Died On This Date (April 10, 2009) Rocky Hill / Houston Guitarist; Brother of ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill
Posted by themusicsover on April 10, 2010
John “Rocky” Hill
December 1, 1946 – April 10, 2009
Rocky Hill was by all accounts, a killer guitar player, as well as the older brother of Dusty Hill, bassist for Texas rock band, ZZ Top. The Hill brothers began playing together in their early teens eventually forming a trio called American Blues with future ZZ Topper, Frank Beard on drums. The band broke up in 1969 when the Hills moved from Dallas to Houston. Dusty and Beard soon joined up with Billy Gibbons to form ZZ Top. Rocky, who was more of a blues loyalist continued on alone, at times playing with the great Lightnin’ Hopkins. He apparently struggled with drugs and alcohol through much of his adult life. Cause of death was not immediately released but was called medical in nature.