BillZerbe

Bill Zerbe

Albuquerque

Bill plays new blues, old blues, Delta blues, Chicago blues, Boogie Woogie blues and New Orleans-style blues. He plays the piano and belts out the vocals. His songs tell a story that everyone can relate to. Bill's music is semi-acoustic and fits a variety of entertainment environments from happy hour to dinner music to concert performances. There is something for everyone and no one will go away disappointed. Bill is an artist who writes and sings his own songs and each song tells a story. The instrument supports the song but the voice and the story are predominant because they are the root of the blues. His piano style is reminiscent of Sunnyland Slim to Otis Spann with an occasional touch of New Orleans and Boogie Woogie added to the mix. Bill was born into a family of piano players. His grandmother and mother both played piano and organ in church and his aunt played piano with the gospel quartet, The Jubilaires. Bill can't remember ever not having a piano in the house. Bill applied his skills on the Hammond organ and piano in San Diego, playing locally with rock bands, but it was in Kansas City, playing the blues circuit, that Bill got his true education. He was mentored by the great Leon Estelle and Mayfield Towns. It was while playing with the 8-piece show band, The BWB Band, that he backed the young harmonica sensation, Brody Buster. Later, Bill performed and recorded with the Queen of the Blues, Annetta "Cotton Candy" Washington and her band So Many Men. Bill moved to San Francisco in 1998 where he performed and recorded with Little Sister and the Bad Intentions. They travelled and performed in California, Nevada, and Oregon. In 2005, Bill relocated to Albuquerque, NM with his wife and, though he travels often for his musical pursuits, he always returns to this southwest home. In addition to Bill's solo performance he also plays Hammond B3 with the Jazz/Funk group, The Midnight Creepers.