RIP BILLY HINSCHE

1951-2021

William Hinsche was part of the singing group Dino, Desi & Billy and a touring musician with The Beach Boys. Hinsche was born in Manila, the Philippines, where his father owned a casino. The family moved to the United States and settled in Beverly Hills. Hinsche attended Loyola High School, where he met Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Dean Paul Martin and formed the group Dino, Desi & Billy and signed with Frank Sinatra’s record label Reprise Records. 

They had a top 40 hit in 1965 with “I’m A Fool”.

“I like to say, we were a garage band like so many others…the only difference being, we were rehearsing in Lucille Ball’s garage. She had a weekly television show, was so popular and well-loved, and there was nobody like her. So yes, I was definitely a little bit intimidated and a little scared about meeting her, but she was very nice.”

As a musical trio, they appeared on television several times:

• “The Dean Martin Show” (1968 & 1971) 
• “The Hollywood Squares” (1970)
• “The Joey Bishop Show” (1969)
• “The Hollywood Palace” (1968)
• “Murderers’ Row” (1965)
• “Sammy Davis and the Wonderful World of Children” (1965)
• “The Ed Sullivan Show” (1965)

~ excerpt from the book “Backstage with the Hollywood Squares” by Peter Marshall, who had guest-starred on an episode of “The Lucy Show” during season one. 

In 1967 the trio even did a TV commercial for RC Cola. 

Hinsche’s bandmate Dino Martin’s father, singer Dean Martin, was one of Lucille Ball’s favorite performers. He appeared on “The Lucy Show,” and “Lucy Gets Lucky.”  Dino (aka Dean Paul Martin) died in a plane crash in 1987. 

Ironically, when Desi Arnaz made background appearances on “The Lucy Show” his character name was Billy. 

Although Hinsche was never credited as appearing on a Lucille Ball sitcom, he was an offstage character mentioned by Craig and Kim Carter (Lucie Arnaz & Desi Arnaz Jr.) on “Here’s Lucy.”  

In “Guess Who Owes Lucy $23.50?″ (HL S1;E11, first aired on December 8, 1968) guest-starring Van Johnson, Kim suggests that she and Craig go over to the Hinsche’s to visit because “Annie’s got a real cute girl visiting from San Francisco.”  In real life, Billy’s sister Annie Hinsche was married to Beach Boys guitarist Carl Wilson.  

‘Bill’ calls Craig on the telephone in “Lucy and Liberace” (HL S2;E16, first aired on January 5, 1970). 

Billy with Lucie Arnaz at Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT, July 27, 2007.
(photo by Joe Luckinbill, copyright © 2007)

Hinsche passed away at the age of 70.  He was married twice.