DAVE HARTL says: (the long version)
"Billy Burger is a special guy to me. I played with him in the Get Right Band at the end of the '70's and knew him as a really nice guy and good friend who played bass, sang, and had written a few songs. After I moved away for many years, we met again. One of the great pleasures of this past year was to play with Billy again, this time not only with the Get Right Band in a reunion, but backing him up in his own project. It was more than a pleasure to me, it was a learning experience.
Some friends grow older and when you see him they've stiffened (sometimes calling it "focus") and gotten less open to things. A true artist, however, keeps growing and absorbing influences over the years, aging like fine wine and becoming more complex, subtle, and expressive with the years.
Billy Burger is a friggin' artist.
He's taken the Joni Mitchell "tune the guitar anyway you want and figure out what works with it" approach and found his own methods and approaches. His voice has become confident and expressive. And his songwriting reflects an understanding of life and maturity that ranks with the best of them. I hear him singing and recognize the voice from the Seventies, but it's strong and confident now. A musician's music always shows what they are more than their conversation and I like hearing his music; I like the guy he's become.
Anytime you want me to play behind you, Billy, call me up. I don't deny myself good times."