While most kids his age are counting down to a nice, lazy holiday
break, 12-year-old country music phenom Billy Gilman is gearing
up to perform on two upcoming specials, "Christmas in Washington"
tomorrow on TNT and " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on ABC
on Christmas Eve.
He'll be singing tunes from his first holiday album, "Classic
Christmas," which blends traditionals such as "The Christmas
Song" and new originals like "Warm and Fuzzy." It currently
resides at No. 4 on the Billboard Country Music charts.
Sitting right next to it at a neighborly No. 5 is his
platinum-selling debut album "One Voice," a combination of new
pop-country, Western swing and more traditional sounds.
You might recall that Gilman burst onto the scene in April,
making a Ricky Martin-esque splash on the Academy of Country
Music Awards, singing the daylights out of "Roly Poly" with
Asleep at the Wheel. Hot on the heels of that appearance, his
angelic single, "One Voice," shot up the country charts. The
Hope Valley, R.I., native then spent the summer touring stadiums
with George Strait and Tim McGraw as a special guest of Asleep
at the Wheel. Last month, his video for "One Voice" emerged
the big winner at the Billboard Music Video Awards, sweeping up
four trophies.
"It's more than freaky; it's overwhelming but incredible and
special, all at the same time," said Gilman, summing up his
rocketlike success on the phone from his Rhode Island home.
Although he is impeccably mannered, Gilman giggles easily and
frequently while discussing his many career highs, from meeting
LeAnn Rimes to his career-making performance on the Academy of
Country Music awards show. "It was a really fun night," he said
of the latter. "It was just incredible singing in front of Reba
McEntire, Gary Allen, Kathy Mattea, the Dixie Chicks and singing
with Ray (Benson, of Asleep at the Wheel). It was just
overwhelming, I was so nervous, I was sweating bullets."
Benson has been instrumental in Gilman's career. The veteran
country music performer, who co-produced "Classic Christmas,"
got wind of Gilman after Rhode Island-based ex-Roomful of Blues
sax player Greg Piccolo sent him a tape of the young singer's
karaoke version of Martina McBride's ballad "A Broken Wing."
Benson produced some demos and eventually secured a deal with
Sony.
"I said, `Wow, this kid is how old?' Because he was just 10
years old then," Benson remembered with a laugh. "Now it's a
big giant hit, isn't that something? He's such a pleasure. He's
just so talented, I haven't heard a kid sing like that since
Wayne Newton."
"Isn't he a sweetheart?" Gilman asked emphatically, still
marveling at Benson's dedication.
The Philadelphia-born Benson also knew that good country music
can come from any region. Boston's own superstar, JoDee Messina,
notwithstanding, New England isn't a traditional hotbed for
country music, which makes Gilman's success that much more
impressive. "Oh yeah, I get that all the time: `What's a boy
from Rhode Island doing singing country music? What's the deal?'
" said Gilman. "So I'm, like, `Well, I love it; country music
is big in Rhode Island.' "
It was big in his house at least, as his grandmother raised him
on classic artists such as Tammy Wynette and Patsy Cline, and he
discovered newer artists such as Pam Tillis and McBride on his
own. Gilman, who has been singing since the age of 3, revealed
his taste isn't exclusively country, however. "I like pop, rock,
rap, basically everything," he said, citing Smashmouth and
Barbra Streisand as other faves.
Mounting a large-scale tour is out of the question right now
because of Gilman's age and school issues. But the youngster,
who enjoys regular kid stuff such as video games and Harry
Potter books, says he already loves the road.
"Three months on end?" he said with glee at the mere thought
of a serious tour. "I'd be in my glory."
That ambition is his own; his parents aren't pushing him to do
anything. In fact, Gilman said, they constantly ask if he wants
to slow down. "Oh yeah, they say every day, `If you want to stop
it right now you can, but if you want to keep going you still
can.' And I say, `No, I want to still do it; if I get tired I'll
let you know.' "
Although the voice-change monster of puberty lurks around the
corner, Gilman isn't worried. "I'm confident that with the
proper voice training I'll still be able to hit those high notes."
As for the future, Gilman said, "I have a vision of going to
college and stuff, but this is basically what I want to do for
the rest of my life. I know that for sure. It's my job."
