Background:

Bill was raised in Concord, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. .While in high school he studied piano and played clarinet in the school band. .Fortunately, Bill's high school band director was a Jazz fan and frequently took his interested students to San Francisco to hear live Jazz at "Basin Street West" and other clubs that allowed minors. .These special music experiences would greatly influence many of Bill's future life decisions. .Bill also had a great interest in electronics, took classes for four years, and began to experiment with electronics repair and recording technology.

After graduation, Bill entered California State University, Chico with a major in electronics and a minor in mathematics. .After one year he switched to music as a major and studied saxophone, clarinet, flute, organ, and composition. .While in college Bill played organ, electric piano, and saxophone in Rock and Jazz bands while building p.a. systems and assisting as a recording engineer on the side. .Bill received a B.A. and M.A. in music at CSUC and taught music in California's public school system for three years.

Relocating to the midwest, Bill began performing full time and spent years touring with various Rock, Jazz, and national Big Band, Pop, and Soul/R&B acts. .After discovering and marrying his "better half" Bill returned to academics at Ball State University in Indiana. .While working on his Docorate of Arts degree in woodwinds/conducting, Bill taught Jazz Studies classes and directed Jazz Ensembles at the University while continuing to lead his own professional Jazz groups and perform/tour with national acts.

After his time at Ball State University, Bill moved to Missouri and taught music at Central Missouri State University (near Kansas City). .During his four years at CMSU, Bill taught Classical and Jazz saxophone, proposed and wrote the curriculum for the Jazz Studies program, led the CMSU Jazz Lab Ensemble to national prominence, became an in-demand Jazz soloist/clinician, and was awarded a lifetime membership in the International Association of Jazz Educators.

While at CMSU, Bill also became involved in the vibrant recording and Jazz scene in nearby K.C., and upon leaving CMSU, Bill moved to his current and long-time home in Kansas City, Missouri. .Since settling in K.C., Bill has become a regular presence on the local and regional Jazz circuit and has also garnered a prestigious reputation as a "musical" recording engineer at his own BRC Audio Produtions recording studio

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© copyright 2004 ... Bill Crain

Please e-mail Bill at:. bcrain@kc.rr.com

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© copyright 2001 ... Bill Crain