Born, raised, and still residing in Sacramento, Billy Turner grew up in a home where music was deeply appreciated, even though his parents weren’t musicians. His mother had a beautiful voice and often sang old standards around the house, while his father enjoyed playing classical and Latin music on his Magnavox console. Although their love of music was influential, it was his sister who truly opened the door to rock and roll by introducing him to the Beatles.

Music evolved from an interest to a passion in 1971 with the purchase of his first LP: Led Zeppelin IV. He now wanted to play music, not just listen to it. With no instruments in the house except his mother’s Magnus chord organ, he began learning Deep Purple solos on the organ. Soon after, his brother bought a guitar, and when no one was home, he would sneak into his brother’s room to play it. That’s when he decided he wanted to be a guitarist.

However, when his brother and two close friends started a band, there was no need for another guitar player. So, he bought a bass—an $80 Gibson EB copy—and joined the band. They soon found themselves playing at junior high and high school dances. Over the years, he continued playing bass and even sang in multiple bands, performing alongside many talented musicians.

Eventually, music had to take a backseat as he focused on his career with the U.S. Postal Service and raising a family. Though he still played, it became harder to find time to fully devote to music. After retiring, he built a small rehearsal studio in his home and finally had the time and resources to reconnect with his passion. Struggling to find committed musicians, he purchased a Boss Loopstation with the idea of creating a one-man band. With the loop station, he was able to blend guitar, keys, bass, vocals, and drum tracks into full arrangements.

He developed a repertoire of both original compositions and cover songs, which he performs live on occasion. Eventually, he received a text from Waylin Carpenter (Steel Breeze) about forming a trio. They brought in drummer Eric Crownover and formed The Web, performing a unique set of B-sides. While both projects were fun and creatively fulfilling, he missed playing in front of packed dance floors.

As luck would have it, Linda from Heartless—a tribute band to Heart—reached out to see if he’d like to audition. He happily accepted and earned his place in the band. Now, he enjoys the perfect trifecta of musical projects.