Billy Jenkins

Billy Jenkins (born 5 July 1956, Bromley, Kent) is a blues guitarist, composer, and bandleader.

Initially Jenkins became famous as a member of Burlesque, then as part of Trimmer & Jenkins. A short period followed as a member of Ginger Baker's Nutters. For several years, he was the Rigsby of Greenwich, running Wood Wharf Studios by day. He mixed this with work on his own VOTP Records and leading the Voice Of God Collective, a group which included many of the best young players of its time, such as Iain Ballamy, Django Bates, Steve Watts, Ashley Slater, and other members of the group Loose Tubes. The band released several scathing commentaries on suburban life such as Sounds Like Bromley and Uncommerciality.

In the 1990s, Billy Jenkins recorded several albums on Oliver Weindling's Babel Label and led some fabled seasons at the Vortex Jazz Club. He is now best known as a blues guitarist and commentator de nos jours. He is also the captain of Francis Drake bowls club on Hilly Fields, Lewisham. He masterminded a successful season of live music to accompany the 2006 FIFA World Cup at the Vortex Jazz Club.

In the mid 1990's Billy and his band The Blues Collective took part in a spoof documentary entitled "A Virus Called The Blues (Documentary)" produced and directed by Craig Duncan.

See also

* The Oxcentrics jazz band
* Voice Of God Collective

External links

* [http://www.billyjenkins.com/ Billy Jenkins website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/billyjenkins Billy Jenkins' MySpace page]
* [http://www.babellabel.co.uk/ Babel Label website]
* [http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/ Vortex website]