Billie Maxwell

Country musician (b. February 8, 1906 Farmington, New Mexico - d. February 18, 1954 Kirtland, New Mexico).

Billie Maxwell, named Willie after her grandfather William, grew up on the family farm in Nutrioso near Springerville in the White Mountains of Arizona. Coming from a musical family, she learned to play the piano and the guitar. Her father, E. Curtis Maxwell, her uncle Frank, her brother Marion, and Billie performed as a group at local dances. On July 2, 1929, they recorded four songs as the White Mountain Orchestra for the Victor label in El Paso, TX. Afterwards, Billie was asked if she could sing, and when she said yes, she was asked to record some of her own songs. She recorded "Billy Venero" (part 1 & part 2), accompanied by herself on guitar and by her father on violin, and another four sides nine days later.

The six sides she cut made her the first female Country singer to be recorded.