Dusty Hill

Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician who was the bassist of the rock band ZZ Top for more than 50 years. He also sang backing and lead vocals and played keyboards.

Dusty Hill
Hill performing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameJoe Michael Hill
Born(1949-05-19)May 19, 1949
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 28, 2021 (aged 72)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals
Years active1957–2021
Labels
  • Rhino
  • WEA
  • RCA
  • Warner Bros.
  • London
Formerly of

Hill was born in Dallas, Texas. As a child, he began performing music with his brother, Rocky Hill. In 1968, he and the drummer Frank Beard joined the guitarist Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top; they went on to release albums including the bestselling Eliminator (1983). Hill favored simple compositions and a "big", distorted sound. Critics described his basslines as a critical part of ZZ Top's sound, complementing Gibbons' guitar showmanship.

Hill was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of ZZ Top in 2004. He died in 2021 after a period of declining health. In line with his wishes, he was succeeded by the band's longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.