'It's good for the soul'

Bishop performs a high note around Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — The Harmonica King. The Music Man. Billy Joe Bishop has many nicknames. But they all translate into entertainer.

The longtime musician matches harmonies with entertainers from Marty Robbins to Jim Reeves, and never misses a beat as he sings along and taps his foot to their tunes. His renditions of those songs can be heard on one of Bishop's demo tapes, or at one of his numerous performances throughout the Columbia Basin. The retired chef has been singing since he was a boy, and started playing the guitar and harmonica more than 25 years ago.

"I never had any training" he says, "never had any lessons."

Bishop saw others performing, and decided to try it for himself. They started calling Bishop the Harmonica King in San Francisco, the town where he first began to play the harmonica. The Harmonica King is also known as the Music Man, and both titles appear on Bishop's business cards. He now teaches harmonica and guitar, the two instruments he plays for audiences on a regular basis. But those performances aren't just limited to music, Bishop can often be found chatting with crowds and making jokes.

"Last time we performed, we brought the house down," Bishop jokes, "They're still making repairs."

In between songs, his performing never stops, as he talks and cracks jokes with the crowd. Bishop says he's cracking jokes no matter if he's on stage or not, and just wants to make everyone smile. That's part of the reason he plays the kind of music he plays.

"If you can put humor in your songs," Bishop says, "your songs are going to sell. People don't want sad songs."

Audiences often see Bishop perform at various local retirement and senior centers or at the Columbia Basin Farmer's Market. He passes out lyric books for people to sing along at his performances. Bishop's wife Gladys also gets involved with the shows as well, dancing with audiences at the various centers. Bishop says one of his goals is to get the audiences to sing along.

"If I can get them to sing with me," he says, "they've made my day."

When not playing in one of his many performances, Bishop sings at church and performs with the Old Time Fiddlers. That's where he met Phyliss Pate, another Old Time Fiddler. Pate finds her friend Bishop loves to sit and chat with audience members.

"It lifts their heart," she says.

Always well dressed, and sometimes in a tuxedo, one of Bishop's regular performances is at the Moses Lake Senior Center. His songs range from the classics, "Old Man River" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," to music he's written himself. Over the years, Bishop has written upward of 40 songs, and he's also collected numerous instruments. One instrument case boasts 18 harmonicas, including five miniature harmonicas that Bishop can play all at once. He's also developed a studio in the basement of his home, where Bishop is able to mix different sounds in his music.

And Bishop is always practicing too, he says, because he's got so many appointments.

One of his goals, he said, is to see if he can make people happy with his music.

"It's good for the soul," Bishop says of the types of music he plays, "no matter where you go, it lifts your heart."