Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill[1][2] (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician who was the bassist of the rock band ZZ Top for more than 50 years.

In 1968, he and the drummer Frank Beard joined the guitarist Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top; they went on to release albums including the bestselling Eliminator (1983).

"[7] Hill, Rocky, and the future ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard played in local Dallas bands the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues.

They joined guitarist-vocalist Billy Gibbons of the Houston psychedelic band Moving Sidewalks in the recently formed ZZ Top, just after they released their first single "Salt Lick", in 1969.

[11][12] With the assistance of manager Bill Ham and engineer Robin Hood Brians, ZZ Top's First Album (1971) was released and exhibited the band's humor, with "barrelhouse" rhythms, distorted guitars, double entendres, and innuendo.

Following their debut album, the band released Rio Grande Mud (1972), which produced their first charting single, "Francine".

[13] On 1973's Tres Hombres, ZZ Top developed its heavy blues style and amplified its roots in Texas music.

The boogie rock single "La Grange" brought the band their first hit, with it just missing the Billboard Top 40.

In 1975, Hill sang lead vocal on "Tush", the band's first Top 20 hit and one of its most popular songs, and duetted with Gibbons on "Heard it on the X" on the album Fandango!.

[14][15] On the 1976 album Tejas, Hill took the vocal lead on "Pan Am Highway Blues", "Avalon Hideaway" and "Ten Dollar Man", and duetted with Gibbons on "It’s Only Love".

"[16] In 1979, when the group returned with the album Degüello, Gibbons and Hill revealed their new image of matching massive beards and sunglasses.

[15] In 1983, ZZ Top released Eliminator, a bestselling record which made the band "bona fide pop stars", according to the Financial Times.

[23] Gibbons later confirmed that Hill had recorded bass and vocals for ZZ Top's upcoming sixteenth album before his death.

[27] Gibbons confirmed that ZZ Top would continue with Elwood Francis, the band's longtime guitar tech, on bass, per Hill's wishes.

"[23] Rock musicians and contemporaries paid condolences through social media, including Paul Stanley, Ozzy Osbourne, John Fogerty, Flea, Zakk Wylde, Warren Haynes, Tony Iommi, David Coverdale, Scorpions, Foghat, Brian May, Kentucky Headhunters, Blackberry Smoke, Steve Miller Band, 38 Special, and the Allman Brothers Band.

[29] Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson said he had been asked by Hill's widow to give the eulogy at the funeral service.

[22] Michael Hann of The Guardian wrote that Hill's bass tone was as crucial to ZZ Top's sound as Gibbons' guitar.