Bill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist.
He … Read Full Bio ↴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. 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 … Read Full Bio ↴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. 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.
Our Winter Love
Bill Pursell Lyrics
Instrumental
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Myron Coleman
This song gets me misty eyed when I hear it. Its a song that stops you In your tracks and takes you back to a t ime when people cared for one anot her unlike todays world thats a mess this is a timeless orchestrated instru mental and the strings are beautiful Bill Purcell you kocked it out of the b ox with this one.
Michael Kraus
There is NOTHING like playing this song in my car while driving long distance . It allows me to go DEEP INSIDE MYSELF.
phantom collector
ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF ALL TIME
Lextek
There are no words to express the timeless awe of this this track. I was 14 when this was released in 1963. I was a sound nut and had just put together my first pretty damn good stereo system. I heard this on the radio and HAD to go purchase the album. I played it over and over and today at 73 I still love it. There are very few songs that still do that to me. RIP Bill Pursell.
freeguy77
I'm sure I did hear it in early-'63 (peaked at #9 on Mar. 30, 1963 on Billboard Hot 100, and #54 for the entire year, 1963) on my little 6-transistor radio, but it did not have the emotional impact as one of the greatest instrumentals ever recorded until I saw it on YT. Just a superb treat for the ears! Here is the best video accompaniment I've seen paired with this irresistible instrumental, but it has nothing to do with winter or love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxH2_xuC2xc
"A little travelin' music, Sam!" --Jackie Gleason
freeguy77
I'm sure I did hear it in early-'63 on my little 6-transistor radio, but it did not have the emotional impact as one of the greatest instrumentals ever recorded until I saw it on YT. Just a superb treat for the ears! Here is the best video accompaniment I've seen paired with this irresistible instrumental: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxH2_xuC2xc
David Hughes Piano
I consider myself a Top 40 trivia "expert" yet I never heard this song until today (on Sirius XM, the '60s channel, 12/21/20). How did I miss such a lovely piece of music? It's reminiscent of Percy Faith. Further, I now know where Mercy got their vibe for their hit "Love Can Make You Happy". This Pursell song is addictive - I've played it four times so far today.
1JUSTGOTLUCKY1
Thank you for posting this incredible, heartwarming and haunting song!! One of the best songs I have EVER heard ! I love this extended version!
BIG ED
The most haunting theme I've ever heard...makes the tears flow every time I hear this masterpiece.
Craig B. Franklin
This takes me back to the 60's. Young and carefree. How the years pass.