Billy Bean (musician)

Career

Bean was born into a musical family in Philadelphia. His mother played the piano. His father was an amateur singer and guitarist, and his sister was a professional singer. He started on guitar at the age of twelve.

His father taught him some of the basics on guitar before he received lessons from Howard Herbert. Then he studied for about one year with Dennis Sandole. During the late 1940s and 1950s, he performed at venues in the Philadelphia area. In the mid-1950s, he moved to New York City and recorded with Charlie Ventura and Red Callender, and in 1958 he moved to Los Angeles to record for Decca Records. In Los Angeles, he worked with Buddy Collette, Paul Horn, John Pisano, Bud Shank, Milt Bernhart, Les Elgart, Herb Geller, Lorraine Geller, Calvin Jackson, and Zoot Sims.

In October, 1959, Bean returned to New York City after accepting Tony Bennett's offer to join his band. He remained with Bennett's band for less than one year. Hal Gaylor, who had been Bennett's bassist, decided to put together a trio with Bean and pianist Walter Norris; they called themselves The Trio and recorded an album for Riverside Records in 1961. Gaylor said that the trio had great difficulty in finding work and disbanded shortly after recording. Bean performed with Stan Getz, Herbie Mann, and John Lewis, recording albums with Mann and Lewis. He returned to his hometown of Philadelphia, retiring in 1986.

Discography

With Charlie Ventura

With Red Callender

With John Pisano

With Paul Horn

With Fred Katz

With Zoot Sims

With Buddy DeFranco

With Bud Shank

With Hal Gaylor and Walter Norris

With Herbie Mann

With John Lewis