Billy Childs
Billy Childs was born in Los Angeles, California, United States on March 8th, 1957 and is the Composer. At the age of 67, Billy Childs biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
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William Edward Childs (born March 8, 1957) is a jazz pianist, arranger and conductor from Los Angeles, California.
Early life
When he was sixteen he attended the Community School of the Performing Arts sponsored by the University of Southern California. He studied music theory with Marienne Uszler and piano with John Weisenfluh. From 1975–'79 he attended the University of Southern California and received a degree in composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn.
While still a teen, Childs was playing professionally and he made his recording debut in 1977 with the J. J. Johnson Quintet during a tour of Japan, documented as "the Yokohama Concert". He gained significant attention during the six years (1978–84) he spent in trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's group. His early influences as a pianist included Herbie Hancock, Keith Emerson, and Chick Corea and as a composer, Paul Hindemith, Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky. Childs nevertheless had an original conception of his own from near the start, developing his own voice as both a pianist and a composer in jazz and classical music genres.
His sister is the playwright Kirsten Childs.
Awards and honors
- 2003 New Composition Grant, Chamber Music America
- 2006 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, "Into the Light"
- 2006 Grammy Award, Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist, "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?"
- 2009 Guggenheim Fellowship
- 2011 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, "The Path Among the Trees"
- 2013 Doris Duke Artist Award
- 2015 American Academy of Arts and Letters Composer Award
- 2015 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals, "New York Tendaberry"
- 2018 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Rebirth; Childs' solo on the track "Dance of Shiva" was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Improvised Jazz Solo.