Billy Zoom

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Billy Zoom

Background information
Birth name Tyson Kindell
Born February 20, 1948 (1948-02-20) (age 60)
Savanna, Illinois, U.S.A
Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Genre(s) Rockabilly
Country rock
Folk
Punk rock
Occupation(s) musician
Instrument(s) guitar
Associated acts X

Billy Zoom was born Tyson Kindell on February 20, 1948, in Savanna, Illinois. The son of a Big Band woodwinds player, he inherited his father's love of music. At a very young age, Tyson began playing a variety of instruments, including violin; accordion; piano; clarinet; tenor, alto, and baritone saxophones; flute; banjo; and guitar.

Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s, he worked as a session guitarist while attending technical school for training in electronics repair. Billy Zoom has an insider's reputation as an expert in the maintenance, restoration, and modification of vintage tube amplifiers, and has performed custom technical work on the amps of a host of electric guitarists and bassists.

Although best known as guitarist and founding member of punk rock band X, Zoom has also worked with rockabilly legend Gene Vincent, The Blasters, Etta James, Big Joe Turner, and dozens of other major recording artists.

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