Years active 1980s-present Website reverendbilly.com | Name Reverend C. | |
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Origin Aiken, South Carolina, United States Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, comedian Role Musician · facebook.com/revbilly88 Movies Billy C. Wirtz: Sermon from Bethlehem Albums Deep Fried and Sanctified, Backslider's Tractor Pull, A Turn for the Wirtz Confessions of a Hillbilly Love-God Genres Rock music, Blues, Country Similar People Victor Wainwright, Root Boy Slim, Sunnyland Slim, JW‑Jones, Kenny Neal | ||
Education James Madison University | ||
LRBC 21 The Reverend Billy C. Wirtz -- Stairway to Freebird-LOOKOUT!, Grandma's Behind the Wheel
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz (born William McLean Wirths in 1954, Aiken, South Carolina, United States) is an American blues musician, comedian and writer. His material consists of comedy routines set to music.
Contents
- LRBC 21 The Reverend Billy C Wirtz Stairway to Freebird LOOKOUT Grandmas Behind the Wheel
- Biography
- Music
- Singles
- Albums
- References
Biography
His father worked for the United States Atomic Energy Commission, his mother was a writer and sociologist who worked to reform the police department. His family moved to Washington, D.C. when he was eight years old.
The comedy album boom of the early 1960s was a significant influence, particularly Allan Sherman's My Son, The Folksinger. He started playing guitar at ten, and played in covers bands in his early teens. Working at the Waxie Maxie's Record Store helped broaden his taste, discovering the blues, as well as jazz and gospel. Wirtz developed a friendship with blues piano legend Sunnyland Slim who invited him to Chicago in June, 1979. He began his career as a solo artist in 1981. In 1982, he recorded his first album, Salvation Through Polyester, on No Big Deal Records. His song "Teenie Weenie Meanie", described as "a tasteful vignette about a midget lady wrestler" led to a six-month-long contract as a "Manager" with Professional Wrestling From Florida (PWF). While there he worked with Dennis "Median" Knight, The Nasty Boys, Gigolo Jimmy Backlund, and Dallas Page. Twelve years later, he returned to Professional Wrestling with a three month stint on WTBS Monday Nitro.
The Nashville Network, USA Network and NBC have showcased Wirtz's talents, along with nationwide morning radio shows. Similarly, "Waffle House Fire" has been featured on XM Radio's Channel 151, Laugh USA. Wirtz performs concerts and teaches workshops on blues and gospel music.
He created a humorous church known as The First House Of Polyester Worship and Horizontal Throbbing Teenage Desire, and Our Lady Of The White Go-Go Boot, Lord Of The 40-Watt Undulating Bubbling Lava Lamp Apocalyptic, No Pizza Take-Out After Twelve, Shrine Of The Rick Flair ‘WOOOO’, Rasslin' Jeezus.
In 2008, Circumstantial Productions published Wirtz's first book, Sermons & Songs, edited by Richard Connolly. In September 2012, Wirtz published his second book, Red Headed Geek with Holy Macro Books.
He is divorced and lives in Florida. As of 2014, he hosts a radio program on WMNF, Tampa.
Music
In 1990, his album Backslider's Tractor Pull won an award for Comedy Album of the Year by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors. Found on that album is perhaps his parody of the all-American icon, Waffle House.
On his album Unchained Maladies, he covered Tom Lehrer's "I Hold Your Hand In Mine".