Thursday, October 27, 2016 - 6:30pm

Starting in his hometown of Buffalo, NY in the early '70's with the now legendary hard rock trio Talas, he went on to join David Lee Roth in the summer of '85 when Dave quit Van Halen to go out on his own. Along with Steve Vai& Gregg Bissonette, the legendary Eat 'Em and Smile record and tour went on to platinum status and sold out shows everywhere. Leaving in 1987 to start his own new band, he founded Mr. Big, who went on to achieve a number one hit in fourteen countries, staying number 1 in the USA Billboard charts for 3 solid weeks. Along with Mr Big members Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert and Pat Torpey, they recorded and toured the world for a decade more, till disbanding in 2002. During that time he found time to start "Niacin" a fusion/blues trio based around the Hammond B3 sound that featured drummer Dennis Chambers. He rejoined his old bandmate Steve Vai for several tours as well as Steve's "Real Illusions" record and tour. After he released several solo records and much more, Mr Big reunited in 2009 and performed a sold-out world tour, and then recorded "What If…" in 2011 -- to rave reviews and another sold-out world tour.

Most recently Billy joined Mike Portnoy and Richie Kotzen to form ":The Winery Dogs". Their first release in July of 2013 entered the BillBoard Top 200 Albums at #27 -- and has been received everywhere with spectacular reviews and sold-out shows.

Fall of 2014 saw the release of the new Mr Big album "The Stories We Could Tell" followed by a world tour.

2015- Mr Big completed world tour in support of "The Stories We Could Tell” that took them too UK, Europe, Russia, Japan, Southeast Asia, South American and finishing with sold out shows in the United States.

"The Winery Dogs" released a new album “Hot Streak in Fall of 2015 with sold out tours in South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and United States-finishing with the Sold Out “Monster of Rock Cruise” in October 2016.

With his history of live performances and/or recordings with Talas, UFO, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, Steve Vai and now The Winery Dogs, he has had a huge and undeniable influence on modern bass playing that has spread all over the globe, and will continue for many years to come.

For those who missed the event...