Working with a Hero: Billy Martin
I’ve had the honor of working alongside one of my absolute heroes, Billy Martin, over the last few years. Why is he a hero? Well, if you know, you know. And if you don’t… I’m not sure I could ever put it into words in a way that does him justice. Billy isn’t just an incredible artist—he’s a rare kind of human being, the kind who carries a deep well of wisdom, not just knowledge, and shares it generously.
There are at least a dozen tracks out there that we’ve done together, and they rank among my most cherished works. But what’s even more exciting is what’s on the horizon. Lately, I’ve been diving into some new ideas inspired by Billy’s book Stridulations and Claves of African Origin, spending long, intense days just the two of us, staring at his percussion, dissecting his real concepts on a foundational level.
Sometimes, when you’re building your grand skyscraper, you realize you can only go as high as the foundation allows. That’s where someone with more than just information—someone with real knowledge—becomes invaluable. Billy has that. He’s the kind of mentor who can point you back to the origins, to the core of what makes rhythm breathe and groove in the first place.
Without giving too much away, here’s a clip of the two of us from one of those days at Herman House. Just a moment in time, but one that speaks volumes.
I’d play music with Billy any day, any time. He’s a national—hell, an international—treasure. And it’s not just about what he plays, but who he is and how he is.
There’s something to be said for those who truly know—not just the kids, but adults too. In a world drowning in surface-level information, real knowledge is a different beast. And those who carry it? They’re worth seeking out.
Find your heroes. Find your mentors. Make time to be around them, especially those who have walked this road longer than you have. There’s no shortcut to depth, but if you’re lucky, someone like Billy Martin might just help you dig a little deeper. You may find your self saying that's it, that what I was waiting for, and they may say that was what i was waiting to share with some one….
