User:Little Bill and the Blue Notes/sandbox

'''   Little Bill and The Blue Notes

While the Blue Notes might be either musical sounds or bandmembers, the Little Bill in this case is Bill Englehart, also known as Washington's "Ambassador of Bass Guitar." His style ranges from the type of slide guitar pieces associated with early country blues to sophisticated, romantic R&B balladry. Englehart has had a long stretch to develop these concepts, having kept a group together under the name of Little Bill & the Blue Notes since 1956. Although Bill Engelhart -- known since childhood as "Little Bill" -- is one of the pioneers (many say the pioneer) of Northwest rock 'n' roll, the Mountlake Terrace-based singer, bassist, he doesn't live in the past much -- he can't afford to. During his 60 years career in music, Little Bill Engelhart has constantly reinvented himself -- from teenaged R&B bandleader (he formed little Bill & the Bluenotes in 1956) to young pop crooner (his only hit, 1959's "I Love An Angel," led to tours with the like of Roy Orbison, The Ventures and Bobby Vee, to down-and-dirty, dive-bar bluesman in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Though some critics have opined that his gravelly, hard-times-echoing voice is most suited for the blues, the 21st century incarnation of Little Bill is a diversified performer who doesn't stick to any one particular genre. The Bluenotes' current lineup have enabled Engelhart to produce his finest body of work -- his most recent CD, "Live at Grinders" Stripping away the usual horn section, Engelhart reduced the band to a four piece, himself, drummer Billy Barner and master guitarist Billy Stapleton and Dick Powell.

Little Bill Engelhart lives in the present and looks to the future, all right -- he plays around 80 gigs a year to audiences that are simultaneously getting older and younger. However, he's not yet tired of telling a tale or two when prodded; the Northwest legend, naturally, has a lot of stories bouncing about upstairs.

'--Little Bill and the Blue Notes (talk) 00:18, 28 May 2015 (UTC)Italic text''