Sanford, Billy (9th January 1940-Present)

He is a guitarist and mandolin player born William R. Sanford in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

During the 1950s he began to perform at the Louisiana Hayride and when the 1960s came along it wasn’t long before he relocated to Nashville and became a musician there. One of his early jobs was as a guitarist with Roy Orbison’s band and he was a member of The Texas Playboys from 1967 to 1968.

He went on to become an extremely sought after Nashville session musician and worked with countless acts that include The Addrisi Brothers, Lynn Anderson, Moe Bandy, Randy Barlow, Debby Boone, Marshall Chapman, Vassar Clements, David Allen Coe, Lacy J. Dalton, Donna Fargo, Janie Fricke, Don Gibson, Crystal Gayle, Bobby Goldsboro, Steve Goodman, Vern Gosdin, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Levon Helm, Bobby Helms, Ferlin Husky, Sonny James, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Doug and Sammy Kershaw, John D. Loudermilk, Loretta Lynn, Charlie McCoy, Reba McEntire, Bill Medley, Ronnie Milsap, Mickey Newbury, Wayne Newton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Marie Osmond, Elvis Presley, Charley Pride, Jeannie C. Riley, Hargus “Pig” Robbins, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joe Royal, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joe Stampley, Ray Stevens, B.J. Thomas, Gene Watson, Andy Williams, Tammy Wynette and Trisha Yearwood among others.

The amount of albums he has performed are too numerous to mention but a small selection of them includes Bare/Sleeper Wherever I Fall by Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash 1958-1986 by Johnny Cash, Friendship by Ray Charles, Always by Patsy Cline, Liberty by Gene Cotton, Some Days Are Diamonds by John Denver, No Place That Far by Sara Evans, Darlin’ by Tom Jones, Mercury Smashes…and Rockin’ Sessions by Jerry Lee Lewis, Personal Belongings by Dave Loggins, Western Album by Don McLean, Monkees Present by The Monkees, Revolutions of Time: The Journey 1975-1993 by Willie Nelson, Love Songs by Roy Orbison, Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, Country Soul by Johnny Paycheck, Essential Marty Robbins by Marty Robbins, The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, Hank Wilson’s Back! by Leon Russell and RCA Country Legends by Sylvia and Faded Love 1947-1973 by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys as a few of many.

Randy Barlow recordings
Dixie Man (J.L. Wallace/Terry Skinner/Ken Bell )

Hargus “Pig” Robbins recordings
Unbreakable Hearts
Elektra (E-46512-A) (US promo 45)

Kenny Rogers recordings
The Gambler (D. Schlitz)
United Artists UA-X1250Y (UAST-20122) (US 45)

Sources:

Sanford, Billy (9th January 1940-Present)

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