The Early Childhood Years

by Jan Vincent

Mama Hill's Billy Baby Pictures

All four Hill Brothers and their cousins were born in the same small mountain cabin in the hollows of the Santa Monica Mountains.

 Originally built by Hill ancestors, the cabin was eventually moved to Critter Country in Disneyland, so that the brothers wouldn't have to travel so far to get to work.

This was the home of their future father, William "Down" Hill, a part-time  bluegrass musician and  popular local moon-shiner. "Downey" [as he was known to the locals ] often helped out at sporting events as the Master of Ceremonies. It was at a Young Republican's Barn Dance and Cat Juggling contest that "Downey" was to meet his future bride on October 31, 1925.

Considered in some circles to be a snappy dresser, the former Miss Billie Mae McCoy had come to the Santa Monica mountains in the early 1920's in search of a career as a silent movie vocal coach in nearby Culver City.

Unable to establish her own career, she decided to settle down and raise either horses or children. It was later decided that children would be cheaper to raise.

The first child to arrive on April 1st, 1949 was Billy F. Hill [later to be known as Billy Fiddle]. Blond and blue-eyed with a warm smile, the new arrival was hailed as a success and future children were later proposed.

Shown here with his stylish mother, this was the start of young Billy's vocal career.

Coached from an early age by his mother, area locals were shocked by his early renditions of "Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall".

Unprepared for motherhood and helping support the family as a part-time cow tipper, Mrs. Hill often left young Billy Fiddle to his own devises.

Baby Billy is shown here following a family reunion in honor of Grandma Clementine Hill's 50th birthday.

By 1950, various Hill Family relatives had begun pouring into the Santa Monica Mountains by the dozens, prompting local officials to outlaw the future births of any more Hills until the ban was lifted in 1955.

Inspired by the lifting of the "Hill Prohibition Laws", the Hill's second son, Billy B. Hill [later to be known as Billy Bass] was born on Labor Day, 1956.

This child too, was claimed a success. Tall and agile, Billy Bass began crawling at birth, but this posed a new problem.........

.........Too poor to afford clothes for Baby Billy Bass.........it was decided that older brother, Billy Fiddle should take up an instrument to help support the family and liven up local parties.

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An avid swimmer from birth, Billy Bass began his aquatic career at an early age by doing laps in the family wash basin.

It was decided that until they could afford clothes, Billy Bass would use his swimming abilities to fish for the family dinner in the local sink hole, hence his nickname Billy "Bass".

 It was to no one's complete surprise that exactly one year later on Labor Day, 1957, third son, Billy E. Hill  was born.

He was later to be known as Billy Elvis because of his unusual spit curl, slightly raised lip, and nervous twitch in his legs.

Things got off to a rocky start between the infant brothers, Billy Bass and Billy Elvis, when neither brother wanted to share their common "Labor Day" birthdate.

It was later decided that they would pretend to be twins in order to confuse neighbors.

Once again the Hill family found it hard to make ends meet.

To help support the family, eldest brother, Billy Fiddle took a job driving small shipments of oranges through the foothills to the valley markets below.

He named his wagon the "Orange Blossom Special" after his favorite aunt, Blossom Hill.

It was during these trips while providing fruit garnishments for exotic drinks that young Billy Fiddle discovered their future place of employment, The Golden Horseshoe Saloon.

A final brother, Billy M. Hill came into the world on April 1, 1959. [Later to be called Billy Mandolin]

 Considered excellent in his hiding abilities, Billy Mandolin is shown here avoiding his older brothers in a game of hide and seek.

Shown here in 1962 at age 5, Billy Elvis, finally able to afford stylish clothing, contemplates his future.

It was at about this time that he considered following in Elvis Presley's footsteps and making himself a peanut butter and 'nanner sandwich.

In 1970, following the success of other musical family groups, such as the Carpenters, the Dillards and the Partridge Family, it was decided that they would form a musical group. Joined by cousins, Nell and Bell Hill, they formed "The Cowhills".

Considered extremely intelligent and able to finish his formal education by age 3, Billy Mandolin decided to help with his older brother's musical careers by  becoming their agent and representing them along with their uncle at the Morris Hill Agency.............

..........he even began providing transportation to their performances at area venues.

To continue reading about the Billies formative years, click here.........

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click here...........