About Bill -
Booking info
Patti Austin
Smokey Robinson
Jeff Kashiwa
Steve Cole
Marcus Anderson
Eric Marienthal
Joel Rosenblatt
Dave Anderson
The Movin Out Band
Bernie Williams
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The Rippingtons
official website
Bill Heller
Paula Atherton
Jeff Golub
Shilts
Cindy Bradley
Nelson Rangell
Gerald Veasly
Marcus Baylor
Dave Valentin
Randy Brecker
Phil Perry
Albums -
Passage - Find the Way -
From Long Island, New York, Bill grew up in a very musical household. His Dad was a conductor (NYC Subway), and his Mom orchestrated all the activities around the house! From an early age, he and his two brothers were surrounded by family get-togethers filled with
music. It wasn't long before he got into the act, playing accordion! Along with his brothers he would play in many different situations throughout high school and college – and
continues to do so.
Bill attended Fredonia State University, and received a degree in Music Education.
He paid his dues in the Long Island club scene, as well as on cruise ships
Bill met Russ Freeman while recording the "Brian Moore Custom Guitars Artist Collection"
CD. Russ asked Bill if he would play on a few tracks that he was producing for his and Craig Chaquico's "Redwoods to the Rockies." His first Rippingtons recording was “Topaz”, back in 1998, and he has been performing live with the band since March of 2001. Since then Bill has
co-produced all of Craig’s CDs, of which a few songs made it to the number one
position on the smooth jazz charts!
Married to his sweetheart from college, Dawn, together they have two children Angelea, and Jonathan. Dawn was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2000, During her illness Bill co-wrote and produced a CD dedicated to her called “Strong Woman” from which they donated
a good portion of the proceeds to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Although she had a recurrence in 2006, she is currently cancer free!
Bill is currently working on an album of his own! The compositions are all originals written by Bill. This recording features sax players Jeff Kashiwa and Eric Marienthal, and three
different rhythm sections, from the Rippingtons Dave Karasony drums and Rico Belled bass, Joel Rosenblatt drums (Spyro Gyra, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bill Evans, Michel Camillo) drums and Dave Anderson bass (Bill Evans, Art Garfunkle, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bob Baldwin), and Frank Bellucci drums and Jim Cammack bass.
For the last ten years Bill has served as the Musical Director for the Long Island Hall of Fame awards shows. He provided arrangements and incidental music for these shows. The bands he assembled accompanied such acts as Daryl McDaniels of RUN-DMC, Kurtis Blow, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Gary US Bonds, Felix Cavaliere, The Lovin Spoonful, Charlie Daniels, Eddie Money, and more. Some of the legends inducted at these shows have included Clive Davis, Ron Delsner, Lou Reed, Eddie Palmieri, http://www.limusichalloffame.org/inductees/
Bill also performs with the group, “The Sax Pack”. The Sax Pack is a class act consisting of three signature sax players; Jeff Kashiwa, Marcus Anderson and Steve Cole. The
talented trio combines their life-long love of music and their passion for performance, to make an impact on audiences that love music as much as they do. Committed to sharing the excitement, spontaneity and creative energy that flows between them on stage, The Sax Pack inspires an audience far beyond the duration of a show.
Bill also played with Mary Wilson and the Supremes. Mary was appointed by the U.S. State Department as a Culture Connect Ambassador. Culture Connect Ambassadors travel overseas interacting with youth by running clinics, performing in concerts, motivating people
through speeches, teaching master classes, and more. Bill traveled with Mary as her accompanist to Bangladesh, Oman, Pakistan and Africa!
Bill played for the Broadway hit, “Movin” Out”, featuring the music of Billy Joel, and
the short lived “Hot Feet” featuring the music of Earth Wind and Fire.
In the studio Bill has produced recordings for jazz guitarists Steve Briody, and Matt Marshak.
Here is a list of some of the artists that Bill has worked with-