JoJo Billingsley
Encyclopedia
Deborah Jo "JoJo" Billingsley (May 28, 1952 – June 24, 2010) was an American
singer, soloist, songwriter
and recording artist. As a backing vocalist
, Billingsley was best known for her work with the Southern rock
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
. As one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Honkettes, she toured with the band all over the world, from Japan
to England
.
and Leslie Hawkins, to be a backup singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The group's leader Ronnie Van Zant
dubbed them "The Honkettes
".
In the October 20, 1977, an airplane crash killed several members of the band and road crew, but Billingsley was the only band member not on the flight. She stated that she had a dream two nights before the plane crashed, foreseeing the event. She attempted to warn the other band members not to get on the plane. According to Billingsley, this experience led her to become a born-again Christian.
, Artimus Pyle
and Leslie Hawkins, which helped raise money for Hurricane Katrina
victims.
In 2006, Hawkins and Billingsley performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd for the third time since the 1977 plane crash. The first was at Charlie Daniels' 1979 Volunteer Jam (film of which appears in the VH-1 Behind The Music
profile of the band), the second at the opening of Freebird The Movie at Atlanta's Fox Theatre
in 1995), and singing "Sweet Home Alabama
" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
induction ceremony at which Lynyrd Skynyrd was honored. In 2006, she reunited with the then-current members of Lynyrd Skynyrd at a their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also performed with members of the group at occasional charity or memorial events http://themusicsover.com/2010/06/24/jojo-billingsley/.
Billingsley also made many television and radio appearances, appeared in several movies and DVDs, and travelled extensively. Her latest CD to be released was titled I Will Obey.
where they attended Spirit Life Church. She also had a son, Justin, who is in the US Navy
.
in Cullman at the age of 58.
Performing with the band video
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, soloist, 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 recording artist. As a backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, Billingsley was best known for her work with the Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
band Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. As one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Honkettes, she toured with the band all over the world, from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
In December 1975, she was hired, along with Cassie GainesCassie Gaines
Cassie LaRue Gaines was an American singer. She was a member of the female gospel vocal trio The Honkettes, who in 1975 became the backup singers for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
and Leslie Hawkins, to be a backup singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The group's leader Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
dubbed them "The Honkettes
The Honkettes
The Honkettes was the name given to the female backing singers of the Southern Rock and Roll band Lynyrd Skynyrd. These members were Cassie Gaines JoJo Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins...
".
In the October 20, 1977, an airplane crash killed several members of the band and road crew, but Billingsley was the only band member not on the flight. She stated that she had a dream two nights before the plane crashed, foreseeing the event. She attempted to warn the other band members not to get on the plane. According to Billingsley, this experience led her to become a born-again Christian.
Recent appearances
In 2005, she performed several times as "The Honkettes" in an alternative version of Lynyrd Skynyrd called "The Saturday Night Special Band" that included former Skynyrd members Ed KingEd King
Edward C. King is an American musician. He is best known as the guitarist for psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd....
, Artimus Pyle
Artimus Pyle
Thomas Delmer "Artimus" Pyle is an American musician best known for playing drums with Lynyrd Skynyrd, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.-Early life and career:...
and Leslie Hawkins, which helped raise money for Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
victims.
In 2006, Hawkins and Billingsley performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd for the third time since the 1977 plane crash. The first was at Charlie Daniels' 1979 Volunteer Jam (film of which appears in the VH-1 Behind The Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
profile of the band), the second at the opening of Freebird The Movie at Atlanta's Fox Theatre
Fox Theatre (Atlanta)
The Fox Theatre , a former movie palace, is a performing arts venue located at 660 Peachtree Street NE in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, and is the centerpiece of the Fox Theatre Historic District....
in 1995), and singing "Sweet Home Alabama
Sweet Home Alabama (song)
"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping.It reached #8 on the US charts in 1974, and was the band's second hit single.-Creation and recording:...
" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
induction ceremony at which Lynyrd Skynyrd was honored. In 2006, she reunited with the then-current members of Lynyrd Skynyrd at a their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She also performed with members of the group at occasional charity or memorial events http://themusicsover.com/2010/06/24/jojo-billingsley/.
Billingsley also made many television and radio appearances, appeared in several movies and DVDs, and travelled extensively. Her latest CD to be released was titled I Will Obey.
Family
Billingsley lived with her husband, Tim, and her daughter, Destiny, in Cullman, AlabamaCullman, Alabama
Cullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
where they attended Spirit Life Church. She also had a son, Justin, who is in the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Death
Billingsley died on June 24, 2010 after a battle with cancerCancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in Cullman at the age of 58.
External links
- Interview Bands Of Dixie & SweetHomeMusic.fr (2008)
Performing with the band video