He might not have been a household name in music fan households, but guitarist Billy Strange, who died Wednesday in Nashville, contributed to hit records from the likes of Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, Phil Spector, the Everly Brothers, Dean Martin, Willie Nelson and Frank Sinatra--and had a special champion in Frank's daughter.
Indeed, Strange arranged most of Nancy Sinatra's classic Lee Hazlewood-produced recordings, everything from her immortal "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" and the "Somethin' Stupid" duet with her father to "Bang Bang (He Shot Me Down)," her surreal cover of Cher's 1960s hit, for which her only instrumental accompaniment was Strange's strange guitar play.
In fact, Strange was a key part of the "Boo-Barton-Nasty" hit recording triumvirate--Boo being Strange, Barton being the late Hazlewood (Barton was his given first name, Lee his middle name) and Nasty being Nancy--who as anyone who knows her will attest, is anything but.
Inconsolable over the loss of her treasured friend of 45 years, Sinatra was unavailable for comment. But she did post a loving tribute on a Billy Strange Internet forum.
"Hey, Boo," she wrote. "I'm heartbroken that I didn't make it back there in time to give you just one more hug and kiss. Part of you will live in my heart forever--my broken, shattered heart."
Thanking Strange for contributing so much beautiful music "that made our records so special," she added, "You were my mentor, godfather, roadie and father confessor and I don't like that when I dial your number you won't answer the phone anymore."
She signed it, "Love, Nasty."
Strange was 81. For his 75th birthday, Sinatra lauded him as a "creative producer, a brilliant arranger and an amazing guitarist."
"When you're looking for a string part which can lift the soul or break a heart, he's your man," she concluded. "If that weren’t enough, Billy is also one of the all-time great 'characters.' He can stretch a tall tale to a mile or toss off a home-grown adage that will cut through the deepest pile anyone could lay. Most importantly though, Billy is a great and true friend."
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