Omari “O” Billings was born February 24, 1986 in Atlanta, GA. As he grew, music helped to frame and bring meaning to his life. So when, at 16, the bass player position became available at his church, Omari was determined to fill it whether he knew how to play or not. After a few weeks of familiarizing himself with the instrument, he joined the band, often having the chord progressions called out so he could play during services. The Norwood Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church would go on to be the place he tested and honed his skills. Omari currently plays for the Noonday Missionary Baptist Church in Marietta, GA.
Omari is a songwriter and composer. He has had the pleasure of recording with a number of local singer/songwriters. Omari has been playing live outside of the church since 2004. He has played with many artist spanning many different genres. Omari was commissioned to be the musical director for the Noah Sampson/Undergrads super-group at the 2011 Brew at the Zoo event for the Atlanta Zoo and has since gone on to be a major creative contributor for many smaller local performances. Working with these many artist has given him the opportunity to play many venues including Centennial Olympic Park's Wednesday Wind Down series and the historic Apache Cafe as well as travel the South East. He has performed as a part of the musical accompaniment for the plays A Changed Mind, Lord Lay Your Hands On This Man and the powerful civil rights piece Breathe. Omari has been the subject of artist review articles and was also featured in a NPR student journalist spot. It is through these experiences that Omari feels he has had the chance to learn and grow as an artist and acquire the skills needed to be a asset to almost and band situation.
Omari accredits a large portion of his learning to studying the work of great bass players before him. Some of his major influences include Pino Palladino, Verdine White of Earth Wind and Fire, phenom, Victor Wooten, Louis Johnson of The Brothers Johnson and legendary bassists Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham, Carol Kaye and James Jamerson. Omari hopes to follow in the footsteps of Atlantean idols Tres Gilbert Aaron Clay and “Za” Williams as a trusted and called upon producer and bass player in the music industry.
