Billy Oskay

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Billy Oskay is an American violinist and record producer.

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Biography

Billy Oskay was born and raised in Kingston, New York, where he first learned to play the violin at the age seven. [1] In 1970, he began studying under Eugen Prokop at the International Academy of Music in Palma de Mallorca, Spain and in 1971 earned his master's degree in music from Ball State University in Indiana. [1] Oskay was the head of the music department at Oregon's Mt. Angel College, and later joined the swing combo Everything's Jake. [1]

In 1983, he met Irish guitarist Mícheál Ó Domhnaill who was an influential figure in the Irish traditional music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, having performed for seven years with The Bothy Band and collaborated for several years with the master fiddler Kevin Burke. Oskay and Ó Domhnaill began to collaborate on a new and innovative music that integrated traditional Irish, jazz, and classical chamber music. They composed and recorded some songs in Oskay's Portland, Oregon home and were pleased with the unique understated sound they had created, which had a "rough but fresh quality that engendered a serene atmosphere". Ó Domhnaill signed a contract with William Ackerman at Windham Hill Records, and the tracks he and Oskay had recorded in Portland were mixed and released in 1984 under the title Nightnoise .

In 1987, Oskay and Ó Domhnaill were joined by Mícheál's sister, Irish pianist and vocalist Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, and Irish-American flutist Brian Dunning to found the musical group Nightnoise. The group toured the world and recorded three additional albums: Something of Time (1987), At the End of the Evening (1988), and The Parting Tide (1990). During that time, Oskay emerged as a prolific session musician appearing on projects by harp guitarist John Doan, bluegrass guitarist Dan Crary, and others. [1] Oskay also produced many albums at his Oskay Recording studio in Portland. [1] [2]

In 1992, Oskay left Nightnoise to focus on record production. In 1993, he purchased 26 acres of land in Corbett, Oregon, where he built the Big Red Studio from 1997 to 2000. The studio's centerpiece was a 1979 Trident TSM console, once owned by José Feliciano. [3] Since 2000 Oskay has produced numerous musical artists at his Big Red Studio in Corbett, including Drum Hat Buddha (2001) by Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer, Blu di Genova (2003) by Beppe Gambetta, and Renaissance of the Steel-String Guitar (2004) by Dan Crary. He still performs violin occasionally with Seattle-based singer-songwriter Jim Page. [3]

Discography

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<i>Nightnoise</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Billy Oskay and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill

Nightnoise is a studio album released by Billy Oskay and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill.

<i>Something of Time</i> 1987 studio album by Nightnoise

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<i>At the End of the Evening</i> 1988 studio album by Nightnoise

At the End of the Evening is a studio album by Nightnoise. The album was released by Windham Hill Records (WD-1076) in 1988.

<i>The Parting Tide</i> 1990 studio album by Nightnoise

The Parting Tide is a studio album by Nightnoise. The album was released by Windham Hill Records (WD-1097) in 1990.

<i>Shadow of Time</i> (album) 1993 studio album by Nightnoise

Shadow of Time is a studio album by Nightnoise. The album was released by Windham Hill Records in 1993.

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A Different Shore is the sixth studio album by Nightnoise. The album was released by Windham Hill Records on 9 May 1995.

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Promenade is a studio album by Kevin Burke and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, released in 1979 by Mulligan Records.

<i>Portland</i> (album) 1982 studio album by , Kevin Burke and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill

Portland is a studio album by Kevin Burke and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, released in 1982 by Green Linnet Records. This is the second and final album by this duo who first played together with the popular Irish traditional group The Bothy Band.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ankeny, Jason. "Billy Oskay". AllMusic. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Billy Oskay". Big Red Studio. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  3. 1 2 D'Antoni, Tom (November 26, 2013). "Big Red Studio's Billy Oskay on a lifetime of recording music". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
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