Billy Gilman Is All About Helping People

Billy Gilman burst onto the national stage in 2000 releasing the hit single “One Voice.” His debut album was certified double platinum in the United States, and he was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest singer to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts. He has sold ten million albums worldwide and garnered awards and nods from The Grammy’s, the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, Billboard Magazine, and the American Music Association.

Only 11 years old when he notched his first hit single, Billy Gilman was the youngest performer ever to reach the Billboard country charts, breaking a record held since 1957 by Brenda Lee.

Billy Gilman was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, on May 24, 1988, and grew up in nearby Hope Valley. He was singing before he started school and developed rapidly enough to start performing publicly at age seven. He was booked as an opening act at several county fairs, including one with headliner Jo Dee Messina. Billy caught his big break when Asleep at the Wheel leader Ray Benson heard him sing and was impressed by the precocious power behind his vocals. Benson had Billy make a demo tape, which wound up landing the young singer a deal with Epic.

Out of the charts for nearly a decade, Gilman made a big comeback in 2016, courtesy of the reality show, ’The Voice,’ and quickly regained much of the fame he had earned as a pre-teenager. Billy instantly became a fan favorite week after week with his soaring vocals and amazing song choices and went right to the finale of Season 11’s finale. His coach Adam Levine of Maroon 5 himself said “You can emote so well. You can draw people in so easily,” Levine added. “What you do — you have a very special gift, and I’m just really proud and honored to have you on my team.” Nabbing runner up and winning over the hearts of millions. Speaking of millions, Gilman scored over 45 million views on YouTube in four short months during his sensational run on the show and scored countless iTunes number one singles. The closest competitor was 7 million views behind on YouTube.

Alan Mercer:  What’s it like getting back out into the public eye again?

Billy Gilman:  It’s great, when it’s something that you are, not something that was chosen for you, by a momager or a pushy stage parent. I’m the one that pushed them into it.

AM:  It’s obvious when you see the clip of you with Asleep At The Wheel.

BG:  That was my first appearance on national television.

AM:  You seem like you were already an experienced professional.

BG:  It’s just what was. It was chosen by a higher power for me. To not be able to perform was rough, but luckily, that has changed and I’m grateful for that.

AM:  Billy, I have to ask you about your album, ‘Music Through Heartstrings: Songs Based On The Poems Of Mattie J.T. Stepanek. How old were you when you recorded this one?

BG:  Oh gosh, I guess I was 16 or 17.

AM:  Had your voice already changed?

BG:  It was changing during the recording. It took so long to record this one and the ‘Everything And More’ record because my voice took such a long time to settle. On a normal record, I would bang out 4 or 5 songs in a day. With this one I could only get through one and then I’d be so horse.

AM:  Your voice sounds beautiful.

BG:  That’s the genius of the producers.

AM:  Who’s idea was it to do this album?

BG:  Sony wanted the next record, and we were looking at normal singles we could push out and I just so happened to be a guest on Larry King and Mattie was the second guest. I didn’t really know of him. I knew he was on Oprah; but I didn’t know his poetry. I watched the show, and I was blown away. My family and I were crying. I said they didn’t just sound like words, they sounded like lyrics. So I called up my manager at the time and said I know Sony will buck me, but I want to do a piece with this kid. I think that’s the next record. It will be timeless and not so commercial. This would make it a forever thing for this kid. I want to put Mattie’s words to music and my manager was hesitant. I fought Sony hard. They finally said, OK, we kind of get it. We will honor you, do the record and that’s how it was made.

AM:  That’s impressive that you were able to get Sony to agree to this. I don’t see Sony listening to a 16-year-old about much.

BG:  Allen Butler, he was the head of Sony at that time, and he is a wonderful human being.

AM:  Does this time seem like forever ago in your memory?

BG:  Sometimes it does and sometimes it feels like a week ago. I have no memory of recording my Christmas record. I don’t know why, but for some reason I can remember the strings recording ‘Winter Wonderland.’

AM:  Billy, I got genuinely excited when you were on ‘The Voice.’ Again, your voice was so impressive.

BG:  You’re too nice.

AM:  I am not too nice. You have this amazing voice.

BG:  I kept saying no to ‘The Voice.’ They called me several times. They liked my story for their show. I didn’t want to do a reality program. Then I thought about it the last time they asked me, and I realized no opportunity ever just keeps coming back. Usually when you say no to an opportunity, it goes away and if you should have done it, it’s a regret. They kept persisting, so I held some meetings with Allen, past managements, and other people. Everyone literally said the same thing, “What have you got to lose?” So, I jumped in, but I didn’t want to go Country.

AM:  Are you pursuing a pop music career now?

BG:  At the moment, I don’t know where my heart is at, genre wise. I knew I didn’t want to go with Blake. I didn’t want to do the expected thing. Obviously, I went with Adam. I just wanted to sing songs that touched me, so it reads through. If I’m doing something that someone is making me do, it’s not going to work. People will see that I am totally checked out. I will have to find songs week after week, that I am so ready to slay for America, whether it be Country, Pop or Folk.

AM:  How do you even feel about music genres? Don’t you think we need to move on from that?

BG:  I’ve never thought about a music genre. It’s always been put on me. Since I was 7 and 8 years old, I would do my stuff and then throw in a Michael Jackson song. To me, if it’s a great song, it’s a great song. The audiences don’t care, they love it. So, I don’t believe in genres, but unfortunately, that’s part of it.

AM:  Are you going to keep recording singles like everyone is doing these days?

BG:  Yes, for the most part I love that. We have a lot of songs in the pipeline. We are talking to a record company right now and if it’s to be, that’s great, but it’s not a necessity.

AM:  How in charge and in control of your career are you at this point?

BG:  Pretty much all of it.

AM:  But you do have managers and agents and people helping?

BG:  Oh yes, I have all of it. I had three meetings today. One was with a production company that wants me to work in film and TV.

AM:  Have you done any acting?

BG: No, I have come close to getting some roles, but we would back out because I was heavily touring and making more money there. I was going to be in the ‘Cheaper By The Dozen’ movie with Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, but we said no. There’s been a few things I’ve almost gotten so I’m no stranger to the routine of it. I’ve done the auditions, but I’ve never actually gotten in front of a camera for people to see me act. It’s intriguing. It all comes back to me making a decision and it did even when I was young too. I remember being asked if I wanted to sing ‘Oklahoma.’ I was told it was a serious song about a boy in foster care and did I think I could pull it off.  Throughout my whole career, people have asked. I was never treated like a child. It was nice.

AM:  Do you think you had more emotional maturity than the average 10-year-old?

BG: Oh yeah.

AM:  Where do you think that comes from?

BG:  I don’t know. There were no classes on it and my parents were just normal people. It’s a weird thing. No one else in my family sings and not one has any musical talent. It was just bestowed on me at an early age. I knew what I wanted to do, and I was pushy about it. I was 6 years old and singing for my classmates.  

AM:  You seem like you enjoy all this, so how was it for you being less in the public eye?

BG:  I was out of the public eye in a way, but during those years I was heavily involved in the muscular dystrophy association with Jerry Lewis. I would travel about 90 days out of the year, either singing when I could, or just speaking. I was alright speaking in front of massive crowds. I was always busy; I just wasn’t in the forefront of the business.

AM:  You have the most amazing fanbase.

BG:  They are dedicated. I’m very grateful for my fans. They are an extension of my career. I will let them in if they want to tell me stories about how my songs helped them to not commit suicide, which happens quite often and is a very heavy subject. You must respect it. I think they see that, and I think that’s why they are so loyal, and I am loyal to them.

AM:  Do you enjoy being a bit of an activist these days?

BG:  Helping people is what I’m about. I try to find songs that inspire and help. I like to work with organizations that literally get on their hands and knees and help people. When kids get thrown out of their homes by parents who don’t agree with them, they need to know they are not alone. That’s what it’s about. I love that. I don’t feel it’s a pressure. I talk to other artists and some of them feel a great deal of pressure and responsibility. Pressure and responsibility are two different things. You can feel a responsibility and honor it. A pressure makes you feel threatened and weighted. I love knowing I’m helping someone. I’ll go dig a ditch if that’s what’s needed.

AM:  You sound like someone who is in tune with his spirituality.

BG:  As much as I feel I am in touch with it, I’m sure I’m not. It falls out of line every now and then. There are so many people who don’t get a fair chance, there’s got to be a scorekeeper that makes it even for everybody. I do believe there is something higher, but I also believe in just being a decent, good person, in case there isn’t.