to play my guitar ---pick 'n' strum -- just like Slim Dusty, Buddy Williams, Chad Morgan and the like. By mid 1982 I was playing country music in the Burlington Hotel in Bunbury on Wednesdays for $50 for 4 hours.

Through the music club I met Bev (bass player)  and she took me off to Perth to the Manning Hotel talent quest, which I won and the prize was a trip to Esperance and the state finals (I got third).  After that we worked as a duo throughout the state over holidays and weekends.

Each time we went to Albany for a gig we would run a class for anyone who wanted to learn, or fine tune their musical talents, Bev would teach microphone technique and I would give guitar and songwriting lessons. The talent out there is absolutely great and I can recommend others to get involved with up and coming talent.  Some young people are too shy to ask for advice so maybe you should ask them if they need help.  I know I was very shy when I first started out but with the right encouragement from people I did prevail, to a degree,

We travelled to Broome, Kalgoorlie, Albany, Perth and most places between as “Double B Country". We also acquired other people into our band.

I went to Tamworth in 1981 and again in 1986 and played solo at busking, and also walkups around the town venues.

I moved to S.A. in 1994 and played around the country pubs and restaurants.. At the moment I am working 4 mornings a week as a volunteer and play and sing at a nursing home on Mondays.

It would be good to do serious duo or band work again, Future plans?  Well—I would still like to tour around Australia.  Next year maybe…

Harmony, rhythmn guitar, Lead vocals andsongwriter.

in 2015 living in Perth
mob 0419 847 829  billdavies@sa.chariot.net.au