User:Chrisvonweinberg/sandbox

Billy ( William) Yeager
{{Infobox person picture         = [[
 * name         = Billy ( William) Yeager

]] Born September 6 1957 William Conrad Yeager Miami Florida United States. Nationality American Occupation Musician, film director, actor, film producer, screenwriter, performance artist, acting coach, activist, philanthropist. Years active 1981-present Notable work(s) ( films) Jimmy's Story, A Perfect Song, The Florida Highwaymen, Jesus of Malibu, The Film that Changed the World

Spouse Anais Gomez (2005-) Website Billyyeager.com

Billy Yeager also known as William Conrad Yeager is an award- winning singer, songwriter, self -taught musician; who plays over 14 instruments and has recorded over 1400 musical compositions who is also known as a film producer, actor, director, whose is described as an "extraordinary multifaceted visionary talent that defies description". Yeager was discovered by Grammy Award Winner Bruce Hornsby in 1992 who was given a demo tape of Yeager's songs that were recorded on a 4- track player/ recorder and was signed to a development deal with Capitol Records. Billy Yeager has worked, performed or recorded with other world re-known artists such as Inner Circle, Ira Sullivan, and Jaco Pastorius who stated that Yeager was the greatest guitarist he ever played with.

Yeager also produces, directs an acts in his own films that are considered "cult classics" and collectable. Yeager is also an accomplished painter/ artist, whose art is considered collectable folk art because of his association with the Florida Highwaymen specifically, Livingston Roberts, ( also known as Castro) who is one of the original Florida Highwaymen who was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. Yeager was taught to paint with oils on massonite board by Livingson Roberts while he was filming the documentary film called "The Florida Highwaymen".

In 1997 Yeager received International recognition as a "controversial performance artist" when he permanently dyed his skin black and forged false evidence pulling off an elaborate International hoax and convinced the press that he was the long lost son of Jimi Hendrix calling himself Jimmy Story. The name Jimmy's Story was chosen as the title of a feature film documentary that Yeager was filming and producing about his life calling it "Jimmy's Story" (1970- 2001) Yeager is also recognized as one of the first people that introduced the concept of "reality television " when he began filming his life with 4 video cameras for over 25 years. The film Jimmy's Story won Best Documentary, Best Folk Film, Best Director and Best first feature at the DIFF International Film Festival.

Yeager invested over 6 years editing Jimmy's Story editing 5 different versions. One of the final versions of the film was re-edited in 2001 with the help of Dan Myrick who is the the creator of the movie “The Blair Witch Project”. The making of the film was featured on Bravo Television and on John Pierson's show Spilt Screen in 2001. Jimmy Story part 1, and Jimmy Story part 2, and 3 other versions are all considered collectable.

Yeager began a short career as an acting coach from 1999- 2002. He was one of the first people that designed the nations first on- camera independent film acting class, which taught students how to act in films by utilizing real scripts, filming the scenes at real locations, creating film sets and setting up cameras and lights. Yeager was also the first person that produced actors "Demo Reels" which allowed the actor to use the demo tapes to audition for acting jobs.

In 2003 Yeager wrote, produced, directed and acted in his 3rd feature film titled "A Perfect Song" which won awards for Best Musical Score and Best Actor at the Delray Beach Film Festival.

In 2010 Yeager and his wife Anais were featured on CNN, Inside Edition, CBS, NBC, ABC, Good-Morning America, the A.P. Press and Internationally when both he and his wife planned a protest campaign for raising conscious awareness. The Yeager's claimed they had placed the infamous "Mysterious Piano" in Biscayne Bay in Miami, which was not true. They used the opportunity to promote the film "Jesus of Malibu" and to raise the conscious awareness of humanity. The protest campaign united a passionate following of artists from all over the world, who donated their talents, creating art, music and film posters in support of the movie Jesus of Malibu.

William and Anais Yeager established the "Mindys Wish and Foundation which is a charity foundation that helps support 3rd world countries; providing affordable wheelchairs for landmine victims, and also distributes handmade musical instruments to the destitute and poor.

CONTENTS Career Early Life Music Jimi Hendrix Hoax The Bolero Tapes Acting Coach Filmography Jesus of Malibu Petition and protest The Mysterious Piano The Film that Changed the World Art and Painting Scientific Music Philanthropy Discography Awards Other Projects

Early Life William Conrad Yeager was born September 6th 1957 in Miami Florida to Raymond Yeager who was known as a Country music singer and songwriter and Gaile Kennedy the second of three children. Yeager went to McAurther High-school, however he dropped out of school in 9th grade. Yeager's first band was called "The Unknowns" he was 8 years old when he began performing in public. At age 6 years old he taught himself how to play his fathers homemade guitar that was made out of an old dresser drawer. Yeager began experimenting and inventing many of his own guitar switch boxs which allowed him to get unusual sounds from his electric guitar, one of those was made from an electric toaster.

Music Yeager's first job was at the Castways Lounge in Miami Beach where he started playing professionally with disco bands. It was at the Castaways Lounge where Yeager became friends with Tommy Bolin who was in town for a concert. Yeager was also with Bolin the night he died. Yeager released his first album called "What's it gonna Take" in 1983 that included a line-up of Florida's top musicians including Dennis Noday, Al Shikaly, and Jaco Pastorious. Yeager quit playing professionally in 1985 after he released his 2nd album "Be My Valentine" which he played all the instruments himself. "Be My Valentine" was recorded and engineered at Circle Sound Studios. Yeager became a session player recording all the guitar parts for the reggae band Inner Circle from 1985- 1986. He also recorded with Rita Marley, and Pearl Marley. From 1986 until 1992 Yeager secluded himself inside his beachside apartment located in Hollywood Florida. For the next 6 years he worked on crafting his songs and seeking an original sound as he worked as a part time janitor. During this period he wrote and recorded over 600 songs.

Soon after he was discovered by Bruce Hornsby Yeager and thereafter received a management contract with Gerry Georgettis who was a manager with Larakin management who was responsible for managing the careers of Perry Farrel, Janes Addiction, Porno for Pyros, Sponge, Tool, and Henry Rollins.

Yeager spent over 23 years writing and recording music and was rejected by all the major labels, despite the fact that Bruce Hornsby recommended that Yeager be signed. Yeager then decided instead to focus his attention to filmmaking.

Jimi Hendrix Hoax/ The Bolero Tapes. In 1995 Yeager fabricated an elaborate story and impersonated the long lost son of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Story. To prove a point to those who rejected his artistic talents, Yeager spent a year creating bogus documents, birth certificates, becoming Jimmy Story the illegitimate son of Jimi Hendrix. Yeager invested over 1 -year meticulously planning his ruse, beginning with spray painting his body and face with black paint, and then permanently dying his skin black with Rit Clothes dye, creating false managers and attorneys who was actually Yeager himself as well as becoming a certified graphologist certifying all of his own bogus documents.

The Bolero Tapes It was known by some closest to Hendrix that one of Jimi's last projects was going to be titled The Bolero Tapes. Yeager used this title The Bolero Tapes, and wrote and recorded music that was supposedly written by Hendrix. These raw recordings and demos on cassette tapes were supposedly given to Jimmy Story's mother Sunshine Story before he died. The press wanted to know if this music could have actually been the lost recordings and if the compositions that Jimmy Story made were in fact authentic. Jimi Hendrix's closest colleagues Buddy Miles, and Mitch Mitchell heard the recordings and stated on record, "the phrasing, lyrics, chord progression is in doubt Jimi Hendrix" however it was Yeager who wrote and recorded the songs. Yeager was featured Internationally in the press as the Son of Hendrix and he used this to edit into the film he was making of his life film calling the story "Jimmy's Story".

Acting coach.

Yeager created one of the nations first “on camera acting classes” where students learned to act by performing on real film sets while utilizing real scripts, lights, cameras, and sound. Yeager taught himself how to direct actors and make films from his on location acting class.

Filmography

Jimmy's Story 2000.

Jimmy's Story was filmed for over 25 years. There are 6 different versions each one is different than the others. Jimmy's Story the Final Cut is the only version for sale on-line, all other versions are highly valued and collectable. The film is described as "epic in scale and quoted as "Every musician in America should see this film," characterized as Wayne's World meets Spinal Tap. Others commented "that a local musician such as Yeager was able to turn a life of artistic struggle into a visual story is unique enough. That anyone without prior film experience could have actually transformed 100 hours of raw footage and 20 years of personal history into a finished, more-than-full-length film is a testament to perseverance". and "He finished his film against all odds". The film also features cameos by Bunny Yeager and also Bruce Hornsby.

The Florida Highwaymen 2002.

Yeager met the Florida Highwaymen in 1999 and spent 2 years documenting them. For the Florida Highwaymen film Yeager documented Alfred Hairs sister, Manie Buckner, Hezekiah Baker, Johnny Daniel's, Al Black, Rodney Demps, Charles Walker, Jimmy Stovall, and Livingston Roberts also known as Castro. Once he made friends with Livingston Roberts he asked him to teach him how to paint. Yeager began painting on massonite boards also used by Livingston Roberts. Yeager was featured on Fox News as the Florida Highwaymen curator and was responsible for brining attention to the fraudulent paintings being sold on E-Bay.

A Perfect Song 2003.

Yeager wrote, produced, directed and acted in his next feature film called "A Perfect Song" playing the part of 2 characters, “Lloyd” and “Micky” the brother of Lloyd. Yeager gained 30 pounds and shaved his head for the role. The scenes of the brother were filmed first before shaving his head. The film was produced for 600.00 and Yeager composed and wrote all the music himself scoring symphonic compositions all by ear. The movie was filmed in Lake Worth Florida. The Coral Castle in Homestead Florida was also used as a film production site using Ed Leedskalins creations and experiment as metaphors in the film. The film was released by Yeager's own production company Mo'Grabbin Films and there was a limited edition DVD manufactured.

Jesus of Malibu

The film trilogy “Jesus of Malibu” was produced by a process called "Transcendental Filmmaking" where there is no script, money or film crews involved. In 2004 Yeager posted a casting notice on Mandy.com for the role of "Mindy" for his next feature film titled "Jesus of Malibu". Yeager initially had a script he had been revising for years. However when Anais arrived from Spain the couples plans changed instead devoting the next 5 years to an intense preparation and training regimen; transforming themselves into their characters Mindy and Jesus.

The Yeager's left their home in Lake Worth Florida in 2009 and purchased a used 1970 Nomad 14-foot travel trailer which was to become their living quarters, film studio, and recording studio for the films production for the next 3 years. Jesus of Malibu was filmed entirely without any financial backing and not even a one person film crew. The couple used everything discarded on the roadside and garbage for props in the film. They built their own film sets, made their own wardrobe, lived and survived in the desert completing the 3- part trilogy which is over 12 - hours in running time. The film was completed utilizing sacred geometry and by filming on specific energy grids and ley lines where specific longitude and latitudes intercross creating a higher conscious awareness. The music was also composed using sacred geometric musical scales and tunings whereby Yeager designed a way to create higher conscious vibrations from scientific experiments. Yeager changed the pitch on his keyboards and guitar to other wave frequencies such as 432 and 445 hertz. On a trip to Costa Rica Yeager experimented with these tunings on the wild monkeys documenting their behaviors. The music was composed on location and is also recorded live in many scenes in the film. Both William and Anais perform music in the film live. Yeager also made a cigar box guitar to use in the film from an old wooden cigar box. The couple filmed their movie in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri.

Jesus of Malibu Petitioned Protested and Banned

When the Yeager's completed their film they edited and posted a 7-minute film trailer that ignited a fury of debate. Parents Against Immoral Media founder Pam Dawson petitioned the film trailer to be removed from you tube. Counter protests ensued and The Christian A.P. Press became involved and subsequently the Westboro Baptist Church known for its hate campaigns became involved posting even more petitions on their web-site. The film trailer titled "The Film that Changed the World" was posted in 2010 and gained momentum and also garnered a stream of devoted fans, artist, musicians and other filmmakers who became involved with the Yeager's JOM Revolution for the Freedom of the Mind" campaign. The film trailer received an unprecedented 7 million hits in less than 2 days when the Yeager's were featured Internationally on many news channels and the A.P. Press for claiming the grand piano known as "the mysterious piano in Biscayne Bay".

The Mysterious Piano in Miami Bay For over 7 days a "mysterious piano" was featured in the news across the globe. The 650 pound grand piano was discarded by someone who had left it abandoned on a sandbar in Miami Florida in Biscayne Bay. The Yeager's seized the opportunity to use the mysterious piano as a ways to promote their feature film "Jesus of Malibu". The Yeager's had already posted several images on their web-sites of pianos in the sand where Yeager and his wife dragged dilapidated pianos to locations to experiment with music. Yeager called CNN and claimed that he and his wife left the piano on the sandbar. Soon after television shows such as Good Morning America, Inside Edition, affiliates CBS, NBC, ABC and networks from Australia to Germany were featuring the Yeager's and their film Jesus of Malibu on the news. CNN broadcast the story for 24 hours a day, but shortly afterwards the real person called CNN to show proof that he had placed the piano there as a prank. Niclolous Harrington, a 16 year old student persuaded his friends to pull the piano out by boat which had been severely burned at a party they decided to pull it to the sandbar as a prank. The Yeagers' film trailer for Jesus of Malibu titled "The Film that Changed the World" racked up an impressive 7 million hits in 2 days. Soon after the video was banned and removed by youtube. The video has not been made available for public viewing since it was removed in 2011. Editorials ensued stating that the Yeager's proved  how to get publicity by incorporating the Jungian archetype of the trickster to promote their film creating one the best publicity stunts ever, worth millions of dollars of free publicity that included helicopter aerial shots and clips of famous movies. In 2014 Maltese Productions began producing a documentary film about the Yeager's and about the video titled "The Film that Changed the World". The Film that Changed the World The Film that Changed the World, is a feature film documentary produced by Maltese Productions and is executive produced by Helena Von Weinberg. Directed by Michael Kirk, the film tells the story of the Yeager's and their desire to change the world by producing a transcendental film incorporating scientific and metaphysical experiments and also includes archive footage from when William and Anais met and were married the day Anais arrived from Spain. The film is a 2 part series, and is being used as a promotional tool for Jesus of Malibu which is not being sold, or distributed and or screened in any way except by private invitation. Art and Paintings

Because Yeager renounced society and does not sell his art or previous films  for money or profit, Yeager's art is considered highly collectable and valuable by serious art collectors who consider Yeager's work as folk art. Yeager paints on massonite board using oil paints. His style is similar to Alfred Hair who was the first original Florida Highwaymen. Yeager learned the style from Livingston Robert's who is one of the 5 original Florida Highwaymen, who taught Yeager how to paint in 2001. Yeager's paintings have fetched as much as 160,000.00 to 180,000.00 at auction, primarily because there are only approximately 18 paintings that Yeager has painted.

Philanthropy

Both William and Anais chose to renounce living in society in 2007. In 2010 they established the Mindy's Wish Charity Foundation where they use most of the proceeds from their music and films to support land-mine victims in 3rd world countries by manufacturing low cost affordable wheelchairs and distribute handmade musical instruments to the destitute and poor. Their 3- part trilogy film "Jesus of Malibu" is a private invitational screening event where the film is projected in the desert in a remote location where all the proceeds are used to raise "conscious awareness" through artistic projects such as art, films and music.

Discography

"What's it Gonna Take" 1983 released on Contour Records. Produced by Billy Yeager. Featuring Dennis Noday, Al Shikaly, Jaco Pastorius.

"Be My Valentine" 1985 released on Palm Tree Records recorded at Circle Sound Studios Miami. Mixed and engineered by Touter Harvey. Yeager plays every instrument and guest singer Julie Liddle appears.

"The Rejection Years" 1997 released on Bunny Yeager Productions Records in conjunction with Capitol Records Division.

" Jimmy's Story Music Soundtrack" 1998 released on Bunny Yeager Productions Records in conjunction with Culture Development Group.

"Boys Town" 1998 Released on Bunny Yeager Productions Records.

"The Silver-tone Sessions" 1999 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"Wings of Summer" 2000 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"The Florida Highwaymen Music Soundtrack" 2001 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"Labyrinth" 2003 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"A Perfect Song Movie Soundtrack" 2003 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"Closer than Far" 2004 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"Chase the Sun" 2004 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"Water Colors" 2007 released on Mo' Grabbin Records.

"Sebastian Beach One Fine Day Movie Soundtrack" 2013 on Mo' Grabbin Records.

Awards Jimmy's Story The Palm Beach International Film Festival 2001. Best Documentary Film The Dahlonega International Film Festival Best First Feature Best Folk Film Best Director Best Documentary

A Perfect Song The Delray Beach International Film Festival Best Actor Best Musical Soundtrack