Bill Pursell facts for kids

William Whitney Pursell (born June 9, 1926 – died September 3, 2020) was an American composer and a talented session pianist. He was known for playing piano for many famous artists. William Pursell also had a short but very successful career as a pop musician. He is best known for his popular song "Our Winter Love," which was a top ten hit.

William Pursell's Life and Music

Early Life and Education

William Pursell was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in Tulare, California. He loved music from a young age. He studied how to create music at Peabody Institute in Baltimore. During World War II, he served in the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, he arranged music for their band.

After the war, Pursell continued his music studies. He focused on classical music composition. He learned from a famous composer named Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music. In the mid-1950s, he earned a master's degree in composition. In 1953, he won an award for his orchestral piece. Later, he worked with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. He also taught music at Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University.

A Pop Music Star

In 1962, William Pursell signed a record deal with Columbia Records. That same year, he released his hit song "Our Winter Love." This song became very popular. It reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also hit number 4 on the Easy Listening chart. The song even reached number 20 on the R&B Singles chart.

Because of the song's success, a full album called Our Winter Love was released in 1963. The album reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart. Bill Justis and Pursell created the music arrangements for the album. Grady Martin conducted the orchestra.

Session Musician and Teacher

After "Our Winter Love," Pursell released another song called "Loved." It reached position 121 on the Billboard charts. He later recorded music for other labels like Epic and Dot. However, he did not have another big pop hit.

William Pursell became a very busy session musician. This means he played piano for many other artists' recordings. In the 1960s, he played on many albums for the legendary Johnny Cash. He also worked with famous musicians like Patsy Cline, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, and Dan Fogelberg. He helped create the sound for many popular songs. In 1985, he was named Composer of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association.

In 1980, Pursell joined the music faculty at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He continued his own education as well. In 1996, he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music.

Later Years and Passing

William Pursell passed away on September 3, 2020. His daughter, Laura, shared the news on Facebook. He died at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. He had contracted COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee and developed pneumonia. He was 94 years old.