Bill Wilson

Bill Wilson (B. Lebanon - d. November 25, 1993) -- Singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Lebanon, Bill Wilson served during the Vietnam War and finished his duties at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, where he became part of the music scene in the late '60s. There, be began work on a demo album with Sonosong, a subsidiary of Sonobeat. After his release from the military in 1970, Wilson settled in Bloomington, Indiana, and joined the Pleasant Street Band, a large folk group, in 1972. Bill took the band to Austin to record with Sonobeat, but he left the group in 1974. After seeking out Bob Johnston (Bob Dylan's producer), Bill Wilson recorded Ever Changing Minstrel, which was released on Windfall (a Columbia subsidiary) in 1973. Backed by the same group that played for Dylan's Blonde on Blonde, Wilson was on his way to establishing a national reputation. Although he fell short, he continued to write heartfelt songs. Aside from a move to Florida (1983 to 1986), he lived the rest of life back home in Indiana, where he led to his own band. On Thanksgiving of 1993, he died of a massive heart attack. Nevertheless, his music has lived on in the central Indiana acoustic music world, and his original LPs are collectors' items. In fact, some of his fans and old friends get together at various venues for an annual Bill Wilson tribute concert the night before Thanksgiving; Paul "Pablo" Adams of CPR Revival recreates Bill's bluesy songs, and Mark Proctor, an Indiana Santa, specializes in the ballads.