Bill Chiles, Idaho Falls, Idaho
It all started in 1964; uptown in Rigby, Idaho while at a Saturday afternoon picture show. That day the old Royal Theater showed “Your Cheatin’ Heart the Life Story of Hank Williams” instead of the scheduled Gene Autry movie. The move was supposed to be for the adults. Billy was mesmerized by the music. The theater manager finally called his dad at six o’clock that night to come get him. He had seen the movie four times and had half the songs memorized. That Christmas he got his first guitar, a little Sears and Roebuck $29.99 sunburst, that read “Steel Reinforced Neck.” He bought every Hank Williams portfolio sheet music he could afford. His uncle showed him some Jimmie Rodgers guitar runs and by using the chord boxes above the words on the sheet music and knowing the melodies he learned to play guitar.
Later he ditched his formal guitar lessons and spent the money on sheet music. Spent the time in an alley behind a local honky-tonk that had its juke-box up against the lava rock wall, a great resonator. Just match up the songs key, play the chords to match the melody; learn the words and sing along.
Bill’s mother was instrumental in making sure he knew a fair share of range ballads and trail songs, like “Little Joe the Wrangler”, “ When the Works All Done”, “Little Sod Shanty on the Prairie” along with modern mountain music “ Wabash Cannon Ball”, “Silver Haired Daddy” and “You Are My Sunshine.” These long time standards are now performed at every show that Bill does.
Bill did give Nashville a shot, but the Navy, and “starvation” called him to serve his country at sea, latter marrying a wonderful girl he is still married to, settling down and raising a family back near Rigby Idaho.
In 1992 Windy took a job at a local western dinner theater as a “Cow-Boy Singing Waiter”. Learning basic vaudeville stage lessons in acting and singing, comedy and drama. Thanks to some boot-leg tapes of Don Edwards, Ian Tyson and Michael Martin Murphy, Bill found a renewed love and interest in the old favorites of his mother. Since 1992 Windy has been a member of The Cowboy Poets of Idaho, Inc., and the Western Music Association. He has performed all around the west with most everyone. He is a regular star performer at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s “Songs of the Cowboy” in Cody, WY. At which many of his renditions’ have been recorded and are available through the U.S. Library of Congress and the Smithsonian. His love for this “Cow-Boy Music” comes through loud and clear, and he is always searching and learning some new… or old…part of a tune or poem. The Hank days are long gone, but sometimes late at night in a jam with a few old friends you might just hear “A Lost Highway.”
Albums:
“Worth the Ride”, “Ridin’ the Red Road”, “25th Anniversary of Cody’s Songs of the Cowboy”
Awards:
Golden Note Award - Cowboy Poets of Idaho, 1999
Western Heritage Balladeers Award, 2004
Colombia River Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival First Place Musical Winner, 2012
Inducted into the Cowboy Poets of Idaho, Inc. Hall of Fame, 2012
www.cowboyentertainer.com
Later he ditched his formal guitar lessons and spent the money on sheet music. Spent the time in an alley behind a local honky-tonk that had its juke-box up against the lava rock wall, a great resonator. Just match up the songs key, play the chords to match the melody; learn the words and sing along.
Bill’s mother was instrumental in making sure he knew a fair share of range ballads and trail songs, like “Little Joe the Wrangler”, “ When the Works All Done”, “Little Sod Shanty on the Prairie” along with modern mountain music “ Wabash Cannon Ball”, “Silver Haired Daddy” and “You Are My Sunshine.” These long time standards are now performed at every show that Bill does.
Bill did give Nashville a shot, but the Navy, and “starvation” called him to serve his country at sea, latter marrying a wonderful girl he is still married to, settling down and raising a family back near Rigby Idaho.
In 1992 Windy took a job at a local western dinner theater as a “Cow-Boy Singing Waiter”. Learning basic vaudeville stage lessons in acting and singing, comedy and drama. Thanks to some boot-leg tapes of Don Edwards, Ian Tyson and Michael Martin Murphy, Bill found a renewed love and interest in the old favorites of his mother. Since 1992 Windy has been a member of The Cowboy Poets of Idaho, Inc., and the Western Music Association. He has performed all around the west with most everyone. He is a regular star performer at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center’s “Songs of the Cowboy” in Cody, WY. At which many of his renditions’ have been recorded and are available through the U.S. Library of Congress and the Smithsonian. His love for this “Cow-Boy Music” comes through loud and clear, and he is always searching and learning some new… or old…part of a tune or poem. The Hank days are long gone, but sometimes late at night in a jam with a few old friends you might just hear “A Lost Highway.”
Albums:
“Worth the Ride”, “Ridin’ the Red Road”, “25th Anniversary of Cody’s Songs of the Cowboy”
Awards:
Golden Note Award - Cowboy Poets of Idaho, 1999
Western Heritage Balladeers Award, 2004
Colombia River Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival First Place Musical Winner, 2012
Inducted into the Cowboy Poets of Idaho, Inc. Hall of Fame, 2012
www.cowboyentertainer.com