Billy The Kid
From Surfer Dude to Super Manager of The Doors and CSN&Y
by Rich Benjamin

Seventeen year old Billy Simmons’ life took an improbable turn after graduating from high school, when he was spending a beautiful summer day on the beach at Santa Monica and catching the waves on his beloved surfboard.  His reverie was broken when a scruffy hippie dude approached him and asked if he wanted to manage a rock band.  “Sure, why not,” Billy replied in humoring the guy, but he was serious.  “Really, we need a manager right away!”  Billy said, “I’m only a kid, what do I know about managing a rock group?”  The stranger laughed, “About as much as I do.”  And so began the improbable career of managing this new group, called The Doors, during a tragically short but memorable run, followed by the management of the first super group—Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.  What a time it was!