Billy Sheehan

Billy Sheehan

William Roland Sheehan (born March 19, 1953) is an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar with acts such as Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, and The Winery Dogs. He is also known for his "lead bass" playing style, including the use of chording, two-handed tapping, "three-finger picking" technique and controlled feedback. Sheehan has been voted "Best Rock Bass Player" five times in Guitar Player readers' polls.

Birth and Death Data: Born Buffalo

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
OKeh	W80444	10-in.	2/18/1927	For Mary and me	Ray-O-Vacs	Male vocal duet, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	W80445	10-in.	2/18/1927	When I first met Mary	Ray-O-Vacs	Male vocal duet, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	W80454	10-in.	2/21/1927	High-high-high up in the hills	Ray-O-Vacs	Male vocal duet, with piano	vocalist
OKeh	W80455	10-in.	2/21/1927	Rock me to sleep in an old rocking chair	Ray-O-Vacs	Male vocal duet, with piano	vocalist

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Sheehan, Billy," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106515.

Sheehan, Billy. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106515.

"Sheehan, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.