Billy King, Corpus Christi musician

Hi everyone, this is Leea Mechling. I write to you today about my longtime friend- whom so many of you know: Billy King. One of the most talented drummers you’d ever hope to meet, Billy has spent his career in the Coastal Bend, based out of Corpus Christi. He was in one of the first blues bands in the area, The Dog House Blues Band.

Billy is experiencing some serious health issues and needs our help.

As a result of a fence being blown down on top of him during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Billy suffered a terrible injury to his jaw that required several surgeries. However, a deep infection took hold and additional surgery was required to remove the jaw, replacing it with a prosthetic. It gets worse: that incurable infection caused the prosthetic to fail, be removed and replaced a second time. If that wasn’t enough, Billy developed a heart complication: Atrial Fibrillation. But wait! It gets even better: he has received a diagnosis of Parkinson's. Billy is unable to work because of these ailments. He and his wife need our help with medical copays and living expenses. I believe we can come together and meet the modest goal set and even surpass it.

All funds raised will go directly to Billy to assist him during this difficult time.

Born on February 8, 1951 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Billy King was educated in the public school system and graduated from Calallen High School in 1969. Incredibly musical from an early age, Billy was banging on pots and pans before he ever saw a drum kit. There’s a photo of him in one of his first bands in 1961 with them all dressed in suits with skinny ties. They were so young and earnest.

In 1969, the band Billy was in called The Red House recorded a 45 record with “Sunflower” as the “A” side. This song was a KEYS Radio (Corpus Christi, Tex) Pick-Of-The Week in June ’69. Members of the band were John Coco (vocals and harmonica), Ric Gonzalez (lead guitar), Tommy Durham (guitar), James Noe (bass) and Billy King (drums). They recorded that 45 at Andrus Studios in Houston on Monday, April 7th, 1969. In the summer of ’69 The Red House was the house-band at Corpus Christi’s “Love-Street Light Circus and Feel-Good Machine” club. Billy was 17. The Red House opened for bands like Bubble Puppy and were contemporaries of the Zachary Thaks and the Moving Sidewalks.

Over the years Billy’s bandmates have included John Lopez, Cid Sanchez, Joe Sublett, Howard McLaughlin and many many more. Drummer friends of Billy include Poco Falcon, Lenny Sanchez and Chris Layton.

Billy was the drummer laying down the beat for several bands in the area including The Shoestring, The Red House, Dog House Blues Band, Colt, Strictly Jive and the Rockville Blues Band. He was a member of Freddie Fender’s band for a few years.

His work career outside the world of music was spent as a counselor for drug and alcohol addiction with his skills helping many people regain their lives and live productively.

Billy has spent his life creating music culture in Corpus Christi and assisting folks with addiction issues while raising a family and navigating life’s challenges. It’s our turn to help him.