One of two Harpo’s
Chief Billy – one of two Harpo’s
Chief Billy performing at an early Key West Musicians Festival.
William Ochoa Jr. (aka Chief Billy) was born just outside of Pasadena, California and is of Mexican and Native American heritage. At age 9, he received a snare drum for Christmas but by December 28, it was taken away because he was rehearsing too much. His parents replaced it with a guitar. He had a few lessons but, for the most part, was self-taught. He took some music theory classes in high school and learned to write music.
Playing at the famous BO’s Fishwagon – his favorite.
His father was a high school football star in Monrovia, California. He became an accountant and business expert for Hamilton Standard, a large propeller manufacture, and was later based in Fort Wayne. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1970, Chief Billy’s family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ironically, he is now living in Fort Wayne, near the home where his parents had lived.
Chief Billy began playing in a small band. In 1974, the band moved to Manhattan where they started as roadies for Patty LaBelle. He had a crush on Sarah Dash, one of singers but was “beaten out” by Richard Roundtree. In 1981, he traveled to Florida, playing music with Night Wind, a bluegrass band that toured festivals. Sometimes he wore a white shirt and vest and a cowboy hat, with a flattened brim, making him look like an Oglala Sioux native. Musician Rock Bottom immediately named him “Chief Billy” and it stuck. Billy refers to it as “an ethnic slur that became a musical accolade”. Chief Billy met Barry Cuda and many other music artists at the Tampa Bay Blues Festivals during the 70s and 80s.
Chief Billy at his “Going Away Party” at BO’s Fishwagon.
From contacts acquired from Cuda, Chief began touring Northern Europe as a trio with Rose Romance on bass and David Krisler on banjo. When it ended they hooked up with Cuda and the Silver Kings toward the end of their tour. The Silver Kings were breaking up and Cuda moved to Key West. Chief Billy stayed in Northern Europe. In the early 90s, Cuda formed a band in Key West called Sharks. They had a new gig at the La Concha, and they would give him a room for a month to help get him established in Key West. By the time Chief Billy moved from Europe to Key West, the La Concha was sold and the whole gig fell apart.
Margie DiMonte and Chief Billy met by chance through a Solaris Hill interview. She was from Boston and like many others, loved Key West, and quickly moved here. She had a master’s degree in social work and began working in the Key West school system. They dated and quickly fell in love. They were married in Key West about a year later. Their marriage lasted for over 20 years. After a divorce they are still good friends – and to this day Chief Billy says Margie was his muse.
Barry Cuda and the Sharks, included Chief Billy, Steve Mello on drums, and Marty Stonely on sax, continued and became a popular Key West group. With a little help from Cuda, they played gigs all over town. In 1994, BO’s Fishwagon moved to its current location on Caroline Street and for the next 25 years, the Sharks was their Friday night band.
Chief Billy at his “Going Away Party” at BO’s Fishwagon. Seen here with BO (Buddy Owens) himself.
Beer was free at BO’s for the band members when they first started playing but soon afterwards, owner Buddy Owens had to limit the band to three free beers each. Chief Billy and Steve were the rhythm section for Cuda and the Sharks. They made an album with Cuda called Fish Nuts. Steve was a mischief maker and he and Chief Billy were always cutting up but he was a musician first, some say a musical genius. To this day, Cuda says he felt like Groucho Marks performing with two Harpo’s.
Chief gigging with the late Richard Crooks.
World famous drummer Richard Crooks and Chief Billy were introduced by Barry Cuda while playing at BO’s Fishwagon in 2006. They started gigging together at Blue Heaven. Richard, Tim McAlpine, and Chief Billy had a gig at Blue Heaven one night and they tried some different approaches to several cover songs. Chief called for an older Dylan song “Tangled Up in Blue” and said to Richard “Just think of it like the Blood on the Tracks sector.” Richard Crooks who often recorded with the great Bob Dylan, quickly responded, “Hey, this more fun than playing with Dylan – don’t pay as much but more fun.”
Chief Billy released a wonderful album of original music titled Five Brothers Rhapsody. He recorded it with a group of friends Including Art Descoteaux and Island Alex. His four favorite songs on the album are “Blues Like I Never Had”, “Somebody Get Well”, “Song Looking Up”, and “Song Over the Line”.
Chief Billy has been playing guitar for over 50 years. He lived in Key West for 22 years. During our first interview in 2014, I noticed and old Smith Corona (circa 1982) typewriter on a small desk. He has met a lot of cool people in his life and took notes. He has been writing manuscripts for decades and has been compiling stories over the years. He says, “If the power goes off, I can still work.” Chief has since completed a four book memoir “Cut The Re-Bop” aid says he is living through book five.
Cool! That fills me in…All the best Billy!
🙏