Billy Strings picked up his passion for bluegrass music from his father at a very young age. Born William Apostol, he was nicknamed Billy Strings because of his talent with the bluegrass instruments. He grew up with the sounds of Doc Watson, Bill Monroe Ralph Stanley and the likes. As a teenager, rock and metal music also made a huge impact on Billy Strings, which can clearly be seen through his guitar work. He has performed onstage with the likes of Dierks Bentley, Larry Keel and Leftover Salmon. In an article in February 2018, the Rolling Stones described him as a bluegrass prodigy. With Lyrics that speak about rural America and music that takes listeners to the Americana roots, Billy Strings has garnered positive criticism from artists and bluegrass fans alike.