How's That Sam? 2006

This painting by Tom Hilborn is called “How’s That Sam? (Bill Riley with Abysal Fish)” painted in 2006.

Tom has told me that this painting represents Bill Riley‘s soliciting a response from Sam Phillips (the American record producer) having just recorded “Flyin’ Saucer Rock ‘n Roll” which was Bill Riley’s biggest hit.  Riley recorded this song with his band, The Little Green Men at Sun Records in 1957.

This painting is framed, painted in acrylic paint on fiber board. It is available for sale on our buy art page.

What’s the abysal fish doing in the painting, I asked Tom.  Tom uses this image of the abysal fish which lives in the depths and darkness of the oceans, as a suggestion of hydrostatic (water) pressure of 2000 metric tons.  If you want to know more, he says, just call Tom.

This colorful, joyous abstract painting of Bill Riley by Tom Hilborn draws in its audience by its playfulness and touch of humour.

Bill Riley was one of the original American rockabilly musicians, born October 5, 1933 in Arkansas.

This is a short history of his claim to rockabilly fame from Rockabilly.net.
In the 1950s, Bill Riley:

“…recorded Flying Saucer Rock and Roll which was his first hit record. Recording at Sun Studio’s in Memphis, Tennessee, Riley ended up backing up many of the performers who came through the door to do session work at Sun. His guitar and harmonica work was called into play for any performer without a band. Joining him during these sessions were Roland James and J.M. Van Eaton. These three formed a group called the Little Green Men the name drawn from Riley first hit.”

Source:  rockabilly.net

I’ve included a second painting by Tom Hilborn of Bill Riley in this posting which gives you another perspective into Tom’s artistic vision of this “Hard” from the Saints and Hards collection.  This is a darker view of Bill Riley.  If you wish to read more about Bill Riley, go check out the website:  Rockabilly.net, the ultimate source for rockabilly information.

I wish Bill Riley could see these works of art.  There ain’t no Saints here.