Page 31 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2018

“Every day is a holiday,” he says. “My philosophy is ‘if you’re not having fun, don’t do it.’”
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he formed his first band in 1964. It was called the Shieks and the band members wore matching suits, as was the custom of that era. “I was only 14 when I started that band,” he says. “I was a guitarist but went on to play most all instruments.”
The most interesting person he met on the road was Bruce Springsteen while they were affiliated with the same radio station. The Boss was playing small theatre venues at that time but DeVille knew he was destined for the big league. “Springsteen was not what you’d expect,” he recalls. “He
was very intellectual and super nice.”
DeVille had several bands, including the New Legion
Rock Spectacular for which he had to do a little of it
all. This show led to what he calls “a regular band” and his successful “Wild One” album. That success enabled DeVille to expand his reach beyond the Midwest. Later he returned to Milwaukee where he was part of the 10-piece Blues Brothers band that toured nationally, followed by producing shows in Las Vegas, Laughlin, Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada.
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He came to Mississippi when he was asked to put a show together
— American Super Stars — for The Palace Casino. “Some of the guys didn’t want to come to Mississippi,” he recalls,”but I really liked it; I like the people and — since I’m from
the cold Midwest — I like the hot weather and being able to play golf year round.”
In fact, he likes Mississippi so much he left for a while but came back after touring in Europe with a production. “I don’t miss being on the road,” he says, “because everything I do has lots of action. I love what I do now; it’s not like work to me.”
In his present position, he continues to brush shoulders with famous show business personalities such as Brett Michaels. He played the straight man for comedian Joan Rivers when she came to Biloxi. “She was way funnier in real life than on the stage,” he says. “She made everyone laugh all the time.”
DeVille especially likes working
with humorous entertainers. He remembers doing a skit with Martin Short who interviewed DeVille as
a retired musician. “I thought it wasn’t funny as written, but when he performed it, it was hilarious,” he said. “I also liked working with Jimmy Glick and Sinbad; they’re really talented.”
His duties include being the voice of the Hard Rock and handling golf for guests. But guitars are never
far from Billy DeVille. He gets guitars autographed by big name entertainers and donates them to charity auctions through the Hard Rock’s Rockin’ the Coast charity.
“In my life, I most enjoyed playing guitar and being successful,” he said. “I doubt there’s anyone on
the Coast who’s lived my life, but
I would like to be remembered as a guy who treated people right.”
DeVille and his wife, Barbara, live in Gulfport and enjoy the company of their two tiny dogs — the size dogs he says he likes best.
ENTERTAINER Billy DeVille did a little bit of it all when he performed with the New Legion Rock Spectacular.
NOW A CASINO EXECUTIVE,
Billy DeVille is pictured in his days on the road with a band.
SHOWMAN Billy DeVille was a rockin’ guitarist in the ‘70s.