While his name sounds like something that would go nicely in a traditional Appalachian soup, Billy Bean is associated with the West Coast jazz scene and a guitar style that is both mellow and clever. He came from a musical family that included a mother who played piano, a father who played guitar, and a sister who worked as a professional vocalist. He seems to have spent most of the '40s and the first few years of the '50s studying his instrument privately, emerging as a professional player with a variety of combos based out of his native Philly. His jazz career seems to begin officially in 1956 as a member of Charlie Ventura's group, including early recordings, and by 1958 the guitarist had headed off to California, where quite a few opportunities awaited him.