Blonde-haired, Calgary rocker Billy Klippert, who won fans over with his unique vocals during last year's Canadian Idol will continue to rock fans this year with the release of his debut album in June 2004.

The following is from The Orange Record Label website -- Billy Klippert's recording company:

In a parallel universe Billy Klippert is probably playing an accordion. Billy was born into a musical family, his father's musical instrument store still a fixture in Calgary. As a toddler, Billy's playground was the store, his toys the fascinating instruments (many of which, he confesses, he broke). Billy's father is a world-class accordion player and every year, Billy and his brother Bennie, were taken to the Kimberly Accordion International Championship to watch their father play. "We had to pack at least 300 accordions into the family motor home, and man, they were heavy", relates Billy, his dad not only a great player but the largest accordion dealer in Western Canada. But Billy had other ideas. "When I heard Metallica, I felt really guilty that I liked it", confessed a recalcitrant Billy. But his musical course was set. Leaving polkas and waltzes behind, Billy embarked on the life of a rock 'n' roller. "Hey, I learned guitar for the same reason every guy does...to impress the ladies."

Billy plays guitar, piano and bass and has taught guitar at the family store. In 200l, he packed his bags and moved to Australia where he picked fruit, chipped cotton, slept on beaches and eventually became a professional musician in a most traditional manner. He played a variety of sidewalks in towns up and down Australia's Gold Coast, his patrons, passers-by who would occasionally throw a few coins into the busker's guitar case. He didn't have a permit but the cops liked his sound and would show up now and then and request their favourite tunes. The pay wasn't great but it beat picking cotton and the experience ignited his passion to make music his career.

Back home in Calgary, Billy formed a band with his brother, a hard rock outfit called Kovered In Lies. The band developed a loyal local following, Billy's gravely-edged voice, his commanding 6'2" frame and blonde-spiked hair making him a compelling front man.

It was Billy's sister who re-directed Billy's fate. She insisted that he audition for a new television talent show that was holding auditions in Calgary. She went so far as to get into line at 3 o'clock in the morning with the hundreds of other talented and not-so talented Canadian Idol aspirants. A call at about 5 in the morning from sister to brother convinced Billy to come down to the audition and replace her in line. The rest, as they are fond of saying, is history. By 9:30 pm that same day, Billy had his ticket to Toronto and the Canadian Idol finals. And for any of you who have been out of the country for a year, Billy was the 2nd runner-up, a position that his loyal fans still debate and ponder.

In the winter of 2003, Billy was approached by The Orange Record Label. The fledgling label, recording home for singer/songwriters, were intrigued by something they saw in those TV appearances, a talent who seemed to be ill-suited for a talent show, an artist whose fans adored him, a songwriter whose voice and stage presence could make him a successful recording artist.

Partnered with producer Harry Hess (former singer for Harum Skarum), Billy Klippert has recorded an album that stays close to his rock roots while maintaining a link with his broad fan base. Billy has writing credits on 6 of the album's 11 songs. First single from the album is "Levon", an ode to his fans and the song that made him a household name across Canada. Billy's eponymous album will be released in June of 2004.