Background
Billo was born in Sydney, one of two children born to Australian born parents.
Billo was born in Sydney, one of two children born to Australian born parents.
Billo played clarinet and alto saxophone. He was wounded in combat in 1916, suffering a shrapnel injury to his face, the left side of which was paralised for the remainder of his life. He was honourably discharged.
Billo Smith’s son William James (AKA Billo too) studied music (Clarinet and Piano) at the Sydney Conservatorium, entering in 1956 on a scholarship.
He also adopted the stage name "Billo". Billo led a band at the Trocadero in Brisbane in the run to and during World War Two.
Through the 1950s, Smith's band was the main act at the Cloudland Ballroom in Brisbane. He and his band, including Billo junior, played for Queen Elizabeth II for her coronation tour of Australia when she and Prince Philip visited Brisbane in 1952.(Photo and citation).
The Royal Command Performance was held in the theatre of the Brisbane Town Hall.
Billo Senior pulled a muscle as he began to conduct the band. Billo also played for the Duke of York (Later King George VI) in 1927 and the Duke of Gloucester on two occasions. The Smiths retired from the band in 1960, and moved from Brisbane to the Gold Coast, firstly owning a block of flats at Kirra Beach, and then a living house on Razorback Hill overlooking Coolangatta (1968 until 1982).
Billo remained involved in the RSL. In retirement Smith seldom played his instrument.
He had played for a few balls at the Empire Palais in Tweed Heads. Smith served as secretary of the Tweed Heads branch of the Lions Club.
He lived most of his life in Brisbane, leaving Australia only during World War One, when he served in France as a member of the Australian Light Horse brigade. Smith was married to Agnes "Nessie" Smith (1903-1982) who was also a member of the band as the pianist. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Brisbane, and later in Tweed Heads.
