Roy Book Binder and Rev. Billy C. Wirtz are two internationally known performers who happen to call Florida home. Roy winters in St. Petersburg and Rev. Billy lives in Ocala, though he’s in Tampa most Friday’s doing his Rhythm Revival show on WMNF Radio 88.5.
I’m happy to report they agreed to do a double bill in the Palladium’s Side Door this Sunday at 6 p.m. Both are headlining performers, but Roy thought the show would work best if he opens with his acoustic blues and quirky stories, and Billy closes with his barrelhouse piano, comic songs and tall tales.
No matter what order they perform, this show is really a two-for-one treat. For tickets and more information, please follow this link.
In case you’ve been living in a bunker for decades, here’s a little background info on these two gentlemen of the blues.
Roy Book Binder
Roy is arguably one of the best-known musicians living in St. Petersburg, though he keeps a pretty low profile here. Around the U.S. and in Europe, Roy is recognized as one of the top acoustic blues players, who learned his craft some 50 years ago from pioneering bluesmen like Rev. Gary Davis and Pink Anderson.
Roy spends about seven months of the year traveling to gigs in his motor home, and the rest in a lovely house he shares with his wife in St. Petersburg. For the past few years, Roy’s sole hometown gig has been at the Palladium.
Roy has released a lot of albums, but there’s often a big gap between them. I asked Roy why it took so long between records.
“I’m taking the Fifth Amendment on that,” he joked. “Actually, I don’t like to record as a rule. A lot of acts crank out a new record every year, but I don’t do that.”
Rev. Billy C. Wirtz
Rev. Billy, a humorist, a musical historian, a fine pianist, and a fun guy to have around, played our Boogie Woogie Stomp twice and did a double bill with Ronny Elliot a few years ago, but Rev. Billy is best when he’s holding court at a grand piano with a crowd that is paying attention.
He loves living in Ocala, after years on the road. And maybe Ocala is a good place for a performer who revels in the world of Elvis sightings and trailer parks. And getting out of the craziness of Cocoa Beach – “The land of broken toys” – has been good for his music and his health.
“Moving here has worked out real good,” he told me. “I can live nicely here and there’s quite a good little music community.”
For this Sunday’s show, you’ll get the best of Rev. Billy. The sanctifying. The wresting intros and maybe a flying drop kick. Possibly “Roberta,” his always-requested big hit. And his current favorite “What I Used To Do All Night, Now Takes Me All Night To Do.” And lots of great boogie woogie, R&B, soul, country, and rock ‘n roll history lessons.
“It all kind of ties in no matter what I do,” The Reverend told me. “I’m taking these classic blues structures and putting my own spin on them.”
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