▁program ▁at ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁California , ▁Los ▁Angeles . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁divor ced ▁from ▁wife ▁Maur icina ▁Alt ier ▁H igg ins ▁and ▁had ▁three ▁sons , ▁William , ▁Joseph , ▁and ▁David , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁a ▁steps on ▁J ody . ▁His ▁young est ▁son ▁Benjamin ▁res ides ▁in ▁Los ▁Angeles . ▁He ▁also ▁had ▁two ▁daughters , ▁Rick ie ▁W ade ▁and ▁He idi . ▁ ▁Billy ▁H igg ins ▁died ▁of ▁kid ney ▁and ▁li ver ▁failure ▁on ▁May ▁ 3 , ▁ 2 0 0 1 ▁at ▁a ▁hospital ▁in ▁In gle wood , ▁California . ▁ ▁Disc ography ▁ ▁As ▁leader ▁▁▁ 1 9 7 9 : ▁S ow eto ▁( Red ) ▁▁ 1 9 7 9 : ▁The ▁Sold ier ▁( Tim eless , ▁[ 1 9 8 1 ]) ▁▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁Once ▁More ▁( Red ) ▁▁ 1 9 8 4 : ▁Mr . ▁Billy ▁H igg ins ▁( E v idence ) ▁▁ 1 9 8 0 - 8 6 : ▁Bridge work ▁( Cont empor ary ) ▁▁ 1 9 9 4 : ▁ ¾ ▁for ▁Peace ▁( Red ) ▁▁ 1 9 9 7 : ▁Billy ▁H igg ins ▁Quint et ▁( E v idence ) ▁▁ 2 0 0 1 : ▁The ▁Best ▁of ▁Summer ▁N ights ▁at ▁M oca ▁( Ex od us ) ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁side man ▁With ▁Gene ▁Am m ons ▁and ▁Son ny ▁St itt ▁ ▁God ▁B less ▁Jug