Bushwalla
Encyclopedia
Billy "Bushwalla" Galewood is an American
singer, songwriter
and rapper from Cleveland, Ohio
.
At the age of nine, Bushwalla entered a youth theater group called "Kids on Broadway". Ten years later Billy migrated to New York City
, where he studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy
. There he met Jason Mraz
at a party and they subsequently became roommates. After years of honing their own musicianship, the two then moved from New York to Mraz's native Virginia
, then California where they performed together as often as they could. Among their collaborations is "Curbside Prophet
", a track from Mraz's album Waiting for My Rocket to Come
.
Bushwalla eventually ended up in California where he continued to hone his eclectic acoustic
/hip-hop sound. Known for his freestyle
skills on the microphone, Bushwalla has toured extensively throughout the U.S., independently releasing his album Ghetto Blaster, which features the likes of Spooner Oldham
, Speechwriters LLC
, and Jason Mraz
’s rhythm section. Bushwalla's shows blend hip-hop, acoustic rock, funk, improvisation and comedy. His performances also incorporate circus tricks such as hula hooping, fire breathing, face balancing, juggling and balloon art.
Throughout 2006, Bushwalla and his band had a regular gig every Sunday at Twiggs Coffeehouse in San Diego. These Sunday shows quickly garnered cult
-status, as Bushwalla always had special guests with him on stage, including Jason Mraz
, Dawn Mitschele, Aaron Leibowitz, Keith Benton, Ainslie Henderson
, Jessie Payo, Carlos Olmeda, Toca Rivera, and many more.
In 2006 Bushwalla traveled around the country to people's houses for private Living Room Concerts (LRCs). Bushwalla formed the 1-2-3 Band with around 10 of his closest friends. Their live performances were dynamic, very spontaneous and extremely humorous. Jason Mraz
was an unofficial member of the band, and often joined them on stage. In April 2008, Bushwalla was part of the Music, Magic, Make Peace Tour with headliner Jason Mraz, The Makepeace Brothers and magician Justin Willman. He subsequently toured with Jason Mraz in 2009 playing for thousands of people.
Autodidactical Freestyle and Radical and the Old Street Ep were released in 2007 and 2008. The Man Who Invented the Sky was released in summer 2010.
Bushwalla tours constantly throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Asia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and rapper from Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
At the age of nine, Bushwalla entered a youth theater group called "Kids on Broadway". Ten years later Billy migrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he studied musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy
American Musical and Dramatic Academy
The American Musical and Dramatic Academy , is a college conservatory for the performing arts located in New York City and Los Angeles, California....
. There he met Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
at a party and they subsequently became roommates. After years of honing their own musicianship, the two then moved from New York to Mraz's native Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, then California where they performed together as often as they could. Among their collaborations is "Curbside Prophet
Curbside Prophet
"Curbside Prophet" is a song by Jason Mraz. It was released as part of his first major studio album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which is one of the lyrics of this song. The song was remixed with additional and modified lyrics for the 2004 film New York Minute...
", a track from Mraz's album Waiting for My Rocket to Come
Waiting for My Rocket to Come
-Personnel:*Jason Mraz – vocals, acoustic guitar, backing vocals on tracks 3 and 6Additional personnel*John Alagía – Hammond organ on tracks 1, 2, 6, 8 and 12, electric guitar on track 3, tambourine on tracks 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12, shaker on tracks 1, 3 and 6, Wurlitzer on tracks 3 and 6,...
.
Bushwalla eventually ended up in California where he continued to hone his eclectic acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
/hip-hop sound. Known for his freestyle
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
skills on the microphone, Bushwalla has toured extensively throughout the U.S., independently releasing his album Ghetto Blaster, which features the likes of Spooner Oldham
Spooner Oldham
Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
, Speechwriters LLC
Speechwriters LLC
Speechwriters LLC is an American acoustic pop group from Claremont, California. They began as a two-man coffeehouse act but have expanded to bigger and better venues and a respectable following...
, and Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
’s rhythm section. Bushwalla's shows blend hip-hop, acoustic rock, funk, improvisation and comedy. His performances also incorporate circus tricks such as hula hooping, fire breathing, face balancing, juggling and balloon art.
Throughout 2006, Bushwalla and his band had a regular gig every Sunday at Twiggs Coffeehouse in San Diego. These Sunday shows quickly garnered cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
-status, as Bushwalla always had special guests with him on stage, including Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
, Dawn Mitschele, Aaron Leibowitz, Keith Benton, Ainslie Henderson
Ainslie Henderson
Ainslie Thomas Henderson is a Scottish singer-songwriter. He is best known for his appearance on the BBC's television programme, Fame Academy, and his subsequent Top 5 UK single, "Keep Me A Secret"...
, Jessie Payo, Carlos Olmeda, Toca Rivera, and many more.
In 2006 Bushwalla traveled around the country to people's houses for private Living Room Concerts (LRCs). Bushwalla formed the 1-2-3 Band with around 10 of his closest friends. Their live performances were dynamic, very spontaneous and extremely humorous. Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
was an unofficial member of the band, and often joined them on stage. In April 2008, Bushwalla was part of the Music, Magic, Make Peace Tour with headliner Jason Mraz, The Makepeace Brothers and magician Justin Willman. He subsequently toured with Jason Mraz in 2009 playing for thousands of people.
Autodidactical Freestyle and Radical and the Old Street Ep were released in 2007 and 2008. The Man Who Invented the Sky was released in summer 2010.
Bushwalla tours constantly throughout the US, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Discography
- One A.M.
- Sessions
- GhettoBlaster EP
- Autodidactical Freestyle and Radical
- Old Street EP
- The Man Who Invented the Sky