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Dennis Fetchet is an original member of the group that began playing in the late 1980's in Disneyland's Bear Country as Billy and the Hillbillies. In 1992, the Hillbilly band was moved to Frontierland and performed a street show, where the name Hill was added to the title.
In 1994, following the closing of the Golden Horseshoe Jamboree Show, Dennis moved into the Golden Horseshoe to star in the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies Show along with Kirk Wall, and John and Evan Marshall.
On February 6, 2003, he performed his 10,000th show with the Hillbillies in the Golden Horseshoe Saloon. Dennis currently plays 5 days a week with the Billy Blue Team and the Billy Gold Team.
A disciple in the true bluegrass tradition, Dennis Fetchet [a.k.a. Billy Fiddle] has been playing the fiddle since 1970. Originally, a mandolin and guitar player, he became interested in the music of The Dillards, a famous bluegrass band.
Dennis has played with many bluegrass bands throughout his career including the Wild Hickory Nuts, LA Fiddle Band, The Bluegrass Cardinals, and The Southland Bluegrass Band.
He was in Hoyt Axton's band from 1978 until Hoyt's stroke in 1994 and did several world tours with Hoyt Axton. He has played studio back up for such diverse artists as Tanya Tucker and Weird Al Yankovic.
He's also made several appearances at Farm Aid, The Grand Ol' Opry and bluegrass festivals all over the country. His fiddling can even be heard in the soundtrack of the movie "Back to the Future III" with Michael J. Fox. [Just listen during the old time dance scene when Z.Z. Top are playing.]
As a "Billy", Dennis adds a unique brand as dead pan humor and site gags that reach to all ages of Disneyland guests, but especially to children. |
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Billy Fiddle with 11 year old fan, Sarah Vincent in February, 2000 at the ranch. |
A devoted Billy Fiddle fan, Juliann, the daughter of Layne and Rosalie Shelley in her official t-shirt. What a cutie! |
Billy with newest fan, True, daughter of Lee and Cathy. |
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Dennis with the Jan's World Webmistress and mother of the above Sarah.
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This is an animation of Dennis from the Christmas Show, 2002 at Disneyland playing the "Orange Blossom Special". [Sorry it's so small, but that's how the camera makes them.]
[The midi currently playing is "The Orange Blossom Special" as played by Dennis Fetchet with the Hoyt Axton Band, Circa 1985.] |
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Dennis can also be seen playing fiddle and mandolin with
every Saturday night at 7:30 pm at Vincenzo's Pizza in Newhall. [Take the Interstate 5 north from LA and get off at Lyons Ave. in Newhall/Santa Clarita. Turn right 100 feet from the off ramp to the shopping center behind the Burger King.] Join us there for the best bluegrass west of the Rockies. [Pictured from left to right: Dennis Fetchet, Scott Micale, Bill Bryson and Rodger Phillips] |
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The Billy Fiddle Photos: |
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The Billy Fiddle Guitar Collection |
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The Midnight Blue Squier Strat |
The "Brian Jones" Vox Mark VI |
The "John Lennon" Gibson 335 copy. |
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...with the "infamous" red acoustic guitar. |
...the "less infamous" blue acoustic. |
...and Kirk's white acoustic. |
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He's equally good on.........Fiddle, Harmonica and Mandolin |
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All dressed up - "Disney style." |
"A Billy in the bush is worth two on the stage." |
The rejected cover for the "Billies '65" Record |
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Dennis' Favorite Web Sites:
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