Billie was born in Alamosa, Colorado in 1949. Her family moved to Buckeye, AZ when she was just a little one. By the time her Mom & Dad finished producing what became the Garcia family, there was 7 kids total. Mercy sakes!!! Well her Aunt had 18, so I guess they considered Billie's family pretty small. *S*

She is of Mexican/Native American (Pascua Yaqui Tribe) heritage. To learn a little of the tribe, please click HERE. Here's a page with a list of books to learn more about the tribe.

While in high school, Buckeye Union HS, she acquired a liking for music. She must have had it in for her Mom & Dad because she decided on DRUM lessons in freshman year. "Badda-bing!" She even played the parade drums.

Right after graduation in 1968 she joined up with "Tommy Dean & the Girlfriends" band. If you were in the military during the '70s, you just may have attended one of their gigs. She was the cute little drummer who could play "Wipeout" better than most!!! (She still can!) The band toured all over the US & many parts of Canada. They spent years playing various lounges and military bases.

While with the band she was fortunate enough to meet some of the greats - even being the opening act for some of them. Unfortunately though, she never did get to meet Mr Gene Krupa who is her favorite drummer of all times. (I have always thought so too.) His style was unmatched by anyone.

After the death of Tommy Dean, his wife, Starr (who was the lead singer) moved the girls to Florida. They were the house band in a lounge in south Florida for a while. She was with the band for about 14 years until she had enough of Starr's ridicule (for being gay) and decided to quite the band and move in with her girlfriend.

The relationship wasn't a very happy one but she tried her best. If you knew her ex, you would understand how difficult is was. That womyn she was with is a lunatic for sure & eventually made life very hard for Billie. Luckily though the ex threw Billie out when she found another womyn to take her verbal and nearly physical abuse.

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