Billy Jenkins, born Charles William Jenkins on July 5, 1956, in Bromley, Kent, was an English blues and improvising guitarist, bandleader, and composer. Raised in a bohemian household, Jenkins began his musical journey as a chorister at Bromley Parish Church and later taught himself guitar. His early career included touring with the art rock band Burlesque (1972–77) under Clive Davis' Arista Records label and performing with The Fantastic Trimmer & Jenkins (1979–82). In 1981, he founded the Voice of God Collective (VOGC). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jenkins released numerous albums, including Sounds Like Bromley (1982) and Scratches of Spain (1987). His work often reflected his South East London surroundings, evident in albums like Greenwich (1985) and Suburbia (1999). Notable achievements include being nominated three times for a Paul Hamlyn Foundation award (2008, 2010, 2011) and having his album True Love Collection (1998) voted one of the '50 Greatest Ever Jazz Albums' by BBC and Jazz FM in 2016. Jenkins ceased performing live after the 2010 London Jazz Festival but continued composing and recording despite health issues.
