Bill Pursell
Bill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist.
He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player.
Pursell was born in Oakland, California, USA and raised in Tulare. He studied composition in Baltimore and arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band while serving in World War II.
Bill Pursell studied classical composition under Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music and earned a doctorate in composition in the mid-fifties. Read Full BioBill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist.
He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player.
Pursell was born in Oakland, California, USA and raised in Tulare. He studied composition in Baltimore and arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band while serving in World War II.
Bill Pursell studied classical composition under Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music and earned a doctorate in composition in the mid-fifties. His symphonic poem "The Children's Suite" was the inaugural recipient of the Edward B. Benjamin Prize in 1953. Later that decade, he worked with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and taught at Vanderbilt University.
In 1962 he signed with Columbia Records, who released a full-length album "Our Winter Love". The album reached #28 on the Billboard top 200 on the strength of the popularity of the title track "Our Winter Love", which hit #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to hitting #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #20 on the Black Singles chart. The arrangements for the album were made by Bill Justis, and the orchestra was conducted by Grady Martin.
His follow-up single "Loved" reached Billboard position #121. Pursell later recorded for Epic, Alton, and Dot, but never hit the pop charts again. He played piano on many of Johnny Cash's albums in the 1960s, and worked as a session musician and arranger for Patsy Cline, Johnny Paycheck, Hoover, Joan Baez, Eric Andersen, Scotty Moore, J.J. Cale, Willie Nelson, and others.
In 1985, Pursell was named Composer of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association.
Pursell has been a member of the faculty of the School of Music at Belmont University since 1980.
He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player.
Pursell was born in Oakland, California, USA and raised in Tulare. He studied composition in Baltimore and arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band while serving in World War II.
Bill Pursell studied classical composition under Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music and earned a doctorate in composition in the mid-fifties. Read Full BioBill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist.
He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player.
Pursell was born in Oakland, California, USA and raised in Tulare. He studied composition in Baltimore and arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band while serving in World War II.
Bill Pursell studied classical composition under Howard Hanson at the Eastman School of Music and earned a doctorate in composition in the mid-fifties. His symphonic poem "The Children's Suite" was the inaugural recipient of the Edward B. Benjamin Prize in 1953. Later that decade, he worked with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and taught at Vanderbilt University.
In 1962 he signed with Columbia Records, who released a full-length album "Our Winter Love". The album reached #28 on the Billboard top 200 on the strength of the popularity of the title track "Our Winter Love", which hit #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to hitting #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #20 on the Black Singles chart. The arrangements for the album were made by Bill Justis, and the orchestra was conducted by Grady Martin.
His follow-up single "Loved" reached Billboard position #121. Pursell later recorded for Epic, Alton, and Dot, but never hit the pop charts again. He played piano on many of Johnny Cash's albums in the 1960s, and worked as a session musician and arranger for Patsy Cline, Johnny Paycheck, Hoover, Joan Baez, Eric Andersen, Scotty Moore, J.J. Cale, Willie Nelson, and others.
In 1985, Pursell was named Composer of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association.
Pursell has been a member of the faculty of the School of Music at Belmont University since 1980.
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Zarudny84
This song was written by my grandfather Johnny Cowell. I am glad to see so many people still enjoying this song over 50 years later. My grandfather just celebrated his 90th birthday and he loves when I show him the comments people leave. Thanks everyone
Steven Ulmen
Thank you, Johnny Cowell. Beautiful song.
Kalani Nishimura
awesome! i used to hear this song when i was probably 5 or 6 years old. now at age 60, still likin' it, listening to it now at work.
Cheryl Cirelli
Back when classy gorgeous music had a place. The artists were so talented and wrote songs like this that were full of pure beauty
Colin Taylor
Professional musician for 50 years...this still my go-to instrumental from the 1960's...you grandfather brought much joy to many, many people for many, many years.
Lloyd Perry
I'll try to make 51. He's on my web site. Not many know that HE is the original composer...maybe they will now. I was told Bill Pursell didn't claim he composed it, even signed over the royalties. Is that true?
over under sideways down
This is the most beautiful instrumental of all time.
We will never hear the likes of this again. Let's be happy that we were here to hear it.
TONY ALLEN
Yes!
MrSoulSimon
@Kenneth Smith Me too.
Kenneth Smith
I agree