American Big band Trombonist and occasional vocalist.
Born c.1918 Died 2002 (84 years of age).
Bill studied music at New York University, playing in orchestras at night while attending school. He joined the Van Alexander band in 1938 and, from 1939-1942, played and sang with Alvino Rey and the King Sisters. During World War II he led the Fighting Coast Guard Band, a 20-piece orchestra which included many members of the Rey band. The played at official events in Washington, D.C., cut V-disks and presented a weekly radio show for two years over the Blue Network. He then served on a transport ship, entertaining troops being carried to the Pacific theatre. Back in New York after the war, he joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.
He was also a studio musician and worked in television from its early days. He was a member of the band of the Dave Garroway Show. Later, while a staff musician at NBC, he played the Steve Allen Show, the Merv Griffin Show, the Johnny Carson Show, and others. He played with Skitch Henderson, and was with him when he recorded the first stereo album for NBC. He worked in a number of Broadway shows, including many Harold Prince shows, and appeared in motion pictures with several of the bands he worked with. He retired professionally in 1987.