William Henry Bazemore

BAZEMORE, William "Billy," former lead vocalist and entertainer with the Band of Oz, passed away following a lengthy illness at the McGuire Veterans Medical Center in Richmond, Va. at 5:45 a.m. on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. He was predeceased by his parents, William Gifford Bazemore and Helen Jean Turner; one brother, Steve Bazemore; and sister, Woody Lynn Hulon. He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Tanya McLamb Bazemore of Chester, Va.; two daughters, Cortney Amelia Griffin, Richmond VA; Jodi Bazemore Olsen (Chad) Raleigh, NC great-nephew and like-a-son, Brandon Cox (Brittany) of High Point, N.C.; two grandsons, Jaxon and Jaeden Olsen; and a very special great-great-niece Alivia Cox; seven other nieces and nephews and four great-nephews; three brothers, Gregory Jene Hulon and Woodrow Junior, both of Greenville, N.C. and Hunter Turner Hulon; two sisters, Kay Hulon Cutler of Greenville, N.C. and Mary Anne Turner of Lagrange, N.C.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Candace McLamb Long (Gene) and Loftin W. McLamb Jr. "Skip" of Virginia Beach, Va. Billy graduated from Belvoir High School (Greenville, N.C. area). He attended ECU until he was drafted into the Army, where he served in Vietnam from July 1969 to June 1971. Billy was the former lead vocalist of The Band of OZ, Raleigh, N.C. who wrote and sang lead vocal on their first number one song, "Shaggin" in 1978. He sang with Bill Deal and the Rhondels in the late 1960s. He recorded numerous records with the Band of Oz until 1984. In 1993, Bill started his own band, "Tyme Square" from High Point, N.C. On November 11, 2001, Billy was inducted into the Carolina Beach Music Association Hall of Fame. He was a member of Springfield Friends Meeting in High Point, N.C. and attended United Christian Church in Richmond, while living in Virginia. A celebration of life service with military honors will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, February 13, 2011 . A viewing and visitation will take place from 3 to 4 p.m., Sunday at United Christian Church, 2101 Fordson Rd., Richmond, Va. A memorial celebration of life service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, February 19, 2011 at, followed by a visitation and fellowship at Springfield Friends Meeting, 555 E. Springfield Rd., High Point, N.C. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Springfield Friends Meeting in High Point, NC, United Christian Church in Richmond, VA or to the charity of your choice.