THE HISTORY OF KRAZY KIRK and the HILLBILLIES
As most stories go... Once Upon A Time!
Many years ago, they started out as brothers from the mountains of Santa Monica who enjoyed playing and singing together. Originally, they worked at a local theme park run by a famous mouse where they were called Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. When their show went to seven days a week, they hired more brothers and our team (the BLUE TEAM) changed the name to The Billys for their shows at other venues. After 26+ years working for the Mouse, their show was "retired" and they became Kirk Wall and the Hillbillies. Now they're at Knott's Berry Farm and have added the name Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.
OUR HILLBILLY HISTORY
They began performing in Critter Country in the late 1980's in various different bands, but they got our real start during Disneyland's State Fair event in Spring of 1988. At the time, they performed as the "Barley Boys" in the Big Thunder Ranch area.
Their job was to help entertain the crowd and encourage the pigs to run their fastest. Each Barley Brother [Marley, Farley, Charley, etc] would take one of four sections of the audience and teach them a pig "call" to encourage that pig during the race.
Pigmania with the Barley Boys. Kirk is in the red shirt above.
Circa 1988
Kirk Wall as a "Barley Boy" during Pigmania at State Fair at Disneyland.
Here is an example of the Pig Race from YouTube.com, Click this....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylH5DxibEFk
When "Pigmania" ended in October, 1988, they were asked to perform for the opening day crowds in Critter Country which opened on Wednesday, November 23, 1988.
Splash Mountain was to have opened during this time, but due to technical difficulties it wasn't ready. So they worked longer than they expected [which was a good thing for us]. They continued to perform for the newly built attraction, Splash Mountain which finally opened 8 months later on Monday, July 17, 1989.
The original members of the band in those days were Kirk Wall on guitar, Dennis Fetchet on fiddle, John Marshall on bass, and Mario Hildalgo on banjo. Kirk acted as the front man.
Early Billy Hill and the Hillbillies near Splash Mountain. This photo to the left shows Tom Sauber on fiddle.
Early Billy Hill & the Hillbillies [originally known as the Spit Band, we won't go into details!]
On Wednesday, August 5, 1992, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies were moved to Frontierland.
They were later moved to Frontierland, and played outside the Golden Horseshoe; occasionally filling in when the Golden Horseshoe Jamboree Show was dark. [closed]
[photo on the right from top to bottom: back row... John Marshall (bass); middle row... Kirk Wall (guitar)and Mario Hildalgo (banjo); bottom row... Dennis Fetchet (fiddle and mandolin)
THE ORIGINAL BILLY HILL TEAM ~ circa 1994
They were asked to replace a show that was closing. The Golden Horseshoe Jamboree Show was closed.
On Sunday, December 18, 1994, they performed their first official "scripted" show in the Golden Horseshoe Saloon as the resident band. Sadly, Mario had left them and was replaced by John's brother, Evan Marshall on mandolin.
Evan brought a classical mandolin experience that added a new dimension to our show.
[left to right: Kirk Wall, Dennis Fetchet, John Marshall , and his brother, Evan Marshall]
A NEW LOCATION
Five years later, on Sunday, November 21, 1999, they were temporarily moved out of the Golden Horseshoe Saloon for the opening of Woody's Round-up Show, but Woody didn't last and they returned to the Golden Horseshoe on Thursday, July 20, 2000 after an 8-month absence.
Four fiddlers from left to right: Evan Marshall, Dennis Fetchet, Kirk Wall, and John Marshall.
BACK IN THE 'SHOE
By now, they had quite a following including a fan club called "Da Billy Club" or DBC (started by Kat Moser) that met weekly on Sunday mornings for the first show and Friday evenings for the last show. "Da Billy Club" followed the band over from the Golden Horseshoe Saloon to Thunder Mountain Ranch and many new members were added. [Including Jan Vincent who ran the website and social media for the band from February 2000 until January 2024]
THE SYMPHONY SERIES
THE SYMPHONY SERIES
THE SYMPHONY SERIES
In 2001, they performed a series of Symphony Concerts around the United States in a series called"RED, WHITE & BLUEGRASS". They performed with the Tulsa Philharmonic in Oklahoma, The Houston Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony and San Antonio Symphony in Texas, the Grand Rapids Symphony in Michigan and the Long Beach Symphony in California.
Photo: Billy and the Hillbillies in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in July 2001.
ADDING ANDERS
THE SYMPHONY SERIES
THE SYMPHONY SERIES
In February of 2002, Anders Swanson became a sub for the band playing
bass and added a fun element to the show.
In this photo, Anders is posing with Billy Chicken, who played an important part in their shows when they performed the infamous "CHICKEN LAUNCH" by launching a chicken across the stage from the upper stage left balcony, [better known as Walt's Booth] onto the opposite side of the stage. All while Rick played "Chicken With It's Head Cut Off".
ADDING RICK
THE SYMPHONY SERIES
ADDING RICK
In 2003, Evan Marshall left the band and was replaced by Rick Storey on banjo and Dennis filling in on the mandolin [and fiddle].
Rick was a great addition with the high energy of banjo added to each show.
OUR 10,000th SHOW
DENNIS IS EXCITED!
10,000th SHOW PLAQUE
10,000th SHOW PLAQUE
On Thursday, February 6, 2003 at the 1:15 pm show, the original team [since 1994] performed their 10,000th show at the Golden Horseshoe and were given a plague and cake by Disney Management. This team stayed the original Billy Hill team for 11 years working five days a week, 5 thirty-five minute shows a day.
10,000th SHOW PLAQUE
10,000th SHOW PLAQUE
10,000th SHOW PLAQUE
The 10,000th Show Plaque
On Thursday, February 6, 2003 , the band was presented with a huge plaque that was to be mounted permanently on the backstage wall.
HIDDEN MICKEY PLAQUE
10,000th SHOW PLAQUE
10,000th Show Parking Ticket
They even added a hidden Mickey, just like the one on the vent screen just below the Golden Horseshoe stage.
(which is probably still there)
10,000th Show Parking Ticket
Kirk Rapping the 10,000th Show
10,000th Show Parking Ticket
Most of the fans, who showed up for this event, got parking receipts with the date of their 10,000th show printed on it. Several people asked the band to autograph these tickets.
Kirk Rapping the 10,000th Show
Kirk Rapping the 10,000th Show
Kirk Rapping the 10,000th Show
They played to a packed house of fans, friends and 25+ dignitaries including their entertainment boss, Stan Freese and 40+ members of "Da Billy Club", their fan club at the time.
The Disneyland Today Brochure
Kirk Rapping the 10,000th Show
Kirk Rapping the 10,000th Show
For those who remember, Their closing number for years was "Puddle Prance", where Kirk would get the bow stuck up his nose while going down the steps. His famous line was... "You wouldn't see this on a brochure." Their current web person at the time actually photo-shopped a brochure for the occasion!
THE SURF GUITAR BIT
THE SURF GUITAR BIT
THE SURF GUITAR BIT
Evan Marshall and Dennis Fetchet are doing the surf music bit in "Mama, Don't Allow", because Mama didn't allow surf music.... but they played it anyway!
THE "TEETH" BIT
THE SURF GUITAR BIT
THE SURF GUITAR BIT
Kirk Wall or as they called him back then, WILLIAM, prepares the audience for the teeth bit.
MORE 10,000th Show
THE SURF GUITAR BIT
MORE 10,000th Show
Kirk Wall and John Marshall enjoying the positive attention and admiration from the audience during their 10,000th show.
THE HILLBILLIES GO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK...
On October 8, 2003, Disneyland decided to close the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show with Dana Daniels.
On October 8, 2003, Disneyland decided to close the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show with Dana Daniels.
On October 8, 2003, Disneyland decided to close the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show with Dana Daniels.
On October 8, 2003, Disneyland decided to close the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show with Dana Daniels.
On October 8, 2003, Disneyland decided to close the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show with Dana Daniels.
Dana's show had played two days a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies playing the other five days.
It was decided that the Billy Hill Show would go to seven days a week with 35 shows a week.
In order to arrange this task and still allow the show's castmembers to have two days a week off, three Hillbilly teams were created.
On October 8, 2003, Disneyland decided to close the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show with Dana Daniels.
THE BLUE TEAM
There have been tons of other team combinations over the years using subs.
Helping over the years were many, many wonderful subs who filled in when needed including: Kevin Gregg [Billy Red] on guitar and lead, Cory Rouse [Billy Barney] on Guitar and lead, Denny Moynahan on guitar and lead, Denny Hardwick on guitar and lead, Barry Cogert on bass, Rick Dunham on bass, banjo and guitar, Jonny Ray Bartel on slap bass, Arshag Chookarian on guitar and washboard, Dave Eastly on bass and banjo, Phil Ward on guitar, Keith Rosier, on bass, Eric Brenton on fiddle, and Farley the Fiddler(of course, on fiddle).
THE BLUE TEAM
THE GREEN TEAM
THE BLUE TEAM
Anders Swanson on bass and fiddle
Dennis Fetchet on fiddle and mandolin
Kirk Wall, lead on guitar and fiddle
Rick Storey on banjo and guitar
This team performed on
Sundays and Mondays.
This is the team that eventually became known as Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.
THE GREEN TEAM
THE GREEN TEAM
THE GREEN TEAM
John David on guitar;
John Marshall on bass and fiddle;
Evan Marshall on mandolin and fiddle;
John Eaden , leadon guitar;
and a really tiny fiddle.
This team played on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
With the departure of Evan Marshall, the Newer Green Team was created
John Marshall, John Eaden,
John David and Duane Michaels
or as we like to call them;
The Three Johns and Duane. They went on to become the Miskey Mountain Boys and Driving Mama Crazy.
THE GOLD TEAM
THE GREEN TEAM
THE GREEN TEAM
Kirk Wall, lead on guitar and fiddle,
Dennis Fetchet on mandolin and fiddle,
Duane Michaels on Mandolin and fiddle
John Marshall on bass and fiddle.
This team performed on
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
DISNEYLAND SAYS "BYE-BYE HILLBILLIES"...
MOVING TO BIG THUNDER RANCH ARENA
MOVING TO BIG THUNDER RANCH ARENA
MOVING TO BIG THUNDER RANCH ARENA
On Tuesday, June 18, 2012, they began performing at Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree Arena, where they had started many years ago in Pigmania.
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies could sometimes be found performing 7 days a week at either the Golden Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland or at the Thunder Ranch Jamboree behind Thunder Mountain.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END...
MOVING TO BIG THUNDER RANCH ARENA
MOVING TO BIG THUNDER RANCH ARENA
In November of 2013 while in rehearsal for the holiday season, Disney presented all three Billy Hill Teams and their subs with "Pink Slips" and announced that Disneyland was retiring their show.
On Monday, January 6, 2014, the show, "Billy Hill and the Hillbillies" was retired after 21+ years as a team at Disneyland and for some of us 26+ years working for the mouse.
A FOND FAREWELL!!!
MOVING TO BIG THUNDER RANCH ARENA
A FOND FAREWELL!!!
Because the final show date fell on a Monday, the Blue Team performed for the last time.
The final 5:30 pm show was attended by more than 1,000+ faithful fans and it touched their hearts to know that fans thought that much of their show.
A FOND FAREWELL!!!
Local newspapers called it...
"The Day the Music Died".
The final bow on behalf of all three teams included Dennis Fetchet, Anders Swanson, Kirk Wall and Rick Storey
They were so touched that so many people cared about them and their show.
Thank you all!
HELLO, KNOTT'S BERRY FARM....
WE MOVE TO THE FARM!
After their time at Disneyland ended, they were hired less than a week later to perform on a weekly basis at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. They decided to change their band's official name to "Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies" in order to perform at outside venues without confusing their guests.
On Saturday, January 11, 2012, they began playing at Knott's Berry Farm on a regular basis starting in the Wilderness Lodge and moving eventually into The Birdcage Theater in Ghost Town.
Along the way in 2017, they began playing seasonally in the Historic Knott's Wagon Camp and gained a drummer in the person of Brad Conyers, a Knott's sound tech with a great sense of rhythm.
In February of 2019, their long-time fiddler, Dennis Fetchet was retired and replaced by one time Ghost Town Miner member, Eric Brenton. Eric joins them on fiddle, mandolin, and electric guitar. Eric's 1st show was on February 10, 2019.
In mid July, 2021, Rick Storey left the band and was replaced by Rick Dunham, who's 1st show was on July 15, 2021. Rick had occasionally subbed with the band on both bass and banjo both at Disneyland and at Knott's Berry Farm.
They hope to see you all in the near future as they continue to perform country, bluegrass, rock and roll, The Beatles and comedy, Hillbilly style!
For schedule information, go to the Knott's Berry Farm webpage at https://www.knotts.com/entertainment
For more information...
