Well, let me tell ya somethin’ about this fella, Billy Greer. Heard he’s been playin’ that bass guitar for a band called Kansas for a long, long time. Forty years, they say! That’s a whole lotta years, ain’t it? I reckon that’s longer than some folks been alive.
Forty years with Kansas, can you believe it? That’s like, forever! I remember when my old man used to listen to them on the radio. Said they were somethin’ special. Guess Billy was a big part of that “somethin’ special.” Playin’ that bass, singin’ along, makin’ music that folks liked.
- He played the bass, you know, that big ol’ guitar.
- And he sang too, sometimes lead, sometimes not.
- Traveled all over the world with them, even to places I ain’t never heard of.
They say he retired, this Billy Greer. Hung up his bass, so to speak. After forty years, I guess a fella gets tired of luggin’ that thing around. My back hurts just thinkin’ about it! But forty years… that’s a mighty long time to be doin’ anythin’, let alone playin’ music for a livin’. He musta really liked it, or maybe he just needed the money, who knows? Folks gotta do what they gotta do, I always say.
Heard tell he went all over the world with that band. Seen more places than I ever will, that’s for sure. Even went on somethin’ called “USO tours,” playin’ for the soldiers, I reckon. That’s a good thing, supportin’ our boys over there. My nephew, he was in the army, said it was tough bein’ away from home. Music probably helped them fellas feel a little better, I guess.
Seems like he was a loyal fella, this Billy. The other fellas in the band, they said he was dedicated. That’s important, you know, bein’ dedicated to somethin’. Sticking with it, even when things get tough. Forty years ain’t always gonna be sunshine and roses, I can tell ya that much. There’s gotta be some rough patches in there, some times when you just wanna throw your hands up and say “I quit!” But he didn’t, not for forty years. That’s somethin’ to be admired, even if you don’t understand all that music stuff.
This drummer fella, Phil somethin’-or-other, said Billy traveled overseas, even when it meant bein’ away from home. That’s dedication for ya. Leavin’ your family, your friends, all to go play music for folks you don’t even know. It ain’t easy, I tell ya. My sister, her husband used to drive a truck, and he was gone for weeks at a time. She hated it, but it was his job, and he was dedicated to it.
So, this Billy Greer, he’s done with Kansas now. Movin’ on to somethin’ else, I reckon. Maybe he’ll just sit on his porch and watch the world go by, like I do sometimes. Or maybe he’ll pick up that bass again and play for his grandkids. Who knows? But one thing’s for sure, he left his mark on that band, Kansas. Forty years is a long time, and folks ain’t gonna forget him anytime soon. He’s part of their story now, this Billy Greer from… well, I don’t rightly know where he’s from, but he played with Kansas, and that’s all that matters for this story, ain’t it?
And that’s the story of Billy Greer and Kansas, as best as I can tell it. A long career, lots of travelin’, and a whole lotta music. He must have some stories to tell, that’s for sure. I just hope he enjoys his retirement, whatever he decides to do.
Tags: [Billy Greer, Kansas, Bassist, Retirement, Music, Band, Forty Years, Dedication, Journey, Phil Ehart, USO tours]