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Will Oldham, known professionally as Bonnie "Prince" Billy, is a prolific American singer-songwriter and actor, recognized for his contributions to independent music and film.
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Request A ShowReleased a collaboration with Oldham, 'Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties,' on Drag City. It is a thoroughly spaced-out ...
Singer-songwriter Will Oldham – also known as Bonnie “Prince” Billy – is now selling his own blend of organic coffee through Drag City, his longtime record ...
In 2005 singer Bonnie “Prince” Billy aka Will Oldham and guitarist Matt Sweeney released the Superwolf album, which has developed a cult following. They discuss the making of the new Superwolves record on Broken Record.
Joseph Will Oldham, born on January 15, 1970, in Louisville, Kentucky, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. His early life included attending J. Graham Brown School, from which he graduated in 1988, and later Brown University, albeit sporadically, as he pursued an acting career. During this period, he divided his time between Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Bloomington, Indiana. His foray into music began as an academic project for his ethnomusicology professor, Jeff Todd Titon, at Brown University.
Oldham’s musical career commenced in 1993, initially performing and recording under various monikers of “Palace,” such as Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music, until 1997. He later adopted the stage name Bonnie “Prince” Billy in 1998, which has since become synonymous with most of his musical output. This change reflected his approach to music, where each record featured different collaborators and themes. His work is characterized by a “do-it-yourself” punk aesthetic and candid lyrical content, blending elements of Americana, folk, roots, country, punk, and indie rock. Notable albums including “There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You” (1993), “Viva Last Blues” (1995), and “I See a Darkness” (1999) have gained critical acclaim and appeared on “greatest albums” lists.
Beyond music, Oldham has maintained an active acting career. His film debut was in John Sayles’ “Matewan” (1987) as a teen preacher, followed by roles in “Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure” (1989) and “Thousand Pieces of Gold” (1991). He has also appeared in independent films like “Julien Donkey-Boy” (1999), “Junebug” (2005), and played lead in Kelly Reichardt’s “Old Joy” (2006). In 2018, he had a child with textile artist Elsa Hansen, whom he married in 2016. His refusal to list his solo albums on Spotify underscores his stance on artist compensation.
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