by James Christopher MongerOscar-winning actor/director/writer/musician Billy Bob Thornton was raised in Arkansas by his high school basketball coach father and psychic mother. He began playing drums at the age of 12, eventually joining a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band in high school. After college he spent time in local bands like Blue & the Blue Velvets, Nothin' Doin', Cottonwood, and Hot 'Lanta, playing colleges and high schools throughout Arkansas and Texas. Nothin' Doin' became Tres Hombres, a ZZ Top cover band in the early '80s. After hitting it big in Hollywood, Thornton decided to return to his first love, music, and record an album. The dark and personal Private Radio arrived in 2001 on the Universal imprint Uptown. Produced and co-written with country legend Marty Stuart, it featured session work from some of Nashville's finest. Sanctuary released Edge of the World in 2003, followed by Hobo, released on the Big Deal label in 2005, and Beautiful Door in 2007. Thornton has also appeared on albums by Earl Scruggs (Earl Scruggs and Friends), the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash (Distance Between), and Warren Zevon (The Wind).