Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

PERKINS, Bill

(b 22 July '24, San Francisco CA; d 9 Aug. 2003, L.A.) Reeds. Spent part of childhood in Chile; studied music under GI Bill, turned pro '50; played with Stan Kenton and Woody Herman '50s; worked as engineer at World Pacific Records, then in studios; later played in Tonight show band and with Supersax during its first year; much studio work. Played on albums with Art Pepper, Tal Farlow, Bud Shank, Victor Feldman, Marty Paich, Paul Chambers, Toshiko Akiyoshi '74-5, Nat Pierce, others. Specialized in woodwinds incl. piccolo in studios; main instrument is tenor sax on records, also plays baritone, flute, occasionally bass clarinet. Several LPs on Pacific Jazz/World Pacific '50s include Grand Encounter '56 with John Lewis; plus Tenors Head-On '56 co-led by Richie Kamuca; Bossa Nova With Strings '63 on Liberty, quintet/quartet LPs Quietly There '66 on Riverside, Plays Lester Young '78 on Yupiteru, Confluence '78, Remembrance Of Dino's '86 and Frame Of Mind '93 on Interplay, Many Ways To Go '80 with Clare Fischer on Sea Breeze, Journey To The East '84 on Contemporary, The Right Chemistry '87 and Our Man Woody (with Bob Cooper) '91 on Jazz Mark, I Wished On The Moon '89-90 on Candid, Warm Moods '91 on Fresh Sound.