Willy DeVille

Quick Facts

Full Name	Willy DeVille
Occupation	Guitarist
Date Of Birth	Aug 25, 1950(1950-08-25)
Age	74
Date Of Death	2009-08-06
Birthplace	Stamford
Country	United States
Birth City	Connecticut
Horoscope	Leo

Willy DeVille Biography

Willy DeVille is one of the most popular and richest Guitarist who was born on August 25, 1950 in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. Singer and guitarist in Mink DeVille from 1974 until 1986. The group was the main rock group of CBGB.

He was a fan of He was a fan of Muddy Waters..

Willy DeVille was born in Stamford, Connecticut to William Paul Borsey (1919-2000), a carpenter, and Marion Elizabeth Meritt (1921-2004). He grew up in the working-class Belltown district of Stamford. His maternal grandmother was a Pequot, and he was also of Basque and Irish descent. As he put it, “A little of this and a little of that; a real street dog.” DeVille said about Stamford, “It was post-industrial. Everybody worked in factories, you know. Not me. I wouldn’t have that. People from Stamford don’t get too far. That’s a place where you die.” DeVille said about his youthful musical tastes, “I still remember listening to groups like the Drifters. It was like magic, there was drama, and it would hypnotise me.”

Willy DeVille was married in the early 1970s to Susan Berle (February 19, 1950 – August 12, 2004), who was known as Toots Deville. Toots and Willy had known each other while growing up in Stamford, Connecticut. They were married in 1971, and he adopted her son, Sean. Alex Halberstadt, Doc Pomus’s biographer, wrote about Toots, “Half French and half Pima Indian, Toots favored a pair of nose rings, snow-white kabuki make-up and a Ronettes-style beehive the color of tar. She’d once put out a lit Marlboro in a woman’s eye just for staring at Willy.”

He had a first marriage. His wife of the time, Susan Berle, married him in the 70s. He later married Lisa Leggett, his business manager. Lisa took her own life, so he got married again with Nina Lagerwall. He has one son from his previous marriage.

Willy DeVille Net Worth

Willy DeVille is one of the richest Guitarist from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Willy DeVille 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

He quit high school to hang out with friends and begin an ensemble. The first band he joined comprised Billy & the Kids.

“Storybook Love,” a song he sang in 1987 was nominated for one of the Academy Award.

To my mind there were three main eras. The first era was the Lower East Side, skinny tie, purple shirt, West Side Story, Puerto Rican Sharks gang vibe. Then it transmuted into the Mississippi plantation-gambler riverboat rogue, the Rhett Butler thing where he had had custom-made suits, and really got into the period and the clothes and just totally immersed himself in New Orleans, not the present New Orleans, but the New Orleans of the 1880s and 1890s—the Absinthe-drinking, voodoo New Orleans. He totally immersed himself in that. Then he left New Orleans and moved to the Southwest and came back as the second coming of Black Elk.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Willy DeVille height Not available right now. Willy weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Willy DeVille Dating?

According to our records, Willy DeVille married to Lisa Leggett , Nina Lagerwall. As of December 1, 2023, Willy DeVille’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Willy DeVille. You may help us to build the dating records for Willy DeVille!

Mink DeVille was a house band at CBGB, the historic New York City nightclub where punk rock was born in the mid-1970s. DeVille helped redefine the Brill Building sound. In 1987 his song “Storybook Love” was nominated for an Academy Award. After his move to New Orleans in 1988, he helped spark the roots revival of classic New Orleans R&B. His soulful lyrics and explorations in Latin rhythms and sounds helped define a new musical style sometimes called “Spanish-Americana”.

Facts & Trivia

Willy Ranked on the list of most popular Guitarist. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Willy DeVille celebrates birthday on August 25 of every year.

By 1974 Willy DeVille (under the name Billy Borsay) was singing in a band with drummer Thomas R. “Manfred” Allen, Jr., bassist Rubén Sigüenza, guitarist Robert McKenzie (a.k.a. Fast Floyd), and Ritch Colbert on keyboards. The band called themselves Billy de Sade and the Marquis, but changed the name to Mink DeVille the year after; at the same time lead singer Borsay adapted the name Willy DeVille. The same year, DeVille persuaded the band members to try their luck in New York City after spotting an ad in The Village Voice inviting bands to audition. Guitarist Fast Floyd and keyboard player Ritch Colbert stayed behind in San Francisco, and after arriving in New York, the band hired guitarist Louis X. Erlanger, whose blues sensibilities helped shape the Mink DeVille’s sound.

Top Facts about Willy DeVille

1. Born William Borsey Jr. in Stamford, Connecticut in 1950.
2. Frontman of the band Mink DeVille from 1974-1985.
3. Known for blending rock, R&B, and Latin music styles.
4. Received critical acclaim for his solo album “Miracle” (1987).
5. Won an Emmy Award for his song “Storybook Love” from The Princess Bride soundtrack (1987).
6. Died of pancreatic cancer in 2009 at age 58.
7. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of Mink DeVille.
8. Collaborated with artists such as Mark Knopfler and Dr. John.
9. Recorded albums in Spanish and French languages.
10. Influenced by artists such as Elvis Presley and Otis Redding.

Is Willy DeVille and Mink DeVille the same person?

Willy DeVille, a singer and songwriter and the leader of the group Mink DeVille , whose adventurous forays into rhythm and blues, Cajun music and salsa made him one of the most original figures of the New York punk scene of the 1970s, died on Thursday in Manhattan.

What nationality is Willy DeVille?

American

Is Willy DeVille still alive?

August 6, 2009

What songs did Willy DeVille write?

TitleWritten byOriginal date
I Call Your Name| Willy DeVille| 1987
Just Give Me One Good Reason| Willy DeVille| 1981
Just to Walk That Little Girl Home| Doc Pomus, Willy DeVille| 1980
Keep Your Monkey Away from My Door| Willy DeVille| 1983

What genre is Mink DeVille?

Pop