Billy Stapleton ~ Blues Guitarist and "The Curator of Cool"

I met Billy when I went to watch the band "Little Bill and the Blue Notes" play. I had just recently finished a painting of Little Bill and Billy is the guitarist in this vastly entertaining group. After the wonderful show that night I enthusiastically asked if he would sit for a portrait and he graciously agreed.

We really didn’t have a concept ahead of time of what character we would have for his photo op but as we talked it became clear that guitars would have to be a part of it. Billy is an avid guitar aficionado and has AMAZING skills! He gave me quite the education in this department and I enjoyed listening to his life story. It became clear that this guy is the definition of cool, thus leading me the title for his photo, "The Curator of Cool".

Billy was born and raised in the San Francisco area and came of age in the 1960’s. His first instrument was an accordion which he began lessons on at age 7 but he quickly moved onto guitar. As a teen he worked in a music store and belonged to the typical boyhood bands. This gave him plenty of exposure to the emerging music scene of the times. He frequented all the local concerts bringing him into contact with a vast array of bands and personalities many of which became legends. 

Billy regaled me with fascinating stories of rubbing elbows with the likes of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. I was particularly smitten with the story he told of getting backstage with a $10 bribe to see Jimi. Once there he was star struck and couldn’t move from the doorway into the room. Jimi noticed and grabbed a coke and brought it to Billy with hand outstretched in welcome. Billy was certain that nothing but garbled noise escaped his mouth!

Billy’s website is chock full of fascinating stories and information. Check out his Guitar Stories for sure! Little Bill and the Bluenotes, the band he is part of, was just honored with the Washington Blues Society’s “Best Traditional Blues Band” award and a schedule of their gigs is listed here. If you live in the Puget Sound region you gotta go see ‘em!