Billy Gilman

Infobox musical artist


Name = Billy Gilman
|Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = William Wendell Gilman III
Born = birth date and age|1988|5|24
Origin = Hope Valley, Rhode Island, United States
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Country
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 2000-present
Label = Epic
Image Entertainment
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.billygilman.com Official site]

Billy Gilman (born William Wendell Gilman III, May 24, 1988) is an American country music singer-songwriter. In 2000, at the age of 11, he debuted with the single "One Voice," a Top 20 hit on the "Billboard" country music charts; twelve years old at the time of the single's release, he became the youngest singer to chart a Top 40 hit on the country music charts. An album of the same name was released later that year, and was certified platinum in the United States.

Although he has not charted a single since 2001, Gilman has continued to record. His most recent album, a self-titled disc, was released in 2006.

Early life

Born William Wendell Gilman on May 24, 1988, in Westerly, Rhode Island, he was raised outside Providence in the tree-lined neighborhoods of Hope Valley. And he grew up listening to Tammy Wynette, George Jones and Eddy Arnold -- the records his grandparents played.

His mother and father, while delighted with their son's gift and supportive of his efforts from the start, were not stage-struck parents hovering in the wings and egging him on. Through a series of introductions, Ray Benson, of the legendary Asleep at the Wheel, became one of Gilman's guiding lights. Benson recorded a demo with Gilman in Austin, Texas, and then introduced him to the Nashville scene. Benson also featured him in some of his shows.

He earned a standing ovation at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2000, his first major media exposure. When his debut single "One Voice" entered the Billboard chart, he edged out Brenda Lee to become the youngest person ever to have a song on the magazine's Country Singles Chart. The album One Voice was certified platinum (for selling a million copies) in September 2000, less than three months after its release.

Gilman released a second album, Classic Christmas, in October 2000 and saw it certified gold (for sales of 500,000) before the year was out. In May 2001, less than three weeks before his thirteenth birthday, Gilman's record company issued his third album, Dare to Dream.

Music Through Heartsongs, a collaboration with young poet Mattie J. T. Stepanek, was issued in 2003. Gilman, whose voice had changed by this point, and Sony Music parted ways shortly thereafter.

Career

At 8, he attracted the attention of a local vocal coach, Angela Bacari, who later became his manager. He met and worked with Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) who helped record demos, including "Roly Poly". He was then signed to Sony Music Nashville. Shortly before his debut album was released, Billy sang "Roly Poly" with Asleep at the Wheel at the ACM awards on May 8, 2000. This was Billy's first televised performance. The performance earned Billy a standing ovation.

Billy's first single, "One Voice" was released on May 20, 2000 and quickly rose to #1 on the Billboard Country Singles Sales Chart, staying there for 5 weeks.

On June 20, 2000, Billy's debut album, also named "One Voice" was released. When the album was certified Gold by the RIAA on July 19, Billy became youngest country artist ever to accomplish this. On September 12, "One Voice" album received Platinum certification making him the youngest solo artist of any music genre to achieve this. The album was eventually certified double-platinum status and earned Gilman a Grammy nomination. In January 2001, he was voted the American Music Awards' favorite new country artist, becoming the youngest contender to ever win that prize. He was also given entry into Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, eclipsing the record set by 1960's star Brenda Lee. [http://billygilman.com/online/bio.html]

Gilman released a Christmas album in 2000 titled "Classic Christmas" which was certified Gold by the RIAA. By the end of the year, Billy was selling 65,000 albums per week.

In 2001, Billy released his third album "Dare to Dream" which was certified Gold by the RIAA. Since then he has released 3 more albums including one based on the poems of Mattie Stepanek, a 13-year old boy with Muscular Dystrophy. Because of puberty, at age 14 Billy was put on vocal rest when his voice began changing.

Gilman has appeared on various talk shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show as well as performing at the opening ceremonies of the 2006 International Career Development Conference in Dallas, TX, the 2007 ICDC in Orlando, FL & the 2008 ICDC in Atlanta, GA. Both conferences were held by the DECA high school marketing education club. He also performed at a benefit for The Station nightclub fire.

He is the national youth chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and is on the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Telethon every year as a co-host.

Personal life

Gilman now lives in Hope Valley, Rhode Island with his parents Bill and Fran Gilman and his younger brother Colin.Fact|date=August 2008

Discography

Albums

ingles

*^A Failed to chart.

Foonotes

External links

* [http://www.billygilman.com/ Official Site]
*myspace|billygilman|Billy Gilman