Every band has their unique success formula, for Blackjack Billy it is their combination of talented songwriters, and a drummer with a gift for live performance which led to them to being called the “Rolling Stones of country music.” Often called one of the hardest working bands in the business; when Blackjack Billy takes the stage with their unique blend of Country and Rock, heads turn and people take notice.
After gaining widespread exposure thanks to their 2013 breakout hit “The Booze Cruise,” the grassroots heroes brought their trademark sound back with “Why God Made Summertime.” Now, they hope to show their fans a softer side with their new single “Night Light,” which proves they’re more than just a party band. They’ve shown they can rock an audience; “Night Light” shows their versatility and the gift for songwriting that brought them together in the first place.
The members of Blackjack Billy are as diverse as their sound; hailing from different parts of the country, each brings his unique background and influences to the table: Vocalist Noll Billings is from the boot-heel of Missouri, Jeff Coplan, a guitarist who also handles production duties is a New Yorker by way of Canada. Only drummer Brad Cummings was born and raised in Music City.
Noll Billings and Jeff Coplan moved to Nashville as songwriters and they were soon pulled towards one another in the town’s tight-knit music community. “Night Light” is a return to those songwriter roots. The session that birthed the track was sparked by Coplan’s desire to write a song for his five-year-old daughter, while Billings wanted a love song for his wife and the result is a tribute to their families that shows fans a different side of Blackjack Billy, both lyrically and musically.
The guys play close to 130 shows a year across the U.S. and Canada, and they treasure every Nashville homecoming. “I think everyone can relate to this in some way, whether you’re out on the road, serving in the military, or whatever it is that takes you away from the ones you love,” Billings says. “I want this song to speak to my wife and say, ‘As much as we’re gone, I’m always here. I’m always in love with you.’”
The guys of Blackjack Billy are involved in every step of creating new music. From writing the songs to producing their own record, playing their own instruments in the studio, and even driving their own bus to the hundreds of must-see live shows they perform every year, this self-sufficient band of brothers is sticking to the goals that brought them together in the first place, to write and perform the best country songs they can. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.