Sam Otis Hill is a Boston-based singer-songwriter influenced by 60's soul, Texas outlaw country, and folk music. "Sand and Gravel" is his first album. Named after Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, he grew up on a steady diet of Stax/Volt LPs. But his dad was also a huge Hank Williams fan and the first song Sam sang was "Cold, Cold Heart"--to his mom after being sent to his room. It got him off the hook and he decided he was on to something. In high school, he cut his teeth playing Neil Young and Dylan covers in coffeehouses and began writing his own songs. In college he got hooked on Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, and David Allan Coe (and all that that entails) forever altering both his musical tastes and sobriety. After a few years wandering in the professional desert, he rejoined the scene in 2005. As frontman for The Billies, he brought the music of Jerry Jeff, DAC, and Robert Earl Keen to the bars of Boston and hosted the monthly Boston City Limits Festival at the old Kirkland Cafe. Now striking out on his own again, Sam's writing new songs and dusting off some old ones. Joining him as part of Sam Otis Hill & Co. are Charlie Breckling (fiddle), Mike Powers (lead guitar), Jon Reese (bass), and Denis Saulnier (drums). While Sam writes the songs, these guys turn them into the kind of music that allows you to drink, nod your head, and tap your foot all at the same time. So "come see us 'cross the street, come see us 'round the bend, that joint just off the highway--come alone, bring a friend. Find yourself some roadside bar that's seen a better day, set right down and have a beer, we'll soon be 'round to play." If you can't do that, buy "Sand and Gravel" and get the next best thing.