Bill Holman

A native Californian, Bill served in the U.S. Navy, then studied engineering at the University of Colorado and music at Westlake College under teachers Alfred Sendrey, Russell Garcia, Lloyd Reese and David Robertson.

His credits as a jazz saxophonist and composer include Charlie Barnet (1951), Stan Kenton (1952-1957), Conte Candoli and Shelly Manne (1955), and Shorty Rogers (1956-57). Throughout this period his playing was heard in numerous recordings and film scores, including five recordings with his own big band (3) and small groups (2).

Since 1954 Bill has done freelance writing for David Allyn, The Association, Count Basie, Louis Bellson, Bob Brookmeyer, June Christy, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Maynard Ferguson, The Fifth Dimension, Terry Gibbs, Woody Herman, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae, Gerry Mulligan, Anita O’Day, Art Pepper, Buddy Rich, Zoot Sims, Joe Williams and others.

Since 1980 Bill has worked regularly in Europe, writing, conducting and playing on concerts and radio productions in Germany, Holland, Switzerland, England, and Scandinavia. Yearly productions with the West German Network Band in Cologne have been on his itinerary, and in 1995 he began working with the Metropole Orchestra in Hilversum, Holland.

Through the years Bill has received thirteen Grammy nominations, winning in 1987 for Best Instrumental Arrangement (Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show Orchestra), in 1995 for Best Instrumental Composition (Bill Holman Band), and in 1997 for Best Instrumental Arrangement (Bill Holman Band). Winner of numerous Jazz Times and Down Beat polls in the arranger category, Bill has presented writing clinics and master classes at the Berklee, Eastman, Manhattan and Grove Schools of Music, along with many universities.

In May 2000, the Bill Holman Collection of scores and memorabilia was established at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.