Billy Strings Avoids Nashville's Music Row

The colorfully tattooed, Michigan-bred Billy Strings received his stage name from his aunt, who admired his uncanny ability to master a variety of plucked instruments. The 25-year-old guitar flatpicking prodigy, born William Apostol, whose influences range from Doc Watson to Black Sabbath , is rapidly scaling the bluegrass music ladder and carving his name on the venerable tree of roots music while happily making waves wherever he goes.