Bill J Oliver - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I've been in bands since 1973 but have been a solo artist since 1984. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1989 and have done very little live performance since do to increasing disability. However, I have continued to record and have done independent releases every few years. I've had a website (www.billjoliver.com) since 2002 which now contains 55 songs... all of which are free to down load. The songs range from my first 7 inch-45 RPM-vinyl single in 1981 to my 2006 CD "Strictly Pavement".I have many influences as a song writer/producer and this is reflected in my "scatter gun" approach to genera. For the most part when I write: music, lyrics, and basic production come to me simultaneously. Of course, for much of the time absolutely nothing happens... simultaneously!!!I've always loved the work of John Lennon because we share very diverse musical tastes. The late Mr. Lennon referred to: Rock 'n' Roll, Soul, Pop & Country as "Folk Music"... I heartily agree. I view Rock, Pop, Rap, and Country in the same way. It's all about the beat , my friends. It's all about the beat!!!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/28/2006
Band Website: billjoliver.com
Band Members: I've had a lot of help in my "solo" work. Most notably: Bill Park (studio engineer/musician), Jeff & Mark Hoffman (bass & drums), Ed Masley (guitars), Erin Snyder (bass/cello), Bob Wagner (guitars), Don "Juan" Roehlick (saxes), Paul Shook (guitars), Brook Duer (bass), Mike Bowen (lead guitar), Mike Marcinko (bass), Daryl Fleming (lead guitar), Tim Riser (guitar), and many more.My bands were: BLUE COLLAR (Mike Halyko-bass & vocals, Nick Blodis & Dennis Johnson-drums, Bill J-guitars & vocals), RIP IT UP! (Bob Wagner-guitars & vocals, Gerry Wason-bass, Darrly Jackson-drums, Bill J-guitars & vocals) and HARD! (Darrly Jackson-drums, Jeff Thornton-bass, Bill J- Guitars & vocals) The Colour Of Your Dreams [studio only] (Smith Hutching-bass & vocals, Mike Quinlan-drums, Bill J-guitars, vocals, keyboards) .
Influences: John Lennon/Beatles, Bowie, The Clash, Bob Dylan, Stones, Public Image Ltd, Roy Orbison, Yoko Ono, The Who, Gang Of Four, Kinks, Velvet Underground, Bob Marley, The Band, Eddy Cochran, Chuck Berry, Kool & The Gang, Iggy Pop, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bing Crosby, Desmond Dekker, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Al Green, Funkadelic, Grand Master Flash, Neil Young, Husker Du, Nas, Nate Dog, The Isley Brothers, The Everly Brothers, Santo & Johnny, Raveonettes, Cream, Radio Head, Buddy Holly, Blind Faith, Gene Vincent, Sly & The Family Stone, Jimmy Cliff, Chrissie Hynde, Van Morrison, Creedence, Little Feat, Captain Beefheart, The Knickerbockers, Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Outkast, Patti Smith, Santana, War, Bonnie Raitt, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Blow, The Jam, Return To Forever, The Faces, Hendrix, The Hives, The Supremes, Elmore James, Duane Allman, Jerry Douglas, Doc Watson, Little Richard, Elvis, Carl Perkins, Traffic, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Billy Preston, Toots and the Maytals, Joni Mitchel, Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Chic, The Gore Gore Girls, Buddy Guy, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Brian Ferry, Queens Of The Stone Age, Curtis Mayfield, The Rutles, Patti Smith, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Cliff, Violent Femmes, T-Rex, Irving Berlin, X , etc..
Sounds Like: Kinks, Bowie, Lennon, or none of the above... hard to categorize!!!
Record Label: SIRREEL Music
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

ELVIS ARON PRESLEY: born January 8th, 1935

I just wanted to remind everybody that January 8th is Elvis's birthday!!! Elvis was not some creation of media consultants... although I'm sure they wish they'd come up with the idea ...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:51:00 PST

WAR IS OVER (if you want it)...

"WAR IS OVER (if you want it)" was the theme of John & Yoko Ono Lennon's 1969 world wide anti-war ad campaign. As I understand their meaning, war will end when the people of the world "want it" ba...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:55:00 PST

SIRREEL in CHICAGO

Part One &n...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:29:00 PST

DECEMBER 1980...

I'm don't quite remember what all I did on Monday December 8th, 1980!!! I went to work at 7AM with my dad (Johnny) as a Steamfitter at Power Piping's fabrication shop (in Manchester on P...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:15:00 PST

I wanna take you there... Christmas Eve 1985.

"When I was young life was so much easier."... On Christmas Eve 1985 I was walking past the "Towers" dorms of The University of Pittsburgh and heard a rustling in the hedge row. There in the ve...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:04:00 PST

REMEMBRANCE

On the Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day... On November 11th, 1929 my maternal grandfather was laid to rest in Brooklyn NY with full military honors... complete with caisson and "riderless horse" tha...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:43:00 PST

Terry was a Flight Attendant on UNITED 93 until August 31st, 2001...

This time of year always makes me think of my old friend Terry. I met him at a bar on my block called Chief's Cafe were he worked as a part-time bar tender. After two tours of duty as an Air Force MP;...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 03:59:00 PST

Brother Golden

In August of 1984 a very young adult male Golden Eagle came to South Western Pennsylvania (north from West Virginia?) looking for his own territory. He made it all the way up to Pittsburgh & actua...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Wed, 02 May 2007 01:35:00 PST

My thoughts on Multiple Sclerosis

&n...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 01:51:00 PST

A brush with fame.

&n...
Posted by Bill J Oliver on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 08:42:00 PST