Bill Pursell 93 (1926-2020)

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 4 Sep 2020 10:48 am

Bill Pursell pianist, composer, arranger has died at age 93 in Nashville. Bill's credits are too extensive to even account for.Here's just a few: Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, J.J. Cale, Boots Randolph, Marty Robbins, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Dylan and the Nashville Symphony.

"Our Winter Love" Bill Pursell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46k5Fy1gLyE

"Blue Jade" Buddy Emmons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQKY2BVTgO8

"That's My Desire" Patsy Cline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwH2fXXah30

Country Music Hall of Fame "Musician's Spotlight"
https://countrymusichalloffame.org/plan ... spotlight/

Skip Edwards · Post by **Skip Edwards** » 4 Sep 2020 2:22 pm

Sorry to hear about this. May he rest in peace.
Just for accuracy, it's Pursell.

Craig Coffman · Post by **Craig Coffman** » 4 Sep 2020 3:13 pm

When I was a student at Belmont in the early to mid 1980's Mr. Pursell was my music theory professor. A true gentleman and a musician who could also teach. Not everyone who knows can convey, but he certainly could.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 4 Sep 2020 6:10 pm

Skip - Thanks for the heads up. I corrected mistake. Craig, One of my fellow staff members also took courses from Pursell and echoes your statements, identically.

Here's Bill's book:

https://www.amazon.com/Crooked-River-Ci ... 1496818636

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 4 Sep 2020 7:12 pm

How many people can you ID in this pic from 1962?

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 4 Sep 2020 8:11 pm

The Hollies version of "That's My Desire"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcR6aK_atX0

Pete Finney · Post by **Pete Finney** » 4 Sep 2020 8:27 pm

Mitch Drumm wrote:How many people can you ID in this pic from 1962?

In the white tuxes, from left to right; I'm pretty sure: Bill Pursell, Bob Moore, Buddy Harman, and Chet Atkins of course all the way over on the right...

The guy in the middle in the black tux looks an awful lot like JFK.

What was the occasion for the photo? Guessing the Nashville guys were the entertainment for whatever evening.

RIP Bill Pursell

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 4 Sep 2020 9:01 pm

Pete:

You missed only 2 I can name:

Alan King to JFK's left;

Shelly Winters (sitting in for Jackie Kennedy, hmmmmmmmm; makes me wonder.......) to JFK's right.

I assume the other women are wives/dates of the males.

No idea on the 2 unknown men.

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 5 Sep 2020 6:04 am

Great photo. Thanks! All I could find is this is May 19, 1961 at the White House Photographers News Association annual dinner at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington DC.

So adding to your ID's: (L-R): Bill Pursell, Bob Moore, Buddy Harmon, unidentified male, unidentified female, Shelly Winters, JFK, Alan King (master of ceremonies), Jane Morgan, Margo Rodriquez, Augie Rodriquez (dancers), Leona Atkins, Chet Atkins.

Pursell recounts this event in his book "Crooked River City" pages 88, 89.

https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer ... P-AR6598-C

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Sep 2020 6:40 am

Sad news. I played a four night private event with Bill at the Bohemian Club in San Francisco about ten years ago. I was a fan of his from way back, but had never met him before this. It was a fascinating four days of breakfasts and dinners and sightseeing and the most amazing stories were shared. I got to use him on a couple of sessions after that and wish I had done more. Rest easy.

Robert Rogers · Post by **Robert Rogers** » 5 Sep 2020 7:27 am

Really sad news.Bill played piano on Jimmy Crawfords A ton of steel lp and Buddy Emmons' Emmons guitar company lp.what a huge talent this man was blessed with.

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 5 Sep 2020 10:39 am

sad news, especially with Covid involved. but what a full life and a legendary player.

Bill did this concert at the CMHOF a year ago. he talks about his career and playing for JFK among other things. he also performs jazz renditions of Patsy Cline songs and more. he was 94, according to him

https://livestream.com/accounts/11775488/events/8790036

Gary Walker · Post by **Gary Walker** » 27 Sep 2020 2:43 pm

Bill also played on Curly Chalker's "Big Hits On Big Steel" Columbia recording 1965/66. Bill was from Tulare CA and his father was a piano teacher.

Andrew Roblin · Post by **Andrew Roblin** » 28 Sep 2020 4:21 am

Bill taught me arranging and songwriting. He had a wonderful way of teaching and helped me a lot.