WILL OLDHAM

American singer/songwriter; Bonnie “Prince” Billy

A contemporary folk musician under the moniker Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Will Oldham has built a legacy as a leading voice in independent music production.

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Oldham originally wanted to become an actor. Going to Brown University, he began playing music independently. Developing an ardently DIY ethos, he ultimately returned to Louisville and Gained notoriety in the city’s underground and independent music scene.

Oldham has a career spanning over a quarter-century. Oldham has taken on several monikers as a solo and participating recording artist including Palace Music, Palace Brothers, his given name, and since 1998, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

Though his general musical style follows along the suggested premises of indie and alternative country, his punk rock influenced attitude towards making music has always pushed him to constantly explore and experiment with songwriting and recording. Subsequently, his extensive career (which includes over five dozen albums, EPs, and compilation records) has involved numerous collaborations with such artists as David Pajo, Tortoise, Trembling Bells, Harmony Korine, The Cairo Gang, and Dawn McCarthy, just to name a few. John Legend’s 2016 album Darkness and Light lists Will Oldham as a contributing songwriter. 

In an interview with The Guardian, Oldham was quoted stating, “I’ve never had a hit song and I never will.” Despite the fact that none of his records have won a Grammy or the like, the 47-year-old musician has earned a deep-rooted respect in the music industry as a highly prolific and talented artist. Johnny Cash’s cover of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s “I See a Darkness” appeared on ‘American III: Solitary Man’ in 2000. Outside of music, Oldham also has a long acting career and has appeared in over 20 movies. 

Recently, he starred alongside Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara in 2016’s ‘A Ghost Story,’ written and directed by David Lowery. Today, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy resides in Louisville and continues to write and record. Last year, he released two tribute albums: ‘Wolf of the Cosmos’ and ‘Best Troubador’—the former covering electronic artist Susanna’s 2007 ‘Sonata Mix Dwarf Cosmos,’ while the latter has Oldham singing two LP’s worth of the late Merle Haggard.