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Billy Bang

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After Bang returned from the war, his life lacked direction. The job he had held before the army had been filled in his absence. He pursued and then abandoned a law degree, before becoming politically active and falling in with an underground group of revolutionaries. The group recognized Bang's
240:, and he struggled to reconcile the disparity between the wealth of the school and the poverty of his home in New York. He left the school after two years and attended a school in The Bronx. He did not graduate, decided not to return to school after receiving his 228:, at which point he abandoned the instrument because the school did not have a music program. He had difficulty adjusting to life at the school, where he encountered racism and developed confusion about his identity, which he later blamed for his onset of 342:
Bang died on April 11, 2011. According to an associate, Bang had had lung cancer. He had been scheduled to perform on the opening day of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival on June 10, 2011. He is buried at
1340: 322:(2005), recorded with a band which included several other veterans of that war. The latter album also features two Vietnamese musicians based in the United States (voice and 209:. At that school, students were assigned instruments based on their physical size. Bang was fairly small, so he received a violin instead of either of his first choices, the 1736: 1676: 1167: 1731: 1686: 1494: 232:. Bang felt that he had little in common with the largely privileged children at the school, who included Jackie Robinson, Jr. (son of baseball star 585: 287:, buying from pawnshops and other small operators who did not conduct extensive background checks. During one of these trips, Bang spotted three 1336: 1641: 637: 1257: 1054: 335:
documents his return to Vietnam in 2008 to collaborate with Vietnamese musicians and come to terms with his experiences in the war. A
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knowledge of weapons from his time in the Army, and they used him to procure firearms for the group during trips to
1480: 217:. It was around this time that he acquired the nickname of "Billy Bang", derived from a popular cartoon character. 32: 696: 336: 205:
neighborhood while he was still an infant, and as a child he attended a special school for musicians in nearby
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Years given are for the recording(s), not first release, unless stated otherwise.
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Bang studied the violin until he earned a hardship scholarship to the
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hanging at the back of a pawnshop, and he impulsively purchased one.
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and another two weeks learning jungle warfare, arriving in
150: 102: 310:). Bang explored his experience in Vietnam in two albums: 942:(recorded in 1986, issued in 2012 by NoBusiness Records) 271:, he did one tour of combat duty, rising to the rank of 169:(September 20, 1947 – April 11, 2011), born 1623: 16:American jazz violinist and composer (1947–2011) 1737:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War 586:Commandment (For the Sculpture of Alain Kirili) 1677:Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York) 638:Above & Beyond: An Evening in Grand Rapids 1488: 1381: 1232:"Billy Bang - Lucky Man: Music from the Film" 1732:United States Army non-commissioned officers 1258:"OBIT: Jazz violinist Billy Bang dead at 63" 1144:, AllAboutJazz.com. Retrieved July 17, 2007. 1687:Deaths from lung cancer in New York (state) 1502: 1495: 1481: 1388: 1374: 1293: 31: 1152: 1150: 1091: 1089: 1087: 374: 1069: 1067: 354: 184: 1095: 975:Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace 1624: 1255: 1147: 1136: 1134: 1132: 1130: 1128: 1126: 1124: 1122: 1120: 1084: 1039: 1037: 1035: 1033: 298:'s band. In 1977, Bang co-founded the 1476: 1369: 1249: 1064: 783:A Night in Paris (Live at the Sunset) 1642:20th-century American male musicians 1156:Redwine, Nancy (November 11, 2004). 1117: 1030: 191:Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society 13: 903:Big M: A Tribute to Malachi Favors 14: 1748: 1341:New England Jazz History Database 1280: 1142:"A Fireside Chat With Billy Bang" 895:Live at the River East Art Center 777:Live at the Iron Works, Vancouver 1647:20th-century American violinists 1140:Jung, Fred (November 14, 2003). 1098:"Jazz Violinist Billy Bang Dies" 401:Distinction Without a Difference 388:2011) with the Survival Ensemble 1727:String Trio of New York members 1096:Mergner, Lee (April 12, 2011). 244:, and at the age of 18, he was 1717:Musicians from Mobile, Alabama 1395: 1256:Netsky, Ron (April 12, 2011). 1224: 1203: 1177: 890:(8th Harmonic Breakdown, 2002) 697:Lucky Man: Music from the Film 646:Four Seasons - East meets West 350: 1: 1043:Hull, Tom (October 3, 2005). 1024: 803: 1657:American male jazz composers 1045:"Billy Bang Is in the House" 180: 7: 1712:Justin Time Records artists 1707:Jazz musicians from Alabama 1672:Avant-garde jazz violinists 1348:obituary by Steve Smith in 1170:September 30, 2007, at the 1166:. Retrieved July 17, 2007. 1053:. Retrieved July 17, 2007. 10: 1753: 1722:NoBusiness Records artists 1667:Avant-garde jazz composers 1328:interview by Fred Jung at 1081:. Retrieved July 17, 2007. 796:History of Jazz in Reverse 648:(Heart Lord Studio, Japan) 470:Bangception, Willisau 1982 226:Stockbridge, Massachusetts 1554: 1510: 1454: 1403: 255:Bang spent six months in 138: 128: 120: 112: 98: 81: 61: 51: 46: 30: 23: 1662:American male violinists 1652:American jazz violinists 1444:A Tribute to Stuff Smith 1075:"Billy Bang – Biography" 525:A Tribute to Stuff Smith 464:(hat MUSICS, 1983) with 275:before he mustered out. 177:violinist and composer. 1504:String Trio of New York 1462:String Trio of New York 1163:The Santa-Cruz Sentinel 1009:World Saxophone Quartet 827:Traveling the Spaceways 707:String Trio of New York 313:Vietnam: The Aftermath 300:String Trio of New York 197:Bang's family moved to 1211:"Billy Bang Lucky Man" 1185:"Billy Bang Lucky Man" 1057:June 24, 2008, at the 770:Transforming the Space 604:Vietnam: The Aftermath 375:As leader or co-leader 371: 339:was released in 2021. 194: 171:William Vincent Walker 57:William Vincent Walker 47:Background information 1315:June 5, 2011, at the 358: 319:Vietnam: Reflections 267:. Starting out as an 188: 1702:Free jazz violinists 1586:Rebirth of a Feeling 1420:The Fire from Within 739:Rebirth of a Feeling 663:Billy Bang/Bill Cole 613:Vietnam: Reflections 498:The Fire from Within 333:Billy Bang Lucky Man 1697:Free jazz composers 1692:Electric violinists 1361:Justin Time Records 1339:audio interview at 1236:Jazz Music Archives 960:(Black Saint, 1981) 830:(Planet Arts, 2004) 755:With the FAB Trio ( 750:(Black Saint, 1986) 742:(Black Saint, 1983) 734:(Black Saint, 1983) 726:(Black Saint, 1980) 718:(Black Saint, 1979) 477:Live at Green Space 347:, Bronx, New York. 306:and double bassist 41:XIII, June 11, 2008 1351:The New York Times 372: 250:United States Army 222:Stockbridge School 195: 173:, was an American 116:Musician, composer 72:September 20, 1947 1619: 1618: 1470: 1469: 1412:Rainbow Gladiator 1158:"Big Bang Theory" 1050:The Village Voice 978:(Centering, 1980) 888:If You Believe... 789:Live in Amsterdam 553:Spirits Gathering 544:(Silkheart) with 430:Rainbow Gladiator 382:Black Man's Blues 345:Woodlawn Cemetery 161: 160: 1744: 1497: 1490: 1483: 1474: 1473: 1455:Related articles 1428:Live at Carlos 1 1390: 1383: 1376: 1367: 1366: 1297: 1275: 1274: 1272: 1270: 1253: 1247: 1246: 1244: 1242: 1228: 1222: 1221: 1219: 1217: 1207: 1201: 1200: 1198: 1196: 1181: 1175: 1154: 1145: 1138: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1093: 1082: 1071: 1062: 1041: 995:Wood Flute Songs 881:Spirits Entering 837:Marilyn Crispell 654:Prayer for Peace 565:Forbidden Planet 507:Live at Carlos 1 472:(hatOLOGY, 1998) 422:Changing Seasons 393:New York Collage 337:soundtrack album 302:(with guitarist 294:He later joined 263:just before the 131: 92:Harlem, New York 88: 71: 69: 54: 35: 21: 20: 1752: 1751: 1747: 1746: 1745: 1743: 1742: 1741: 1622: 1621: 1620: 1615: 1594:Natural Balance 1550: 1541:Charles Burnham 1506: 1501: 1471: 1466: 1450: 1399: 1394: 1319:discography at 1317:Wayback Machine 1289:discography at 1283: 1278: 1268: 1266: 1254: 1250: 1240: 1238: 1230: 1229: 1225: 1215: 1213: 1209: 1208: 1204: 1194: 1192: 1183: 1182: 1178: 1172:Wayback Machine 1155: 1148: 1139: 1118: 1108: 1106: 1094: 1085: 1073:Kelsey, Chris. 1072: 1065: 1059:Wayback Machine 1042: 1031: 1027: 906:(Delmark, 2006) 898:(Delmark, 2005) 884:(Delmark, 2001) 848:(Cadence, 1983) 806: 747:Natural Balance 681:Medicine Buddha 595:Big Bang Theory 377: 353: 234:Jackie Robinson 183: 164: 129: 90: 86: 75:Mobile, Alabama 73: 67: 65: 52: 42: 39:Vision Festival 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1750: 1740: 1739: 1734: 1729: 1724: 1719: 1714: 1709: 1704: 1699: 1694: 1689: 1684: 1679: 1674: 1669: 1664: 1659: 1654: 1649: 1644: 1639: 1634: 1617: 1616: 1614: 1606: 1598: 1590: 1582: 1574: 1566: 1558: 1556: 1552: 1551: 1549: 1548: 1543: 1537: 1536: 1529: 1522: 1511: 1508: 1507: 1500: 1499: 1492: 1485: 1477: 1468: 1467: 1465: 1464: 1458: 1456: 1452: 1451: 1449: 1448: 1440: 1432: 1424: 1416: 1407: 1405: 1401: 1400: 1393: 1392: 1385: 1378: 1370: 1364: 1363: 1354: 1343: 1334: 1331:All About Jazz 1323: 1307: 1298: 1282: 1281:External links 1279: 1277: 1276: 1263:City Newspaper 1248: 1223: 1202: 1176: 1146: 1116: 1083: 1063: 1028: 1026: 1023: 1022: 1021: 1004: 1003: 991: 979: 967:William Parker 962: 961: 944: 943: 931:Andrew Cyrille 915:Ahmed Abdullah 911:With The Group 908: 907: 899: 891: 885: 877: 871: 855:Kahil El'Zabar 850: 849: 832: 831: 823: 811:Ahmed Abdullah 805: 802: 801: 800: 792: 791:(Porter, 2009) 786: 780: 779:(Konnex, 2005) 774: 761:Barry Altschul 752: 751: 743: 735: 727: 719: 702: 701: 692: 690:William Parker 676: 667: 658: 649: 642: 633: 617: 608: 599: 590: 581: 568: 561: 548: 546:William Hooker 536: 533:Hip Hop Be Bop 529: 520: 511: 502: 493: 485:Outline No. 12 480: 473: 468:; reissued as 466:Dennis Charles 456: 447: 438: 425: 418: 409: 396: 389: 376: 373: 365:William Parker 359:In 2008, with 352: 349: 257:basic training 182: 179: 163:Musical artist 162: 159: 158: 140: 136: 135: 132: 126: 125: 122: 118: 117: 114: 110: 109: 100: 96: 95: 89:(aged 63) 85:April 11, 2011 83: 79: 78: 63: 59: 58: 55: 49: 48: 44: 43: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1749: 1738: 1735: 1733: 1730: 1728: 1725: 1723: 1720: 1718: 1715: 1713: 1710: 1708: 1705: 1703: 1700: 1698: 1695: 1693: 1690: 1688: 1685: 1683: 1680: 1678: 1675: 1673: 1670: 1668: 1665: 1663: 1660: 1658: 1655: 1653: 1650: 1648: 1645: 1643: 1640: 1638: 1635: 1633: 1630: 1629: 1627: 1612: 1611: 1607: 1604: 1603: 1599: 1596: 1595: 1591: 1588: 1587: 1583: 1580: 1579: 1575: 1572: 1571: 1570:Area Code 212 1567: 1564: 1563: 1559: 1557: 1553: 1547: 1546:Regina Carter 1544: 1542: 1539: 1538: 1535: 1534: 1530: 1528: 1527: 1523: 1521: 1520: 1519:John Lindberg 1516: 1515: 1514: 1509: 1505: 1498: 1493: 1491: 1486: 1484: 1479: 1478: 1475: 1463: 1460: 1459: 1457: 1453: 1446: 1445: 1441: 1438: 1437: 1433: 1430: 1429: 1425: 1422: 1421: 1417: 1414: 1413: 1409: 1408: 1406: 1402: 1398: 1391: 1386: 1384: 1379: 1377: 1372: 1371: 1368: 1362: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1352: 1347: 1344: 1342: 1338: 1335: 1333: 1332: 1327: 1324: 1322: 1318: 1314: 1311: 1308: 1306: 1302: 1299: 1296: 1292: 1288: 1285: 1284: 1265: 1264: 1259: 1252: 1237: 1233: 1227: 1212: 1206: 1190: 1186: 1180: 1173: 1169: 1165: 1164: 1159: 1153: 1151: 1143: 1137: 1135: 1133: 1131: 1129: 1127: 1125: 1123: 1121: 1105: 1104: 1099: 1092: 1090: 1088: 1080: 1076: 1070: 1068: 1060: 1056: 1052: 1051: 1046: 1040: 1038: 1036: 1034: 1029: 1019: 1018: 1014: 1013: 1012: 1011: 1010: 1001: 997: 996: 992: 989: 985: 984: 980: 977: 976: 972: 971: 970: 969: 968: 959: 958: 954: 953: 952: 951: 950: 949:John Lindberg 941: 940: 936: 935: 934: 932: 928: 924: 920: 916: 912: 905: 904: 900: 897: 896: 892: 889: 886: 883: 882: 878: 875: 872: 869: 865: 864: 860: 859: 858: 857: 856: 847: 846: 842: 841: 840: 839: 838: 829: 828: 824: 821: 820: 816: 815: 814: 813: 812: 798: 797: 793: 790: 787: 785:(Marge, 2008) 784: 781: 778: 775: 772: 771: 767: 766: 765: 764: 762: 758: 749: 748: 744: 741: 740: 736: 733: 732: 728: 725: 724: 723:Area Code 212 720: 717: 716: 712: 711: 710: 709: 708: 699: 698: 693: 691: 687: 683: 682: 677: 674: 673: 668: 665: 664: 659: 656: 655: 650: 647: 643: 641:(Justin Time) 640: 639: 634: 632: 628: 624: 623: 622:Configuration 618: 616:(Justin Time) 615: 614: 609: 607:(Justin Time) 606: 605: 600: 598:(Justin Time) 597: 596: 591: 588: 587: 582: 579: 575: 574: 569: 566: 562: 559: 555: 554: 549: 547: 543: 542: 541:Joy (Within)! 537: 534: 530: 527: 526: 521: 518: 517: 512: 509: 508: 503: 500: 499: 494: 491: 487: 486: 481: 478: 474: 471: 467: 463: 462: 457: 454: 453: 448: 446:(Anima, 1982) 445: 444: 443:Untitled Gift 439: 436: 432: 431: 426: 423: 419: 416: 415: 410: 407: 403: 402: 397: 394: 390: 387: 383: 379: 378: 370: 366: 362: 361:Fred Anderson 357: 348: 346: 340: 338: 334: 329: 327: 326: 321: 320: 315: 314: 309: 308:John Lindberg 305: 301: 297: 292: 290: 286: 282: 276: 274: 270: 266: 265:Tet Offensive 262: 261:South Vietnam 258: 253: 251: 247: 243: 239: 235: 231: 230:schizophrenia 227: 223: 218: 216: 212: 208: 204: 200: 199:New York City 192: 187: 178: 176: 172: 168: 156: 152: 148: 144: 141: 137: 133: 127: 123: 119: 115: 113:Occupation(s) 111: 108: 104: 101: 97: 93: 84: 80: 76: 64: 60: 56: 50: 45: 40: 34: 29: 22: 19: 1682:CIMP artists 1608: 1600: 1592: 1584: 1576: 1568: 1562:First String 1560: 1531: 1525: 1524: 1517: 1512: 1442: 1436:Valve No. 10 1434: 1426: 1418: 1410: 1396: 1349: 1329: 1267:. 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Bandcamp 1025:References 1017:Experience 804:As sideman 686:NoBusiness 666:(Shadrack) 452:Invitation 386:NoBusiness 167:Billy Bang 121:Instrument 68:1947-09-20 53:Birth name 25:Billy Bang 1610:Blues...? 1359:bio from 1269:April 12, 1109:April 12, 1103:JazzTimes 983:Scrapbook 874:The Power 863:Big Cliff 757:Joe Fonda 705:With the 627:Silkheart 589:(No More) 490:Celluloid 435:Soul Note 424:(Bellows) 331:The film 328:zither). 325:đàn tranh 248:into the 211:saxophone 181:Biography 175:free jazz 143:Soul Note 134:1972–2011 107:free jazz 1313:Archived 1168:Archived 1079:Allmusic 1055:Archived 921:, Bang, 672:Da Bang! 573:Bang On! 285:Virginia 281:Maryland 273:sergeant 189:Bang at 37:Bang at 1602:Octagon 1305:Myspace 1291:Discogs 1216:May 30, 1195:May 30, 1002:, 2013) 990:, 2003) 870:, 1995) 868:Delmark 763:/ Bang) 688:) with 629:) with 479:(Anima) 417:(Anima) 406:hat Hut 289:violins 246:drafted 213:or the 155:Hat hut 1613:(1993) 1605:(1992) 1597:(1986) 1589:(1983) 1581:(1981) 1573:(1980) 1565:(1979) 1555:Albums 1447:(1992) 1439:(1991) 1431:(1986) 1423:(1984) 1415:(1981) 1404:Albums 1241:May 8, 1020:(2004) 923:Sirone 694:2021: 678:2014: 669:2013: 660:2010: 651:2010: 644:2009: 635:2007: 631:Sirone 619:2005: 610:2004: 601:2001: 592:2000: 583:1997: 570:1997: 563:1997: 550:1996: 538:1996: 531:1993: 522:1992: 513:1991: 504:1986: 495:1984: 482:1983: 475:1982: 458:1982: 449:1982: 440:1982: 427:1981: 420:1981: 411:1979: 398:1979: 391:1978: 380:1977: 296:Sun Ra 236:) and 207:Harlem 139:Labels 124:Violin 99:Genres 94:, U.S. 77:, U.S. 1007:With 965:With 947:With 853:With 835:With 809:With 700:(BBE) 675:(TUM) 657:(TUM) 535:(ITM) 215:drums 203:Bronx 157:, TUM 1271:2011 1243:2024 1218:2023 1197:2023 1111:2011 939:Live 558:CIMP 367:and 283:and 151:CIMP 103:Jazz 82:Died 62:Born 1303:at 1189:BBE 224:in 201:'s 1628:: 1260:. 1234:. 1187:. 1160:, 1149:^ 1119:^ 1100:. 1086:^ 1077:, 1066:^ 1047:, 1032:^ 933:) 929:, 925:, 917:, 759:/ 363:, 252:. 153:, 149:, 145:, 105:, 1496:e 1489:t 1482:v 1389:e 1382:t 1375:v 1273:. 1245:. 1220:. 1199:. 1174:. 1113:. 1061:. 998:( 986:( 913:( 866:( 684:( 625:( 580:) 576:( 560:) 556:( 492:) 488:( 437:) 433:( 408:) 404:( 384:( 70:) 66:(

Index

Bang at Vision Festival XIII, June 11, 2008
Vision Festival
Mobile, Alabama
Harlem, New York
Jazz
free jazz
Soul Note
Justin Time
CIMP
Hat hut
free jazz

Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society
New York City
Bronx
Harlem
saxophone
drums
Stockbridge School
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
schizophrenia
Jackie Robinson
Arlo Guthrie
draft papers
drafted
United States Army
basic training
South Vietnam
Tet Offensive
infantryman

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