Billy Raphael, Musician/Actor/ Vocalist

I was born feb 29th, 1972 in New York City. Spent my childhood running through the woods pretending i was swashbuckling, dragonslaying, combat comando, in the small NY suburb of Rockland County. When I was eleven in 1983 my family and I moved to Palm Desert California. It was at Palm Desert Middle School where I discovered my love for acting and performing for an audience. At PDMS I performed in several school plays such as Up the Down Staircase, Cheaper by the Dozen, Lefty in Heaven Can Wait, & as Injun Joe in Tom Sawyer. Upon graduating from Jr. High I was awarded the most valuable theater award in 1986. Moving on to Palm Springs High School I became heavily involved with the theater dept. I performed in many productions including Sugar, Luke in Lady Audley's Secret, Jabberwock, Billy Einhorn in House of Blue Leaves, See how they Run, Our Town, and as Doody in Grease. When I graduated in 1990 i recd the Outstanding Thespian Award and the award for best supporting actor for my performance in Grease. During my high school years I picked up the guitar and played in several Garage bands like the House & Just Cross.Moving then to attend College of the Desert I performed in COD's productions of The Twelth Night, Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, and the Wizard of Oz. I was also performing in several Desert bands such as Spiral Agnew, Parallel U, and Los Feces.In 1993 I moved to San Diego to attend UCSD where I recd my BA in history in 1996 and also that year performed in UCSD's production of Anything Goes as one of the Sailor Quartet. I Started off playing bass in a UCSD trio called Riveter and released an CD called the ant farm murders. In 1995 joined The Little Jimmies as the guitar player and released a CD called Somewhere, Something, maybe. Then moved on to a swing ska funk band the Pimp Symphony and recorded a CD called Too Drunk to Funk. After that band broke up I started a new band with Billy King called Lighter. Durring the 5 year life span of that band we released 2 cds Vitamin Girl & Here We Go Again. I played bass for Campaign for Quiet and recorded 2 CDs with them. During these San Diego years I have opened for acts including Whitesnake, Cyprus Hill, Real Big Fish, Weird Al Yankovic, The Black Eyed Peas, and the English Beat. Done studio work for local bands Blizzard & Decompression. Written Jingles for 91x and have done guitar work for Playboy's Plamate Marketa Janska. I just finished working on a solo EP with Louis XIV's Jason Hill due out sometime in 2008. During my years in San Diego I learned several instruments. Here is a list of instruments that i play; Guitar, Bass & upright, Sitar, Bagpipes, Accordion, harmonica, bouzouki. mandolin, banjo, jew harp, piano/keys/organs, and many random percussive toys! ive worked on several indie film soundtracks such as Ramble On Productions ' Rabbit Head, Pico Del Gallo, Spitfire Cafe, & Gnome Creek.During the summer of 2007 I moved back to Palm Desert to act, recently performed as Orgon in Tartuffe the Bouncer in the Eight Reindeer Monologues and Happy Elf in Snow Flake and the Seven Elves. Currently working on a score for and indie Zombie film. I have also made it to the semi finals of the Open Call Talent Contest at the Bob Hope Cultural Center for my vocal performance of Luck Be a Lady. I just recently performed as Peter Sorin in The Seagull and as Ben Hasbad the very well known costumier in the Grand Duke. My next acting performance will be in a performance art rendition of Shel Silverstien Poems, Where the Sidewalk Ends on May 22nd. I will also be competing with 2 of my original compositions in COD's 1st annual talent contest May 30th, @ Pollock Theater.