Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
Encyclopedia
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz (born 1954, Aiken
, South Carolina
, United States
) is an American
blues
musician
and comedian
. His material consists of irreverent comedy
routines set to music. His humor is somewhat raunchy and thus is not normally considered suitable for children. His material often mocks conservative politics and religion.
when he was nine years old.
In 1990, his album Backslider's Tractor Pull won an award for Comedy Album of the Year by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors. Found on that album is perhaps his most famous parody of the all-American icon
, Waffle House
. In his song, "Waffle House Fire", while never outright offensive or disdainful of the enterprise, he subtly captures the mood and tenor of the 3:00 a.m. insanity that exists therein, and which would likewise attract and imprison a restless soul in what he phrases "a 24-hour breakfast hell."
Wirtz had a one-night stint as the "houseband" on WCW
Monday Night Nitro wrestling.
The Nashville Network
, USA Network
and NBC
have showcased Wirtz's talents, along with nationwide morning radio shows. Similarly, "Waffle House Fire" has been featured on XM Radio's Channel 151, Laugh USA
. Wirtz performs concerts and at festivals and events, and on his website humorously "advertises" he is available for "your club, bar mitzvah, or piercing."
In 2008, Circumstantial Productions published Reverend Billy C. Wirtz's first book, Sermons & Songs, edited by Richard Connolly.
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
. His material consists of irreverent comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
routines set to music. His humor is somewhat raunchy and thus is not normally considered suitable for children. His material often mocks conservative politics and religion.
Biography
His father was a federal employee and a sociologist while his mother was a writer. His family moved to Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
when he was nine years old.
In 1990, his album Backslider's Tractor Pull won an award for Comedy Album of the Year by the National Association of Independent Record Distributors. Found on that album is perhaps his most famous parody of the all-American icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
, Waffle House
Waffle House
Waffle House is a restaurant chain with over 1600 locations found in 25 states in the United States. Most of the locations are in the Southern United States, where the chain remains a regional cultural icon...
. In his song, "Waffle House Fire", while never outright offensive or disdainful of the enterprise, he subtly captures the mood and tenor of the 3:00 a.m. insanity that exists therein, and which would likewise attract and imprison a restless soul in what he phrases "a 24-hour breakfast hell."
Wirtz had a one-night stint as the "houseband" on WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
Monday Night Nitro wrestling.
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
, USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
have showcased Wirtz's talents, along with nationwide morning radio shows. Similarly, "Waffle House Fire" has been featured on XM Radio's Channel 151, Laugh USA
Laugh USA
Laugh USA is a Sirius XM Radio channel featuring family comedy. The channel's slogan is "Classic Comedy and Good Clean Fun." The comedy aired sometimes contains mild profanities and slightly risqué material, and is only very rarely considered offensive...
. Wirtz performs concerts and at festivals and events, and on his website humorously "advertises" he is available for "your club, bar mitzvah, or piercing."
In 2008, Circumstantial Productions published Reverend Billy C. Wirtz's first book, Sermons & Songs, edited by Richard Connolly.
Singles
- "Stairway to Freebird/On the Rag Again" - No Big Deal Records (1984)
- "Rib Ticklin" - Memphis in May International Festival Inc (2000)
- "The Best of the Wirtz" (5 track Radio promo) - Hightone Records (2001)
Albums
- Salvation Through Polyester - No Big Deal Records (1983)
- Deep Fried and Sanctified - King Snake Records (1988), re-released 1989 on Hightone Records
- Backslider's Tractor Pull - Hightone Records (1990)
- A Turn For the Wirtz: Confessions of a Hillbilly Love God - Hightone Records (1992)
- Pianist Envy - Hightone Records (1994)
- Songs of Faith and Inflammation - Hightone Records (1996)
- Unchained Maladies - Hightone Records (1998)
- The Best of the Wirtz - Hightone Records (2001)
- Rev Elation - Rest Stop Records (2004)
- Sermon from Bethlehem - Blind Pig RecordsBlind Pig RecordsBlind Pig Records is an American blues record label.Blind Pig was formed in 1977 in Ann Arbor, Michigan by Jerry Del Giudice, owner of the Blind Pig Cafe, and his friend Edward Chmelewski. The label is now based in San Francisco...
(2006) - Group Therapy (with Victor Wainwright, as Pianist Envy) - (2008)