Billy Childs

William Edward Childs (born March 8, 1957) is an American composer, jazz pianist, arranger, and conductor from Los Angeles, California.

Childs's In the Arms of the Beloved was a finalist for the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Early life When he was 16, Childs attended the Community School of the Performing Arts sponsored by the University of Southern California (USC). He studied music theory with Marienne Uszler and piano with John Weisenfluh. From 1975 to 1979, Childs attended USC and earned a degree in composition under the tutelage of Robert Linn.

While still a teenager, Childs was playing professionally. He made his recording debut in 1977 with the J. J. Johnson Quintet during a tour of Japan, documented as "the Yokohama Concert". Childs gained significant attention during the six years (1978–84) he spent in trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's group. His early influences as a pianist included Herbie Hancock, Keith Emerson, and Chick Corea. As a composer he is influenced by Paul Hindemith, Maurice Ravel, and Igor Stravinsky.

Childs's sister is the playwright Kirsten Childs.

Solo albums Childs's solo jazz recording career began in 1988, when he released Take for Example, This..., the first of four critically acclaimed albums on Windham Hill Jazz. He followed that with Twilight Is Upon Us (1989), His April Touch (1992), and Portrait of a Player (1993). Chick Corea asked Childs to join his label, Stretch Records. Childs's next album, I've Known Rivers, appeared on Stretch/GRP (now Stretch Records/Concord Records) in 1995. The Child Within on Shanachie Records was released in 1996.

Arranging In 2000, Childs arranged, orchestrated, and conducted Dianne Reeves's project The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan, In 2005, the ensemble released its first album, Lyric, Jazz-Chamber Music, Vol. 1, which was nominated for three Grammy awards: Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Arrangement, and won best instrumental composition for "Into the Light".

Awards and honors 2003: New Composition Grant, Chamber Music America 2006: Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition, "Into the Light" 2006 Grammy Award, Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist, "What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?" 2009: Guggenheim Fellowship 2010: Detroit Symphony, "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra" (Regina Carter, soloist) 2012: Ying Quartet, "Awakening String Quartet No. 2" (The Ying Quartet) 2022: Young Concert Artists (and a consortium of nine orchestras), "Diaspora: Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra" (Steven Banks, soloist)

Jazz commissions 1992: Grenoble Jazz Festival, "Chamber Orchestra Music" (Steve Houghton soloist) 1994: Monterey Jazz Festival, "Concerto Piano and JazzChamber Orchestra" (Childs soloist) 1997: Mancini Institute, "The Winds of Change" (Roy Hargrove soloist) 2001: Kuumbwa Jazz Center "Into the Light" (Billy Childs JazzChamber Ensemble) 2004: Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, "The Fierce Urgency of Now" (Wynton Marsalis musical director) 2010: Monterey Jazz Festival, "Music for Two Quartets" (Kronos Quartet with Childs, Brian Blade, Scott Colley, and Steve Wilson)

Discography As leader Title !! Label !! Year released !! Notes

As sideman With Chris Botti When I Fall In Love (Columbia, 2004)

With Lou Rawls Seasons 4 U (Rawls & Brokaw, 1998)

With Bunky Green Healing the Pain (Delos, 1990)

With J. J. Johnson and Nat Adderley The Yokohama Concert (Pablo Live, 1978) Concepts in Blue (Pablo Today, 1981) Chain Reaction: Yokohama Concert, Vol. 2 (Pablo, 2002) – rec. 1977

With Bunny Brunel For you to play (Nikaia Records, 1994)