BACKSTORY (1986–2014): Billy Hill and the Hillbillies were a musical/variety group that performed a bluegrass country-music-centered show along with classic rock and rap (performed in a country and bluegrass style). The group has four original members, all using the stage name of Billy Hill, who performed from August 5, 1992 until November 1994. The original members were:
Kirk Wall (master of ceremonies and sometime-Elvis impersonator), guitar and fiddle;
Mario Hildago, banjo;
Dennis Fetchet, fiddle;
John Marshall (founder), bass; Mario was later replaced before the opening inside the Golden Horseshoe on December 18, 1994 by
Evan Marshall, mandolin.
Evan Marshall left the band in 2003.
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies performed 7 days a week inside the Golden Horseshoe Saloon. They got their start in Critter Country from 1986–1990 and moved over to the Golden Horseshoe in 1992. They also performed at
Disneyland's Big Thunder Ranch from 1999–2000 while the Golden Horseshoe was occupied by the Woody’s Roundup show based on Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 2. The group left Disneyland with a final performance on January 6, 2014 after tallying up 21 years of performing in the Park.
