WILLY DEVILLE, TRADITIONAL AMERICAN MUSICAL STYLES

Today, The Grandma has been listenng to Willy DeVille, the American singer and songwriter, who died on a day like today in 2009.

Willy DeVille (born William Paul Borsey Jr.; August 25, 1950-August 6, 2009) was an American singer and songwriter. 

During his thirty-five-year career, first with his band Mink DeVille (1974-1986) and later on his own, DeVille created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles.

He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary music, including Jack Nitzsche, Doc Pomus, Dr. John, Mark Knopfler, Allen Toussaint, and Eddie Bo. Latin rhythms, blues riffs, doo-wop, Cajun music, strains of French cabaret, and echoes of early-1960s uptown soul can be heard in DeVille's work.

Mink DeVille was a house band at CBGB, the historic New York City nightclub where punk rock was born in the mid-1970s. DeVille helped redefine the Brill Building sound. 

In 1987 his song Storybook Love was nominated for an Academy Award. After his move to New Orleans in 1988, he helped spark the roots revival of classic New Orleans R&B. His soulful lyrics and explorations in Latin rhythms and sounds helped define a new musical style sometimes called Spanish-Americana.

DeVille died on August 6, 2009, at the age of 58. Although his commercial success waxed and waned over the years, his legacy as a songwriter has influenced many other musicians, such as Mark Knopfler and Peter Wolf.

Willy DeVille was born in Stamford, Connecticut to William Paul Borsey (1919-2000), a carpenter, and Marion Elizabeth Meritt (1921-2004).

As a teenager, DeVille played with friends from Stamford in a blues band called Billy & the Kids, and later in another band called The Immaculate Conception.

At age 17, he married Susan Berle, also known as Toots. DeVille struck out in 1971 for London in search of like-minded musicians (obvious American with my pompadour hair), but was unsuccessful finding them; he returned to New York City after a two-year absence.

His next band, The Royal Pythons (a gang that turned into a musical group), was not a success either.

By 1974 Willy DeVille (under the name Billy Borsay) was singing in a band with drummer Thomas R. "Manfred" Allen, Jr., bassist Rubén Sigüenza, guitarist Robert McKenzie (a.k.a. Fast Floyd), and Ritch Colbert on keyboards. The band called themselves Billy de Sade and the Marquis, but changed the name to Mink DeVille the year after; at the same time lead singer Borsay adapted the name Willy DeVille.

In 1988, DeVille relocated from New York City to New Orleans, where he found a spiritual home.

In 1992, DeVille recorded Backstreets of Desire, the first of four albums he would record in Los Angeles with producer John Philip Shenale.

Before moving to the Southwest in 2000, DeVille recorded Horse of a Different Color in Memphis. DeVille's stay in the Southwest awakened his interest in his Native American heritage.

After living for 15 years in New Orleans and the Southwest, DeVille returned to New York City in 2003, where he took up residence with Nina Lagerwall, his third wife. He continued touring Europe, usually playing music festivals in the summer.

DeVille died in New York City in August 6, 2009, three weeks shy of his 59th birthday.

About his legacy, DeVille told an interviewer, I have a theory. I know that I'll sell much more records when I'm dead. It isn't very pleasant, but I have to get used to this idea.

More information: Youtube-Willy DeVille

Willy DeVille knows the truth of a city street
and the courage in a ghetto love song.
And the harsh reality in his voice
and phrasing is yesterday, today, and tomorrow
-timeless in the same way that loneliness,
no money, and troubles find each other
and never quit for a minute.

Doc Pomus