Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton is known as an actor and filmmaker, but he's also been making music for years. He started playing with a band called The Boxmasters in the 1990s, and put out his first solo album 'Private Radio' in 2001. That record included 'Purple Passion,' a song that developed a following of its own.

His voice has a rough, unpolished quality that fits with the blues and country sounds he draws from. Songs like 'Angelina' and 'Beauty At The Back Door' show his preference for straightforward storytelling over slick production. He's released several albums since, including 'Hobo' in 2005 and 'Beautiful Door' in 2007.

Thornton's lyrics sometimes touch on darker themes or dry humor, which hasn't always sat well with everyone. But he's kept at it, recording and playing shows when he isn't working on films. The music feels like a personal project rather than a side career, and that comes through in the recordings.