Long-Awaited CD ‘For Adults Only’ Available Only Online

The self-financed CD has long been the subject of discussion among musicians and others in the music industry who knew it was nearing completion when Bill, then in his 70’s, passed away. Those who have heard it confirm that this is a worthy legacy from a much loved and respected man.

Bill spared no expense in getting the very best musical talent to play on his personal favourite collection of songs. The album was recorded in Russia and the UK and his fame in Russia helped to get the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra to perform on most of the tracks.

Bill was well known and respected amongst musicians and had remarkable talent on clarinet, saxophone and flute. He was one of the busiest session musicians in the UK during the ‘60s and ‘70s, was a regular in house bands for Top of the Pops and the Eurovision Song Contest and also played on countless chart singles and albums throughout that period. As a session player he was one of the first ‘doublers’ – someone who would play not only his main instrument but all wind instruments required on a song.

Bill started out playing in the ‘big bands’ of the 50’s, then backing the likes of Bing Crosby and Helen Merrel but was perennially in demand, playing more recently on Bjork’s single ‘Oh So Quiet’.

While playing on a session for Helen Merrel in the 1990’s she and her husband Torrie Zito were so moved by the performance they insisted he should create something to spotlight his ability. Torrie offered to write the string arrangements, and with such encouragement Bill set about creating what would become a set of superb performances of beautiful songs, entitled ‘For Adults Only’.

Bill’s trademark ‘sexy, breathy’ sound was achieved by using a hard reed, giving the maximum expression & nuance at the expense of being more difficult to play. He was particularly musical and melodic, rather than experimental, maybe similar in style to the great Stan Getz.

www.unsignedcd.co.uk was created in 2007 by Guid Ltd. (www.gu-id.co.uk). It is a service for musicians and operates on an invitation basis. It will respond to applications from any unsigned artists.