Music
Press
Stella Tzobanakis
18Feb08
POINT COOK local and rising country music star Billy Bridge will release the first single off his new album later this month.
The talented musician, who grew up in Altona, said the single Everything I Needed to Say was about visiting his father's grave for the first time since he passed away from motor neurone disease in 1998.
His dad was Jack Bridge, a well-known local musician and a ``one-man band'' as Billy describes him.
``The song was written a while ago but it has taken me a while to be able to sing it,'' said Bridge, 39.
``It's very, very personal.
``I wrote it in about 2004 and I went through a lot of changes in my life back then.
``The song is about my first visit back to the gravesite.
``When I was there I poured my heart out to him. It was quite cathartic.
``I sang the song to my family and they all bawled and so did I.
``It's one of those songs that's quite personal and from my heart, but I'm sure other people will relate to it.''
The song release will coincide with a video clip, filmed in and around Altona and to be played on the Country Music Channel on Foxtel from later this month.
The release will also tie in with a fundraising event for the Motor Neurone Disease Association at the Pascoe Vale RSL on Friday, February 29.
The song is from Bridge's fifth album Doin' OK which was recorded by his friend, Andrew Rigo, at his home studio in Sunshine.
The album, launched at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, is totally self-funded and will also be released in the US.
Working hard at what he loves to do has also seen Bridge named as a finalist in the Australian Country Music Awards and winning the Independent Rising Star Male category at the Independent Country Music Awards of Australia.
Bridge has also been named the Victorian Entertainer of the Year at the Victorian Country Music Awards.
His music is now heard in over 20 countries including the US, France, Belgium, Austria, Lithuania and even Romania's Transylvania region, which he describes as ``pretty special''.
``It's a lot of hard work.
``I don't have a manager but I have the support of a few sponsors,'' he said. ``It's hard but you do it because you love it.
``And you get to see the country as well. I just love it.
``Country music's a good family environment because people adopt you almost. It's a really positive environment.''
By day Bridge works full-time as a computer administrator to support his ``music habit.''
And to what ultimate end?
``I'd love to go to Nashville, I haven't been yet, and one of my biggest dreams is for someone to record something of mine.
``Maybe Alan Jackson or someone like that; that'd be cool.''
For more information about Billy Bridge, visit www.billybridge.com
- Hobsons Bay Leader
Discography
2001 Lonely, Lonely Town - EP (6 Tracks)
2003 Post-It note Proposal - Album (12 Tracks)
2004 Hillbilly Heat and Friends - Album (13 Tracks)
2005 Dad's Songbook - Album (12 Tracks)
2008 - Doin' OK - Album (15 tracks)
Photos
Bio
Over the past few years Billy has enjoyed enormous success on the country music circuit in Australia and overseas. He won the Rising star Male in the 2003 independent country music awards of Australia and in 2004 was a top 4 finalist in the Male Vocal section he was also a top 5 finalist in the 2004 Golden Guitar's for Best New Talent. In 2005 he was named Entertainer of the Year at the Victorian and National Country Music Awards. His debut Album "Post-It Note Proposal" had 3 singles released and each single had chart success and major airplay in Australia and overseas. His music is now heard in over 20 countries. He has toured extensively both here and overseas performing at major festivals such as Tamworth, the Toyota Gympie Muster and the Mildura country music festival. Included in this was a 4 ½ month performance stint at the Taj Corramandel Hotel in Chennai, India. he is currently endorsed by Yamaha guitars and is a sought after performer at major events all around Australia and overseas. He was raised on a small farm outside of Moe in eastern Victoria. The youngest of 4 children, He grew up listening to his father sing the songs of Hank Williams, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers and Jim Reeves. For as long as he can remember, music has been a part of his life. Growing up in a musical family meant that music was never far away. His new Album “Doin’ OK” was released at the Tamworth country Music festival in 2008 and has already received rave reviews from country music listeners and media. The first single released in Febuary 2008 "Everything I Needed to say" is a major highlight of a great album. So make sure you check out this country music star on the rise.
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