THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Billy Ebeling

American singer-songwriter and busker extraordinaire Billy Ebeling has appeared at Elsewhere previously and got our vote as the most inventive, funny and talented busker to ever appear on Auckland's Queen St.

He makes the occasional trip to New Zealand but a recent e-mail tells me his back in Kansas City and playing six nights a week . . . and has a new album out.

The album This Life of Ours -- with his Late For Dinner Band -- finds Ebeling in exceptional form on 11 originals which range from the reflective title track through jazzy rhythms, zydeco, swinging blues and songs you'd happily throw bills into the tip jar for. And at times Ebeling seems to channel the empathetic spirits (cheerful, reflective) of the younger Paul Simon.

Wrap Me in Your Skin (posted here) is wonderfully soulful.

And the final song is the funny I Fucked It Up which, as he says below, is one song he'd dearly love you to hear. Frankly I'd also like to hear Simon sing it, he would also do it justice.

His album is available through www.billyebeling.com where you can hear samples. Check him out . . . and his answers to the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire.

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

Honky Tonk Woman 45rpm, 11 years old

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

There's a photo of me and brother Tim, maybe five and nine with wigs on being the Beatles

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

Jagger, Ramones, Madonna, Jacko

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

Hospitality industry

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

Bud's Bunce, Room to Move, I Fucked It Up . . .original 

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

There is a Hammond C-3 organ and Leslie 122 speakers that dominate my living room apartment.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

Keith Richards' autobiography Life

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Bob Dylan, most definitely play

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

Spinal Tap, Spinal Tap and Spinal Tap

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

Jimmy Smith's Back at the Chicken Shack. Hayseed Dixie.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . .

I have no scruples. I would 'fess up to writing Achy Breaky Heart if the money was good.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

Dark Side of the Moon

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

The White Album

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

I think I'm doing it

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

All the years of gigging, practicing, songwriting has lead me to this point in my career.