Will Oldham, artist notes and General Information (biography):
Will Oldham, born December 24, 1970, in Louisville, Kentucky, is an
American singer, songwriter, and actor. For most of the '90s (1993-1997),
Oldham was the mastermind behind Palace Music, a country-rock group that
recorded under a variety of names, including Palace Brothers,
Palace Songs, Palace Music, and simply Palace.
The only constant in Palace was Oldham, and he would often record as a
solo artist under the Palace name. Joya, Oldham's first album as a
solo artist, was slightly different in style than Palace, boasting a
slightly darker and somber tone. Like all the Palace records, Joya was
released on the Drag City Label to positive critical notices and a
moderately successful cult following.
Although the subsequent album, I See a Darkness, was attributed to
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, (another of Olham's pseudonyms), Oldham used
his given name for releases, including "Ode Music" and "Guarapero:
Lost Blues 2."
The second Bonnie "Prince" Billy album, Ease Down the Road, arrived in
early 2001, featuring collaborators David Pajo, Catherine Irwin, Mike
Fellows, and Harmony Korine.
Partial discography:
*There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You-Palace Brothers (1993)
*Days in the Wake-Palace Brothers (1994)
*Viva Last Blues-Palace Music (1995)
*Arise Therefore-Palace Music (1996)
*Joya-Will Oldham (1997)
*I See a Darkness-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (1999)
*Guarapero: Lost Blues 2-Will Oldham (2000)
*Ease Down the Road-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2001)
*Master and Everyone-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2003)
*Sings Greatest Palace Music-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2004)
*Superwolf-Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2005)
*The Brave and the Bold-Tortoise & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2006)
*The Letting Go-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2006)
*Wai Notes-Dawn McCarthy and Bonny Billy (2007)
*Wilding in the West-Bonnie "Prince" Billy (2007)
*Lie Down in the Light-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2008)
*Is It The Sea?-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy with Harem Scarem and Alex Neilson (2008)
*Beware-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (2009)
Much of Oldham's music has received considerable critical praise. He
is mentioned in the lyrics of the Biffy Clyro song Saturday Superhouse
and is the main character in the song "Williamsburg Will Oldham
Horror" by New York Anti-Folk artist Jeffrey Lewis.
Johnny Cash recorded a version of Oldhams's "I See a Darkness" on his
American Recordings disc, American III: Solitary Man (2000). Oldham
provided backing vocals. (See lyrics for the Johnny Cash version of
"I See a Darkness" on MP3lyrics.org here)
Filmography:
*Matewan (1987), directed by John Sayles
*Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure (1989) (TV movie)
*Thousand Pieces of Gold (1991)
*Elysian Fields (1993)
*Radiation (1998)
*Julien Donkey-Boy (1999)(uncredited role), directed by Harmony Korine
*Slitch (2003), directed by Dianne Bellino
*Tripping with Caveh (2004), directed by Caveh Zahedi
*Junebug (June 10 2005)
*The Guatemalan Handshake (2006)
*Old Joy (2006)
*Wendy and Lucy (2008)