Famous alums from Wellesley High School

Billy Squier These days, Squier's known for providing the thumping sample beat for Jay-Z's '99 Problems.' But in the 1980s, the Wellesley-born rock icon helped define the hard sound of the era. Lately, rappers like Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane and Dizzee Rascal use his riffs. MTV said Squier's song 'The Big Beat' is one of the most sampled songs in history. Squier grew up in Wellesley — his father worked for Converse Rubber. He first started as a musician opening for the Grateful Dead and Cream in Kenmore Square.
Joe Tabacca for The Boston Globe
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Billy Squier

These days, Squier's known for providing the thumping sample beat for Jay-Z's '99 Problems.' But in the 1980s, the Wellesley-born rock icon helped define the hard sound of the era. Lately, rappers like Ice Cube and Big Daddy Kane and Dizzee Rascal use his riffs. MTV said Squier's song "The Big Beat" is one of the most sampled songs in history.

Squier grew up in Wellesley — his father worked for Converse Rubber. He first started as a musician opening for the Grateful Dead and Cream in Kenmore Square.