"Big Willy Cha-Cha" Bill Sextro, Trumpet
Bill's first paying gig was at the age of 14 (in 1964). He had a "Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass" combo in Cleveland, Ohio and played at a restaurant. The band rode their bikes to that gig. The family picked up and moved to St. Louis in 1967 and Bill shortly thereafter hooked up with a soul band, "The Chantel Revue". Thirty years later, Bill hooked up in The Loose Brothers (with The Commander) and then The Smash Band.

During that 30 years though, Bill has played with numerous soul , funk, pop, jazz and concert bands in the St. Louis area some of which were; "The Inflexible Justice" (hippie band), "Canyon", "The Z Band" (25 years), The Meramec "Jazz Lab Band" , "The Loose Brothers" and "Metrofunk". When The Smash Band doesn't have a gig, Bill will pick up some freelance gigs with "Soul Reunion", "The Z Band" or "Pepperland" (a Beatles tribute band).
Being a horn player, his biggest musical influences have been; Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, Buddy Miles, Earth Wind & Fire, Maynard Ferguson's Jazz Band, James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone and on and on.

Big Willy Cha-Cha says, "Being a part of the Smash Band for 5 years now has been nothing short of a BLAST! Not only do I love to play with and be with this great group of musicians, we also get to have loads of fun with all you great people who come out to party with us."

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