Bill Perkins
Birth nameWilliam Reese Perkins
Born(1924-07-22)July 22, 1924
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 10, 2003(2003-08-10) (aged 79)
Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Saxophone
Years active1944–2003
LabelsPacific Jazz

William Reese Perkins ((1924-07-22)July 22, 1924 – (2003-08-10)August 10, 2003)[1] was an American cool jazz saxophonist and flutist, popular on the West Coast jazz scene, known primarily as a tenor saxophonist.[1]

Born in San Francisco, California, United States, Perkins started performing in the big bands of Woody Herman and Jerry Wald.[2] He worked for the Stan Kenton orchestra, which led to his entry into the cool jazz idiom.[2] He began performing with Art Pepper and Bud Shank.[2] He was also a member of The Tonight Show Band from 1970 to 1992 and The Lighthouse All-Stars. In the 1960s, Perkins had a second career as a recording engineer.[3]

He died of cancer in his Sherman Oaks home at the age of 79.[1]

Discography

As sideman

With Chet Baker

With Louis Bellson

With Nat King Cole

With Clifford Coulter

With Clare Fischer

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Stan Kenton

With Barney Kessel

With John Lewis,

With Carmen McRae

With Art Pepper and Conte Candoli

With André Previn

With Shorty Rogers

With Pete Rugolo

With Lalo Schifrin

With Bud Shank

With Gerald Wilson

References

  1. ^ a b c Thurber, Jon (12 August 2003). "Bill Perkins, 79; Saxophonist Who Played With Kenton, Herman Bands Was Key Figure in Jazz". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 318/9. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  3. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Bill Perkins". AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
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