Billy Block, the founder and longtime host of the weekly Western Beat music series in Nashville, died Wednesday (March 11) after a long fight with metastatic melanoma. He was 59.
For decades, Block advocated for artists who didn’t fit neatly into mainstream country, although some of his onstage guests did ultimately become stars — Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Keith Urban among them.
“Billy Block is such a staple in the Nashville music community, and it was really cool of him to support us when we were fresh out of college trying to figure it all out,” FGL’s Brian Kelley told the Nashville Scene in 2014. “Tyler (Hubbard) and I owe him a lot for having our backs in those early days. … It was really cool being on his weekly show and getting introduced to new people around town.”
“Man, Billy really is a believer in new artists, and we were honored that he took an interest in what we were doing,” Hubbard added. “He was a really cool guy to learn from.”
Block grew up in Texas, then relocated to Los Angeles in 1985 to pursue a career as a drummer. He and his wife Jill moved to Nashville in 1995. Together, they built a Nashville following with a weekly live radio show built around four or five acts. In addition to drumming for some of the bands, Block emceed with an undeniably cheerful demeanor.
“Billy Block’s Western Beat was the first live radio show coming out of Nashville that put a frame around what eventually came to be known as Americana music,” Rodney Crowell told the Scene. “We ’Americana’ artists would do well to remember this.”
CMT picked up Block’s show, Western Beat With Billy Block, in 2000, giving alt-country — as it was often called then — a national audience.
man, I just knew Billy Block as a great guy & friend who fiercely supported my band & friends' music. reading his life story, I'm blown away
— Charlie Worsham (@charlieworsham) March 11, 2015
RIP @billyblock we'll miss you.
— allison moorer (@1allisonmoorer) March 11, 2015
God Speed @billyblock Thank you for always believing in all of us. #ripbillyblock
— Randy Rogers Band (@rrbchoir) March 11, 2015
RIP Billy Block. Thanks for all you did for us and for music In Nashville. You will be missed. #BillyBlock pic.twitter.com/nxSCguwvYo
— Terri Clark (@TerriClarkMusic) March 11, 2015
My long time friend and absolutely amazing person Billy Block passed away…
— ChrisYoungMusic (@ChrisYoungMusic) March 11, 2015
RIP Billy Block. Thanks for giving me a shot when this all started for me. Heaven just got another angel
— Mickey Guyton (@MickeyGuyton) March 11, 2015