Billy Raffoul
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Billy Raffoul is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter from Leamington, Ontario, most noted as the winner of the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize for his single "Western Skies". Billy Raffoul was born on June 7, 1994, in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in a creative family in the small farming town of Leamington, Ontario — "the tomato capital of Canada." He was raised in a creative family in Leamington, Ontario. His mother is a writer, artist, and teacher, while his father, Jody, is a solo artist. His father has opened for artists like Joe Cocker and Bon Jovi. Raffoul first started writing songs at age 10, thanks in no small part to the influence of his father—a musician who's opened for legendary artists like Joe Cocker. At ten, he received a guitar for his birthday from his father and began to teach himself to play. The son of musician Jody Raffoul, he was introduced to the music business after accompanying his father on a session to perform on some Kid Rock demos in 2013, during which the producers invited him to perform some vocals after hearing his singing voice. He signed to Interscope Records in 2017, releasing several EPs and performing as a guest vocalist on Avicii's song "You Be Love", before releasing his full-length debut album "International Hotel" in 2020. He left his hometown of Leamington, Ontario, at 19 for Nashville, TN. Billy Raffoul's raspy, soulful voice and his authentic rock and roll songwriting have made him a rising star in the Canadian music scene.