b. Sidney Garza-Hillman, 21 December 1968, Los Angeles, California, USA. Playing guitar and singing, Hillman was encouraged in following a career in music through the example of his famous uncle, Chris Hillman, who made his name with the Byrds. Hillman’s musical influences though were rather different from the Byrds alternative country leanings. In interviews, he has asserted that his primary influence is not so much country music, as early western music, and he has specifically cited the no-frills style of Hank Williams.
After graduating from UCLA in 1991 with a degree in philosophy, Hillman worked mainly as an actor, meanwhile also playing music. He formed his band, the Sid Hillman Quartet, after playing for about 10 years in Los Angeles in other formats. In the mid-00s Hillman’s band, was becoming better known although it remained rather more accurate to state that at this time he was still an actor who also played music. In the early 00s, the band toured as support to Mojave 3 and Tercero, while Hillman also toured as a solo act with Neil Halstead. In addition to playing throughout North America, the band has also visited Europe. Hillman composes much of the material played by his quartet and in it there is a feeling that melancholy is not far away. With Hillman in the band have been Raymond Richards (electric/pedal steel guitar), Jim Faith (guitar), Jim Cheydleur (bass) and Michael Tacklender (drums). Tracks by the band have been heard on film and television soundtracks. On television, Hillman has appeared in individual episodes of The Norm Show (1999), Freaks And Geeks (2000) and ER. (2001).
