By Billy Jay Stein

Linda and Billy

"Having had no real training to do what I do, I have always been impressed by the talents of the people I work with, in particular, my band. Billy is a fine example. The public sees him as a handsome young man pumping out beautiful sounds on the keyboard. I know him as so much more. Descended from musical royalty, he is a highly trained musician, composer, arranger and producer. He also sings great! I'm his side gig and lucky to have him. As a friend he is equally impressive. I always know that at any given moment I can turn to him on stage and he will be ready with a quick and genuine smile, and that he cares deeply about giving his best. He is just a fine man and I envy the girl who eventually catches him. She will have to be someone very special. Judging by the chorus of girls who sing for him from the audience every night, pickings are not slim!"

I was born in the Bronx and raised in Jericho, Long Island. I am a member of a very musical family and grew up with music in my home. My father was an amateur classical pianist and my mother is a soprano who performs in regional theatre. My cousin is Jule Styne. We used to listen to all of his records growing up. My uncle, Mike Stein, was Peter in the original cast of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. My sister and I would crank up the record player and dance all around the living room to that CD all throughout my childhood. Uncle Mike was also recently nominated for a Grammy for Best Children's Album of the Year.

I began my classical training at an early age. I was a private student of the world-renowned concert pianist, Edward Edson. As I grew up though, I developed a stronger affinity for Jazz, Rock & Roll and R&B music and moved away from Classical Performance. I played alto sax in high school and had the opportunity to tour Europe with my jazz ensemble and perform with Clark Terry. I was also the recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award. While still in high school, I decided to put down the sax and focus on keyboards and songwriting, and I formed my first Rock band with my friends. I set up the band's equipment and rigged up a small recording studio in my bedroom. I slept next to my drum set throughout my senior year! I guess things haven't changed that much because I currently live in a NYC sized apartment with a whole recording studio in my living room!

Billy at home in his studio

In 1989 when I was a freshman studying to become a doctor at the University of Pennsylvania, I co-founded the Rock & Roll band, The Hatters. After building a huge following of college students, my band got a recording contract with Atlantic Records. After graduating with a degree in Neuroscience in 1992, I scrapped my plans to go to Med School. I decided to follow my heart and pursue my dreams of being in a Rock band. Over the years, the band released three albums on Atlantic: "Live Thunderchicken" (1993), "The Madcap Adventures of the Avocado Overlord" (1994) and "You Will Be You" (1995). In 1991, The Hatters jumped on a bus and spent five years on the road, living in the mountains of Nederland, Colorado and in the caverns of NYC during short breaks. The Hatters toured about 300 days a year and had the opportunity to share stages with the likes of Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, Blues Traveller, Collective Soul, The Allman Brothers, Joan Osborne, King Sunny Ade, Jimmy Cliff and A Tribe Called Quest. The band was part of the early 90's genre/scene called "Neo-Hippie Jam Bands." The music was a combination of Rock, Jazz and Blues- and the live shows would consist of long improvisational jams. A highlight was performing the National Anthem at a Mets game.

Billy doing what he does best!

After the band's breakup in 1996, I settled in NYC. In 1997, I joined the Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE as the synth player. It was at this point that I met Linda. I also played keys in the band for the Broadway production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Currently I can be heard sitting in at the Broadway show, HAIRSPRAY. I also do many performances and sessions right here in NYC. Some artists I have played with include: Ray Charles, Brandy, Natalie Cole and Miles Davis' percussionist, Mino Cinelu. I was the keyboardist and musical director of Dreams Come True (Sony), the most popular band in Japan. They have sold over 33 million albums and 18 million singles.

While keeping up with demands of being a session musician and performer in the city and on the road, I write and produce music under my alter ego, "Strange Cranium," at my recording studio based in NYC entitled "Strange Cranium Studios." I have produced a track for Grammy-nominated pop star, Vanessa Carlton. I just recently wrote and produced tracks for Becky Baeling, whose album was released recently on Universal. I also recorded and arranged tracks for Hip-Hop artist, Joe Budden, produced and wrote tracks with Tony Vincent (EPIC) and recently recorded with Boy George in my studio.

I have also been involved in film work. I composed the score for the feature film, THE DEFINITE MAYBE starring Roy Schieder, Teri Garr, Eric Stolz and Al Franken. This film was the winner of the New York Independent Film Festival in 1998. I was the arranger of the theme song from the feature film CASPER (1994, Amblin Entertainment). Other films which feature my original songs include HELD FOR RANSOM (Dennis Hopper), THE BRAKES and BLACK MASK.

I have been fortunate to be able to compose music for many popular shows on TV. I have scored ten different series on VH1. They include over 100 episodes of THE LIST and 30 episodes of ROCK OF AGES. My original music can be heard on ELIMIDATE (CBS), THE TODAY SHOW (NBC), MODERN MARVELS, HISTORY ALIVE (The History Channel), BROTHERS GARCIA (Nickelodeon), EVERYDAY ELEGANCE (WE), CHANGE OF HEART (WB), FOX, ABC, TNN and the Discovery Channel.

Most recently, I have written and produced songs for the last two seasons of SEX AND THE CITY. I was very sad to see it end. It was cool to get scenes to produce music to weeks in advance of airing, but hard not to tell friends and family what was going to happen next in the show!

I am currently scoring a new daily comedy show on MTV called BOILING POINTS. I have signed on for five seasons (about two years) and the first cycle, which aired in January, featured over 700 tracks, which I wrote and produced. The second cycle aired daily during the month of June and featured another 700 tracks. Each episode requires 24 minutes of wall-to-wall music. And with MTV style pacing- I have to come up with 36 tracks for each episode, all with new, fresh and current musical ideas in order to be true to the sound of the network and appeal to young teenagers… It is fun and challenging.

On a personal note, I am 34 years old and am the youngest member of Linda's band. I am very close with my family and support my sister, Stephanie, who is an actress in New York City. I have two cats, Muffin and Subby, whom I love dearly. They are my soulmates. I enjoy biking and mountain climbing. Last year I climbed the mile-high Table Mountain in South Africa.

Please visit my website, www.strangecranium.com, for updates!

After learning about Billy's life as a freelance musician in New York City, we were so intrigued we wanted to know more. Billy answered a few additional questions for THE VOICE.

VOICE: What was the first Broadway show you saw?

BILLY: My first show was JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. I was in utero while my Uncle Mike originated the role of Peter on opening night!

VOICE: Was Broadway always a big part of your life?

BILLY: Not necessarily Broadway- but the art of musical theatre has been a huge part of my life. I was a young stagehand while I watched my mother, Janice, perform the leads in the community productions of GUYS AND DOLLS, THE PAJAMA GAME, MILK AND HONEY and ANYTHING GOES. I was also Musical Director at summer camps from age 14-18. I worked as the accompanist for all my fellow campers.

VOICE: Did you know your cousin, Jule Styne? Did he have a great influence on you in your professional career?

Rock and Roll!

BILLY: Unfortunately, no. He had a great influence on my Uncle Mike's career.

VOICE: How old were you when you began classical musical training?

BILLY: My father began teaching me when I was three.

VOICE: Who are some of your early favorites who steered you toward Jazz, Rock & Roll and R&B music?

BILLY: My first concert was AC/DC when I was 12. I loved The Who, Queen, and Pink Floyd.

VOICE: Please tell us about receiving the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award?

BILLY: In high school I was the leader of the jazz ensemble. We toured Europe and California. Our music teacher, Ken Pollitt, actually gave me much room to grow and gave me the responsibility to update the music technology of the music department. The award was given to the best jazz musician in the school.

VOICE: Why did you switch from saxophone to keyboards and songwriting? Were you writing songs while still in high school?

BILLY: I had always been writing songs on the piano since I was very young. In fact, I still have the song I wrote for my cat, Muffin, when I was seven. I decided in college to focus solely on the piano and songwriting.

VOICE: What was the name of your first Rock band?

BILLY: The Riverbottom Nightmare Band (from Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas Muppet Special).

VOICE: How did being on the road with The Hatters at such a young age shape the musician you have become?

Billy on stage at Westbury Music Fair, NY

BILLY: I have learned to make my place on stage my home away from home. When you are on the road for long periods of time- your spot on stage becomes the only certain and similar place day to day. You make it your home. I have grown to become more comfortable on stage than off! Also the touring experience helped me to get along and vibe musically well with others. When you are with a group of guys, living and breathing music together for years in vans and buses and on countless stages, you have to learn to compromise- and not be too precious with your musical ideas. Most times working with others will create interesting and unique music. To this day I will always work with others when writing a song. Finally, after performing over 2000 shows with The Hatters from venues like Madison Square Garden and Shea Stadium to small dingy clubs (with no people in them but the staff), being on the road helped me have a good perspective on live performance and what works well with an audience of your peers.

VOICE: What was your reaction when you first heard Linda sing?

BILLY: Like so many others I was completely blown away. Her voice is magical, angelic. The most beautiful voice in the world…

VOICE: When did you start playing with Linda's band?

BILLY: April, 2000.

VOICE: Do you have a favorite song that Linda performs in concert?

BILLY: Of course- "Don't Rain On My Parade." (Jule Styne wrote it!)

VOICE: Is the name of your recording studio, "Strange Cranium Studios," a throwback to your days as a student of Neuroscience.

BILLY: Yes- and also my nickname in The Hatters was "Captain Cranium."

VOICE: How do you go about getting jobs writing for film and television? Do you have an agent?

BILLY: No- word of mouth.

VOICE: What advice do you have for fellow songwriters who want to have their music heard?

BILLY: Perseverance! It took my band years and years in small depressing clubs to finally get our songs heard. If you don't have a band, then I would try open mic nights and writers workshops.

VOICE: Aside from medicine and music, is there any other career path you could envision for yourself?

BILLY: I love animals. I would love to work in an animal shelter and perhaps even become a veterinarian.

VOICE: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us.

BILLY: Anytime!