Bill Carroll (musician)
Encyclopedia
Bill Carroll is an American singer, songwriter
, record producer
, bassist
and guitarist
. He has been a professional musician since the mid-1980s, and has been a member of the groups No Such Thing, Doubting Thomas, and The Real Underground. As solo artist, he scored a Rate-A-Record appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand
program on April 2, 1988, shortly after being signed to Hollywood-based Aardvark Records
.
Carroll's musical styles have ranged from serious orchestral arrangements (Dune I from 1994's Kohoutek) to television, sitcom, and film scores, with themes like The Mecklenburgers, to what he is best-known for: rock and roll power pop
. He is heavily influenced by The Beatles
, The Who
, The Jam
, R.E.M., Jellyfish
, and less mainstream artists such as Bruce Foxton
, Lee Mavers
, Kevin Gilbert
and John Wetton
.
Carroll joined Doubting Thomas as vocalist/bassist in 1997, contributing songs to the band’s last two albums, Who Died and Made You King (1998) and their eponymous live recording, Doubting Thomas (1999). He remained with the group until it disbanded in 2001, but as of 2009, Doubting Thomas had reformed for limited performances.
In 2004, Carroll composed and performed the theme for the PBS program The Mecklenburgers. He was nominated for a regional Emmy Award
for the song in late 2005.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He has been a professional musician since the mid-1980s, and has been a member of the groups No Such Thing, Doubting Thomas, and The Real Underground. As solo artist, he scored a Rate-A-Record appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
program on April 2, 1988, shortly after being signed to Hollywood-based Aardvark Records
Aardvark Records
Aardvark Records is a British record label started by Andrew Reeve and Alex di Savoia, which releases indie rock, Americana, alt country, dance music, electronica, adult contemporary and pop music...
.
Carroll's musical styles have ranged from serious orchestral arrangements (Dune I from 1994's Kohoutek) to television, sitcom, and film scores, with themes like The Mecklenburgers, to what he is best-known for: rock and roll power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
. He is heavily influenced by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
, R.E.M., Jellyfish
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
, and less mainstream artists such as Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton
Bruce Foxton is an English rock and roll musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock bands The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers.-Biography:...
, Lee Mavers
Lee Mavers
__notoc__Lee Anthony Mavers is an English musician from Liverpool, England. Mavers was the songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist in The La's and is perhaps best-known for the hit "There She Goes" in the late 1980s....
, Kevin Gilbert
Kevin Gilbert
Kevin Matthew Gilbert was an American songwriter, musician, composer, producer and collaborator born in Sacramento, California, later living in San Mateo, California where he attended Junipero Serra High School...
and John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
.
Carroll joined Doubting Thomas as vocalist/bassist in 1997, contributing songs to the band’s last two albums, Who Died and Made You King (1998) and their eponymous live recording, Doubting Thomas (1999). He remained with the group until it disbanded in 2001, but as of 2009, Doubting Thomas had reformed for limited performances.
In 2004, Carroll composed and performed the theme for the PBS program The Mecklenburgers. He was nominated for a regional Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for the song in late 2005.
Albums
- Summer of Light/Get Away, 1986, Alpha Records
- When We're Apart/So Lonely, 1987, Aardvark RecordsAardvark RecordsAardvark Records is a British record label started by Andrew Reeve and Alex di Savoia, which releases indie rock, Americana, alt country, dance music, electronica, adult contemporary and pop music...
- Lonely Stories From The One-Horse Town, (with No Such Thing) 1991, Aardvark Records
- Kohoutek, 1994
- Cut It Out (with Doubting Thomas), 1998, Oh Very Records
- Who Died and Made You King? (with Doubting Thomas), 1998, Oh Very Records
- Live (with Doubting Thomas), 1999, Indievision Records
- City of Peace Soundtrack (with Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill), 2001
- The Mecklenburgers Soundtrack, 2005
Production credits
- Lonely Stories From The One-Horse Town (with No Such Thing and Kevin H. Short), 1991
- Kohoutek, 1994
- Concrete Mary, (Concrete Mary, w/ Joe Dorn and Rick Dior) 1999
- Right In The Nuts: A Tribute to Aerosmith (with Gideon Smith & the Dixie DamnedGideon Smith & the Dixie DamnedGideon Smith and the Dixie DamnedGideon Smith is a North Carolina based musician. Gideon began singing with local bands in the Carolina music scene in 1989. In 1997, he formed "Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned" with friends Otis Hughes and Boo Duckworth; who were formerly of the PolyGram Records...
), 2000, Small Stone RecordsSmall Stone RecordsSmall Stone Records is an American record label based in Detroit, MI. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Hamilton and is a self-dubbed "heavy rock" label... - Sad Stories, (T&A), 2000
- The Mecklenburgers Soundtrack, 2005
- Old-School Battle-Ax, (Bill Carroll) forthcoming, Starry December Records
Trivia
- Carroll served as an exchange teacher at Southwestern University of Finance and EconomicsSouthwestern University of Finance and EconomicsSouthwestern University of Finance and Economics , locally known as SWUFE, is a university in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China.Founded in 1952, it is one of the leading financial universities in mainland China and has a student population of around 20,000.-Campuses:* Guanghua Campus in NO.55...
in ChengduChengduChengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
, The People's Republic of China. - Carroll was classmates with Benicio del ToroBenicio del ToroBenicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez is a Puerto Rican and Spanish actor and film producer. He won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award for his role as Javier Rodríguez in Traffic . He is also known for his roles as Fred Fenster in The Usual...
, Sean KananSean Kanan-Early life:He was born Sean Perelman in Cleveland, Ohio and was raised in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He attended Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania, Boston University and UCLA where he earned a degree in political science....
, and Michael DaviesMichael DaviesMichael Davies may refer to:* Michael Davies , Traditionalist Catholic writer* Michael Davies , Clerk of the Parliaments 1997-2003* Michael Davies , cricketer...
at Mercersburg AcademyMercersburg AcademyMercersburg Academy is an independent, coeducational boarding school for grades 9-12 located in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The school's mission is:...
, where he played in a band with Bon Jovi producer Luke EbbinLuke EbbinLuke Ebbin is an American multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated record producer, composer and songwriter. Ebbin is credited for executing the comeback and extreme makeover of Bon Jovi with his production of the worldwide smash hit "It's My Life" and the 11 million selling album Crush .-Musical...
; his bass guitar "roadie" was ToolTool (band)Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
's producer, Vince DeFranco. He attended grade school with film producerFilm producerA film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Chris Moore. - Carroll's song "Axe to Grind" (Lonely Stories From The One-Horse Town) was featured with a story about the Los Angeles riots of 1992 on the Voice of AmericaVoice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
Radio Network. - Carroll was once in the contestant pool for Who Wants to Be a MillionaireWho Wants to Be a Millionaire (US game show)Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is an American television quiz show which offers a maximum prize of $1,000,000 for correctly answering 14 consecutive multiple-choice questions of random difficulty. Until 2010, the format required contestants to correctly answer 15 consecutive questions of increasing...
. - His reflections on R.E.M.'s first record, MurmurMurmurMurmur usually means:*Murmur , a soft-sounded and quiet utterance/talking "under your breath" so it is hard to understand what the speaker is saying*Breathy voice, a type of phonation in speechIt can also refer to:-Medical:...
(which Carroll has claimed as a great influence) appeared in a November 1992 issue of Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine.