Born in South Africa and raised in various parts of Southern Africa, Bill began playing guitar at boarding school in the 1960's in what was then Rhodesia.... and has never really stopped.
A regular at The Raven Folk Club in Chester, and The Hungry Horse Acoustic Folk Club in Ellesmere Port, Bill has focussed over the years on crafting his diverse repertoire of fine original songs.
From his home-based Shamwari Recording Studio he has also helped to record and produce albums for Bill Gordon, Julie Wright, Graham Bellinger; Root Chords; Geoff Edwin-Scott; Angie Wright and a compilation (featuring local musicians) for the Heart Foundation.
Making Waves
The new album 'Making Waves', released in May 2008, features 12 originals and probably best captures Bill's live sound ... especially on the tracks where he is backed by his good friends, the members of Full House (who host the Raven Folk Club). Bill plays acoustic guitar and bass, and does all vocals. Chris Lee plays mandolin and bass; Nick Mitchell features on mandola; Dave Russell plays fiddle and banjo; Ian Jones is on melodeon and flute and Mark Woolley plays all percussion.
John Sylvester, the Aberystwyth-based keyboard player features strongly, adding beautiful piano and organ accompaniment. Other contributions are made by Graham Bellinger (Root Chords) on acoustic guitar and harmonica, Bill Gordon on acoustic guitar, Jamie Matthews (of the Time Bandits) plays the hurdy gurdy, and old school friend, John Nielsen adds bass to two tracks.
The songs describe social inequity; daring to be different; a country girl who follows her dreams of being a dancer but falls foul of the big city; seasonal change; railway stations; missed opportunities; gypsy lovers; the environment; political and social change in Africa; memorabilia; the native American Indians who toured England with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show at the end of the nineteenth century and the waste of wars.
The album was once again recorded, engineered and mixed by Bill at Shamwari Studios in Chester.
Part Time Rebel
Released early in 2007, Part Time Rebel features 10 original songs, four of which (including the title track) were co-written with Graham Bellinger. As usual a host of Cheshire's finest musicians have been featured, adding diversity to the recordings. To quote Nick Mitchell of Full House, "This is a new collection of tales to fascinate, atmospheres to savour and ideas to think about. His writing is crisp, spare and straight to the point, like good songs ought to be. What more could you want? Only more of the same! Cheers Bill!"
Now and Then
Released in 2005, Now & Then included several new songs, as well as new recordings of old ones and a few of old ones that have been slightly modified.
Recorded (for the most part) at Bill's aptly named 'Shamwari Studio' during 2004/5, he is joined by many friends, some of Chester's finest musicians.
They include Chris Lee (Family Mahone and Full House), Graham Bellinger and Phil Bradley (Root Chords), Dave Manley, Mick Horton, Mark Dennis, Phil Gregory (DearGregory)... as well as old South African friend, Alistair Coakley (Hotline, Stimela and Waldorf String Band)