Shorty Billups

Born February 1, 1933 in New London, Connecticut, Mr. Billups started at an early age singing and playing the piano. He started traveling and performing for our troops at age 15 with the USO. At 18, Mr. Billups had to set aside his dancing shoes for the sole purpose of serving his country. He served for the next four years but never lost sight of his vision. After returning home and completing four years of college, Mr. Billups decided to focus his attention solely on his music. In 1961 he taught himself how to play the drums and has been playing them every day since. He is one of the first with the ability to play the drums while singing and wooing the crowd. He has traveled extensively throughout the States and has played in nine countries. After his last trip abroad accompanied by Oscar Toney Jr., he moved to Atlanta by way of Mississippi playing with Lattimore and the late ZZ Hill. He stayed there for 15 years learning the "low-down Southern blues" and the dialect throughout the South. He played with saxophonist King Charles of Long Island, N.Y., Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Clarence Carter, Bill Doggett, Rufus and Carla Thomas and many more. He is known as the "short man with the funky foot." He has sung and produced approximately 26-28 songs, some on his label, Solid Gold.