W I L L I E B A S S E
A professional recording artist best known as frontman of the legendary Los Angeles based rock band, Black Sheep. His expertise ranges from vocalist/bass player to audio engineer & producer, to corporate C.E.O, artist manager, studio owner, actor, film & television producer, to consultant - developing, designing & selling professional audio equipment, studios and real estate. All while maintaining a successful recording & performing artist career with current releases.
Willie is a classically trained vocalist and has been on stage since the age of five. From age 10-15 he was a choir boy with the world famous Texas Boys’ Choir (recipient of two Grammy Awards). He worked with Igor Stravinsky (premiered Stravinsky’s Mass in C-minor), The Santa Fe Opera (2 seasons), Greg Smith, Burl Ives, E. Power Biggs and William Self.
Signed to Columbia Artists, they taped a UNICEF television special that aired nationally on ABC TV Network, preformed at Carnegie Hall, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall, touring and recording professionally before the age of 16.
He later moved to Los Angeles where he met Record Plant founder, Gary Kellgren. He toured and recorded with Jimi Hendrix drummer, Buddy Milles for five years and ended up working with Led Zeppelin engineer, Andy Johns, who he met through Kellgren.
His first rock album was Black Sheep's “Trouble In The Streets” released in 1985 on Enigma Records. The album featured Paul Gilbert on guitar and received massive radio airplay that catapulted Black Sheep to one of LA’s top drawing bands. Black Sheep shared the stage with major rock bands like Guns n Roses, Uriah Heep, Saxon, Great White, WASP, Stryper, LA Guns, Steeler, Keel, Armored Saint, Odin.
Revered by many as a metal pioneer, later dubbed The Cultural Ambassador To The Sunset Strip, Willie is known for his outrageous parties held at his rehearsal studio in North Hollywood called “Wilpower” where many LA bands got their start – Guns 'n Roses, LA Guns, Racer-X, Leatherwolf, Bitch, Sound Barrier, Little Caesar and many others.
Willie’s motto was three bands, three kegs and a thousand people! The parties got so intense, he had to rent out The Roxy and The Whiskey clubs to accommodate, thus began the infamous “Sunset Strip Era.” Willie and his partner, Mike Turcott had a printing press in his studio and supplied flyers to many of LA’s most famous bands – Poison, Warrant, Tuff, Jade, Bang Tango, Pretty Boy Floyd.
While on tour, Basse received The Dallas Music News “Best Male Vocalist Award.”
Willie also appeared on the TV Show “Friends” in the “Smelly Cat” episode.
He's worked with Gary Kellgren, Andy Johns, Buddy Miles, Canned Heat, Ken Scott, Robert Fitzpatrick, Stephan Stills, Mike Finnigan, Joe Vitalli, Dr. Dre, Sisqo, Randy Chortkoff/Delta Groove Music, Rob Grill, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson, Vinnie and Carmine Appice, DJ Ashba, Glen Sobel, Phil Soussan, Tony Franklin, Scott Page, Lee Thornburg, Sean McNabb, Jay Baumgardner, Dennis MacKay, Paul Shortino, JK Northrup, Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet and many more.
As a songwriter for Leon Russell’s Shelter Records and with his rock band Black Sheep, Basse developed a keen sense of melody and a knack for discovering major talent. Black Sheep has been home to some of today’s best rock musicians - Slash, James Kottak, Paul Gilbert, Randy Castillo, Mitch Perry, JP Cervoni, Marshall Harrison, Mark Harden.
In his New York Times best seller book, SLASH called his experience with Willie and Black Sheep, “A Rite of Passage.” Willie is also founder of “Rock For Recovery” a charity organization that helps develop Alcohol & Drug-Abuse awareness. His Charity, FeedAmerica-Now.org works nationwide to help END Hunger.
With his Pro-Audio division, KGB/Killer Gear Broker, his clientele includes;
A & M Studios-Hollywood, Capitol Records Studios-Hollywood, Larabee Recording, Ocean Way Recording, Paramount Recording, M.A.D. Labs, Sony Music Studios, Scott Humphrey/The Chop Shop, Jonathan Davis/Korn, Toby Wright, Bill Kennedy, Garth Richardson, Joe Barisi, Don Smith, Doug Fieger, Lindsey Buckingham, Mike Campbell, Teddy Riley, Mike Ellisondo, Raphael Saadiq/Blakeslee Recording Co., Manny Morroquin. Go to: http://mastercraftstudios.com
His first recording facility housed the MCI-528 from Spencer Proffer’s Pasha Recording. He later acquired Preferred Sound, a private studio in Woodland Hills, Ca. refurbishing it to house a SSL-6056 E/G-Plus. He recently rebuilt Artisan Sound Recorders in Chatsworth, CA. and transformed it into a world-class SSL-4064 G-Plus facility. His current studio project is a 4,200 square ft. custom designed and hand built facility that houses a 1972 vintage NEVE-8034 console with two-inch analog as well as Pro Tools/HD.
WILLIE BASSE recently worked with legendary Led Zeppelin engineer/producer, ANDY JOHNS on his new single, “BREAK AWAY.” It features legendary Dokken guitarist, GEORGE LYNCH, Scorpions drummer, JAMES KOTTAK, CSN keyboardist, MIKE FINNIGAN and MSG guitarist, MITCH PERRY.
Look for more music from WILLIE BASSE, available at all digital media outlets worldwide, as well as live tour dates. Willie has a Podcast called, TALES FROM THE SUNSET STRIP It is Rock & Roll TV and Internet Radio at its finest featuring Current Events, Entertainment News and Interviews with Entertainment Icons from Stage, Screen & Business. Visit http://thesunsetstriponline.com
WILLIE BASSE replaces guitarist, Bruce Bouillet with Italian Guitar Virtuoso, PATRICK ABBATE.
@wbasse: Sweep Picking guitar lesson w/Patrick Abbate
http://t.co/GaRK5H86LW
@PatrickAbbate http://t.co/sqc8mNclkq
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ds248wLVAPI&sns=tw
For Immediate Release
WILLIE BASSE announces his current 2014 touring line-up:
BRUCE BOUILLET - Guitars (Racer-X, The Scream)
SCOTT WARREN - Keyboards (Dio, Warrant, Heaven & Hell, Dio's Disciples)
ANTHONY BIUSO -Drums (TSOL, Hed PE)
Visit http://williebasse.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For All Things WILLIE BASSE (Press, Info, Tour Dates, Links, Photos and more...) download the new WILLIE BASSE SMARTPHONE APP!
FREE for Android and iPhones
iPhone App: https://t.co/KcJv2jB08u
Android App: https://t.co/c1ZS868QXn
Visit http://williebasse.com
Janesville. WI