As a young 14-year-old boy Billy Yantz kicked off his musical career and became intrigued with the guitar. Billy actually learned how to sing by resting his ear on his Victrola with a 3" built-in speaker and listening to his sister's records. He dreamed of one day being able to play in a band and actually perform in shows. Little did he know then that his dream would come true.In the summer of 1964 Billy and his best friends Pat O'Brien and Doug Hawley, formed the first group to ever come out of Vergennes, the "Galaxies." The group was completed when Fred Chamberlin, from New Haven, became their drummer. They practiced relentlessly; built their repertoire and soon made their first professional appearance at The Weeks School "Halloween Dance" of 1964, and were paid $25.That's when things really started to take off for the "Galaxies;" soon they were being hired to play at different school dances and local venues like the Bristol & Middlebury Town Hall, Parish Hall & Armory in Vergennes. With their popularity growing quickly, they were soon traveling all over Vermont. Pat O'Brien's father, Cliff, knew Bobby Lavigne, the lead guitar player for the Thunderbolts, very well. Bobby, Jim Ricker, bass player and Mark Chapman, the drummer, came to Vergennes to mentor the young "Galaxies" with their arrangements and harmonies. The seasoned professional Thunderbolts were quite impressed with the potential of the "Galaxies" and like big brothers, took them "under their wings." The Thunderbolts even played a number of different engagements with "Galaxies" to help them along; one of which was at the Vergennes Armory in April 1965. The "Thunderbolts" hard work with the "Galaxies" was about to pay off. In May, 1965, the "Galaxies" entered into WDOT's "Battle of the Bands" at the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington and WON FIRST PLACE.In the summer of 1966, The Vistas, another one of Vermont's first and most popular bands from the 60's, recruited Billy as their lead singer and bass player, playing 6 nights a week throughout the summer all over Vermont. The Vistas open for many touring recording artists such as the Beach Boys, the Zombies & Searchers from Liverpool, Outsiders, Shadows of The Night, and the McCoys. The Vistas continued their immense popularity in Vermont up until their final show at the Hullabaloo Club on Williston Road in South Burlington, in 1969.Billy loved his days playing in bands throughout Vermont during the music explosion of the 60's. Recently, upon returning to Vermont to visit his family, he met up with John LaFlam, who convinced Billy to come back and play the music he loves – again - to the people he loved and where he got his start, right here in Vermont. Billy asked John to manage the details of bookings and Billy immediately started compiling his music. John immediately set up two appearances at the Naked Turtle in Plattsburgh for his return debut during the 4th of July holiday 2007.Now, playing back in Vermont, like the days of old, Billy is playing the songs he loves, and the ones we loved hearing him play, in a fresh, new acoustic tribute to the songs of the "British Invasion". So, keep your eyes looking in the direction of Billy's next show; he sounds even better than before. If you heard Billy back in the day, well, you will be thrilled all over again; If you hear him for the first time, you will see why he was loved by many and deserves to be called, one of Vermont's pioneers of modern music."Galaxies" Reunion Concert, Vergennes Opera House, Jan 10, 2009
..
..
