Bill Elliott (musician)

Bill Elliott
Birth nameWilliam F. Elliott
Born (1951-10-02) October 2, 1951 (age 72)
Wayland, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenresJazz, musical theater
Occupation(s)Pianist, orchestrator, composer, bandleader
InstrumentPiano
Years active1970s–present

Bill Elliott (born William F. Elliott; October 2, 1951) is an American pianist, bandleader, Hollywood composer and Broadway orchestrator.[1][2] In 2015, he won a Tony Award for best orchestration for the Broadway musical, An American in Paris.[3][4] In 2012 he was nominated for both Tony and Grammy awards for Broadway's Nice Work if You Can Get It.[5] Elliott won Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestrations in 2017 for the Broadway Musical Bandstand.[6]

Elliott began as a Los Angeles studio musician, recording with artists such as Stevie Nicks, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, Bette Midler, and others.[7][8] In his 20s he was the pianist in Bonnie Raitt's band.[9] His career in contemporary pop music gradually and serendipitously turned toward orchestration of films, television, and then Broadway musicals. Films that feature Elliott's music include Dick Tracy, Nixon, Contact, Independence Day and Wedding Crashers.[10] He has written music for Disney's video sequels to Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, and for the television shows Northern Exposure, Ellen and Gilmore Girls.[2][9]

At age 42, he formed "The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra", which has performed on movie soundtracks and on record albums for prominent artists.[11]

As of 2016, Elliott is on the faculty of Boston's Berklee College of Music.[7] He has written over 50 arrangements for the Boston Pops Orchestra and has been guest conductor for the symphony orchestras of seven major cities.[12]

  1. ^ Ashton, Emily (July 15, 2015). "Professor Bill Elliott Wins Tony Award for Hit Broadway Musical". berklee.edu. Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b Stewart, Zan (June 30, 1995). "MUSIC : Getting Into the '30s Swing : Bill Elliott". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  3. ^ "The Tony Awards/The Winners". The Los Angeles Times. June 8, 2015. p. E-2.
  4. ^ "Acceptance Speech: Christopher Austin, Don Sebesky & Bill Elliot (2015)". youtube.com. The Tony Awards. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Nice Work if You Can Get It". broadwaymusicalhome.com. Broadway Musical Home. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  6. ^ Cox, Gordon (June 4, 2017). "Drama Desk Awards 2017: Bette Midler, 'Oslo' Take Top Honors (Full List)". variety.com. Variety Media (Penske Business Media). Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Berklee College of Music/Contemporary Writing Faculty/Bill Elliott". berkley.edu/people/bill-elliott. Berklee College of Music. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  8. ^ Kohlhaase, Bill (April 7, 1995). "Bill Elliott Will Honor Artie Shaw". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  9. ^ a b Olesin, Nancy (October 18, 2016). "'An American in Paris' features arrangements by Holliston's Bill Elliott". milforddailynews.com. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  10. ^ "Anything Goes/Opening Night Playbill/Bill Elliott". playbill.com. Playbill. April 7, 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  11. ^ "News from the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra". swingorchestra.com. Bill Elliott. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  12. ^ "Playbill, Nice Work if You Can Get It". playbill.com. Playbill Vault. Retrieved 4 January 2017.