Dusty Hill

{{Infobox musical artist | Name = Dusty Hill | Img = Dusty_hill_finland_2010.jpg | Img_capt = Dusty Hill performing live in 2010 | Img_size = | Landscape = | Background = solo_singer | Birth_name = Dusty Hill | Alias = "Duster", "The Dust" | Born = (1949-05-19) May 19, 1949 | Died = | Origin = Dallas, Texas, USA | Instrument = Bass guitar
Keyboards
Vocals, Guitar, Saxophone, [[]] | Genre = Hard rock, blues-rock, rock, Blues | Occupation = Entertainer, Bassist, Singer, Songwriter | Years_active = 1969–present | Label = Rhino/WEA, BMG, Warner Bros., London | Associated_acts = ZZ Top, Willy & the Wolves, The Warlocks, The Cellar Dwellers, American Blues | URL = | Current_members = | Past_members = | Notable_instruments = Vintage Fender Telecaster Bass,
Fender Precision,

Dusty Hill (born May 19, 1949) is the bassist and vocalist with the American rock group ZZ Top.

History

Hill was born in Dallas, Texas and raised in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School later graduating to an association with the Denton, Texas lab band curriculum.l.

Along with his brother Rocky Hill and future fellow ZZ Top member Frank Beard; Dusty Hill played in known Dallas bands, first, the Warlocks, later co-founding the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues. From 1966 to 1968, American Blues played the Dallas-Fort Worth-Houston circuit.

In 1968, the band decided to leave the Dallas–Fort Worth area and relocate to the bluesier community in Houston. At this time, guitarist Rocky Hill focused on "straight blues", while Dusty added to the band's rocking edge. Rocky, Dusty and Beard completed the move to Houston, joining guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons of Houston psychedelic-rockers Moving Sidewalks to become the band ZZ Top in 1969.

ZZ Top's on-screen appearances in "Back To The Future Part III", "Mother Goose's Rockin' Rhyme", "WWE RAW", and "Deadwood" were bolstered by Dusty's appearance in the 11th season episode of King of the Hill, "Hank Gets Dusted", in which Hank Hill was scripted as Dusty's cousin.

Hill's characteristic grin, wit, and quick on the trigger staccato stylings lay the strident underpinning to ZZ TOP's powerhouse brand of blues rock. On special occasions, Hill joins in with bandmate, Billy F Gibbons, lending his tasty talents creating additions to Gibbons' famed Hollywood appearances where the two entertainers frequently make their guest chef rounds about town.

Musical equipment

Main article: ZZ Top equipment

"When playing in the trio, the challenge is not playing too much while still giving it 100%. Thelonius Monk remains one of the key inspirations with a style of playing moving sound around in a mesmerizing manner. ZZ takes that style maintaining a hard-edged, low register, preferring staying way down with a solid foundation, then moving in and around with a little extra sauce. From the earliest recorded songs onto the 'Eliminator' era and beyond, it's all about time, tuning, and simplicity. That's the badboy tuff-stuff... that's enjoyable"

"The Dusty Hill sound could be considered is big, heavy, and a bit distorted as it fits in overlapping with the guitar. Someone once asked me to describe my tone, and I said it was like a low hanging cloud. It’s ragged and raw, yet it's got some mean tone in there."

Discography

American Blues albums

Main article: American Blues

• American Blues
• American Blues 'Is Here' (1968)
• Do Their Thing (1969)

ZZ Top albums

Main article: ZZ Top discography

• ZZ Top's First Album (1971)
• Rio Grande Mud (1972)
• Tres Hombres (1973)
• Fandango! (1975)
• Tejas (1977)
• Degüello (1979)
• El Loco (1981)
• Eliminator (1983)
• Afterburner (1985)
• Recycler (1990)
• Antenna (1994)
• Rhythmeen (1996)
• XXX (1999)
• Mescalero (2003)