Album Notes

BILLY WEST

A name known mostly in animation circles,cartoons and commercials as one of the best in the industry,Billy West's voices are everywhere!
Some of the most popular being ''Ren & Stimpy'' ( both voices) Nickelodeon's ''Doug'',the Red M&M,the Honeynut Cheerios Bee,and was featured in Matt Groening's ''Futurama'' cartoon series as Fry,Professor Hubert Farnsworth,Dr.Zoidberg and Capt. Zapp Brannigan.
Billy was born in Detroit,Michigan in 1952 and spent a lot of time making noises and doing voices.He would also sing all the songs that were coming out of the radio at that time--''I could do Elvis when I was 4.''
But cartoons made him crazy.He would sit and listen and hear 15 voices and when he was old enough to read,he discovered that there were really only 2 or 3 people doing them.At 9 years old West was playing trumpet in the school band and was getting excited over performing music and there was a guitar in the house.''It had to be 1961.I started plunking around on it and felt frustrated 'cause there was nobody around that knew how to play it,'' he says.The first song he taught himself was that old TV western theme,''Bonanza.''
Billy's family moved to Boston in 1963 and suddenly the Beatles hit America.''That did it.Time to get an electric guitar and get out there,'' he recalls.''I was really good and I couldn't wait to be out of school so I could play in bands full time.'' In 1979 he left the music scene to try his hand at standup comedy.''Nobody told me you had to have an act! I would just go out there and do whatever I wanted.It was very surreal,'' he says.
He noticed that it was his voices that made people crazy and soon got into Boston radio station,WBCN in 1981.He produced,wrote and performed original comedy for the morning show.By 1988 he moved to NY and began to work with radio titan Howard Stern.He created dozens of characters and did impressions on the show.In 1991 he was called by Nickelodeon to do ''Ren & Stimpy'' and ''Doug.'' Leaving radio in November of 1995 he wound up full time in Hollywood doing up to 10 animated series at once.
''I felt that after a while it was time to go back to my first love..music.I missed playing live and after a 23 yr.moritorium I got the hots to do it again!''
Billy West is offering an eclectic CD of 15 fun songs that sound like a collection of various artists.''I called the CD ''Me-Pod'' because I downloaded myself so everyone can ''share the experience'' (ooooh heavy) Great for parties too!'' There are a few guest performances from David Hildalgo and Victor Bisetti of Los Lobos, Jess Harnell, ( the voice of Wakko on the Animaniacs) and others.Do check out Billy West and the Grief Counselors album''Me Pod'' for a refreshing and fun musical ride!