Bill Simon (musician)
Encyclopedia
Bill Simon was a songwriter, musician and music critic. He was a contributor to the music business in the mid-20th century, notably as a jazz commentator for Billboard Magazine and other publications.
His liner notes can still be found on many record albums of the era.
Raised in Springville
, New York
, Simon began his career in music in 1941 as the manager of his brother's record store in Buffalo, New York. In 1944 he moved to New York City and worked as a record salesman, record producer (he compiled the first Edith Piaf
album issued in the USA) and jazz critic.
He discovered the jazz clarinetist Tony Scott
; they shared an apartment for 5 years and Simon was Scott's first manager. They remained lifelong friends.
Simon spent several years (starting in 1955) as associate editor of Billboard Magazine and wrote a monthly column on jazz for The Saturday Review. He was manager and editor of the RCA Victor Popular Record Club, owned by the Book-of-the-Month Club, which later sold the Club to Reader's Digest
, with Simon as part of the package. He stayed at Reader's Digest for 22 years, producing dozens of best-selling albums, such as The Great Band Era
and Country Roads. He also conceived and was the editor of 17 Reader's Digest song books, including Treasury of Great Show Tunes and The Children's Songbook, which have sold in the millions and are still in print.
Simon's articles appear in several jazz anthologies, including The Jazz Word (Ballantine Books 1960) and The Jazz Makers (Rinehart & Co. 1957). For Record Worlds 1974 tribute to Sam Goody
, Simon wrote the featured piece, "Sam Goody -- The Early Years," on the occasion of Goody's 70th birthday and 35 years in the record business. (Simon worked for Goody for 5 years as salesman and record producer.)
Simon was also a sheet music collector and a founder and past president of the New York Sheet Music Society. The William L. Simon Sheet Music Collection is a part of Indiana State University's special collections http://www.ius.edu/library/specialcollect.cfm#33.He also served on the board of directors of the National Academy of Popular Music
(Songwriters Hall of Fame
), and was a member of ASCAP. As a saxophonist, Simon and partner George T. Simon
started the Simon Swing Group which featured such guest artists as John Bunch
, Dick Hyman
, Tony Scott, Ram Ramirez
, Eddie Daniels
, Russell George, Ed Polcer
, Warren Vache
, Dan Fox and many others. They began the New York tradition of Twilight Jazz, playing at Eddie Condon
's during its final four years and then at Red Blazer Too and Jimmy Walker's. When he retired to Florida, Simon played at the Jazz Club of Sarasota's jam sessions.
Remembering Time, a CD of Simon on saxophone as well as his musical compositions performed by others was produced posthumously by Gunnar Jacobsen and Jack Brokensha
. Simon worked with lyricists Jack Yellen
, Charles Tobias
, Gene Lees
and Chuck Darwin. Jack Yellen referred to the song "Remembering Time" as "my favorite non-hit" (Jack Yellen lyrics, Simon music). His musical compositions were performed by Carmen McRae
, Teddi King
, Tony Scott, Art Farmer
, John Coltrane
, B. Bopstein (pseudonym for Dizzy Gillespie
), Don Byas
, Oscar Pettiford
, Jimmy Jones
, Gene Ramey
, Trummy Young
and Ben Webster
among others.
in NYC:
His liner notes can still be found on many record albums of the era.
Raised in Springville
Springville, New York
Springville is a village in the southeast part of the town of Concord in Erie County, New York, United States. Springville is the principal community in the town and a major business location in south Erie County. The population was 4,252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Simon began his career in music in 1941 as the manager of his brother's record store in Buffalo, New York. In 1944 he moved to New York City and worked as a record salesman, record producer (he compiled the first Edith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
album issued in the USA) and jazz critic.
He discovered the jazz clarinetist Tony Scott
Tony Scott (musician)
Tony Scott was a jazz clarinetist known for an interest in folk music around the world...
; they shared an apartment for 5 years and Simon was Scott's first manager. They remained lifelong friends.
Simon spent several years (starting in 1955) as associate editor of Billboard Magazine and wrote a monthly column on jazz for The Saturday Review. He was manager and editor of the RCA Victor Popular Record Club, owned by the Book-of-the-Month Club, which later sold the Club to Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
, with Simon as part of the package. He stayed at Reader's Digest for 22 years, producing dozens of best-selling albums, such as The Great Band Era
The Great Band Era
The Great Band Era is a compilation album featuring Swing music from 1936-1945. Reader's Digest released the album in 1965. In 1988, the Recording Industry Association of America certified 9 million sales of the album – making it one of the top selling albums ever within the United States. The...
and Country Roads. He also conceived and was the editor of 17 Reader's Digest song books, including Treasury of Great Show Tunes and The Children's Songbook, which have sold in the millions and are still in print.
Simon's articles appear in several jazz anthologies, including The Jazz Word (Ballantine Books 1960) and The Jazz Makers (Rinehart & Co. 1957). For Record Worlds 1974 tribute to Sam Goody
Sam Goody
Sam Goody was a music and entertainment retailer in the United States and United Kingdom, and was owned and operated by Trans World Entertainment which also runs FYE, Saturday Matinee, and Suncoast Motion Picture Company. It specialized in music, video, and video game sales...
, Simon wrote the featured piece, "Sam Goody -- The Early Years," on the occasion of Goody's 70th birthday and 35 years in the record business. (Simon worked for Goody for 5 years as salesman and record producer.)
Simon was also a sheet music collector and a founder and past president of the New York Sheet Music Society. The William L. Simon Sheet Music Collection is a part of Indiana State University's special collections http://www.ius.edu/library/specialcollect.cfm#33.He also served on the board of directors of the National Academy of Popular Music
National Academy of Popular Music
The National Academy of Popular Music is an American organization which administers the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and sponsors a series of workshops and showcases for the songwriting profession. It was formed in 1988 by Sammy Cahn and Bob Leone....
(Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
), and was a member of ASCAP. As a saxophonist, Simon and partner George T. Simon
George T. Simon
George Thomas Simon was an American jazz writer and occasional drummer. He began as a drummer and was an early drummer in Glenn Miller's orchestra...
started the Simon Swing Group which featured such guest artists as John Bunch
John Bunch
John Bunch was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:Born and raised in Tipton, Indiana, a small farming community, he studied piano with George Johnson, a well-known Hoosier jazz pianist...
, Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman
Richard “Dick” Hyman is an American jazz pianist/keyboardist and composer, best-known for his versatility with jazz piano styles. Over a 50 year career, he has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and, increasingly, as composer...
, Tony Scott, Ram Ramirez
Ram Ramirez
Roger J. Ramirez was a Puerto Rican born jazz pianist and composer. He was a co-writer of the song "Lover Man ".-Discography :* Ram Ramirez: Live in Harlem...
, Eddie Daniels
Eddie Daniels
Eddie Daniels is an American musician. Though he is best known as a jazz clarinet player, he has also played alto and tenor saxophones, as well as classical music on the clarinet....
, Russell George, Ed Polcer
Ed Polcer
Ed Polcer is an American jazz cornetist, active principally on the Dixieland jazz scene.Polcer attended Princeton University, where he graduated in 1958. Following this he played in New York City on a part-time basis...
, Warren Vache
Warren Vache
Warren Vaché is a jazz trumpeter, cornetist and flugelhornist born in Rahway, New Jersey. He came from a musical family as his father was a bassist. In 1976 he released his first album...
, Dan Fox and many others. They began the New York tradition of Twilight Jazz, playing at Eddie Condon
Eddie Condon
Albert Edwin Condon , better known as Eddie Condon, was a jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader. A leading figure in the so-called "Chicago school" of early Dixieland, he also played piano and sang on occasion....
's during its final four years and then at Red Blazer Too and Jimmy Walker's. When he retired to Florida, Simon played at the Jazz Club of Sarasota's jam sessions.
Remembering Time, a CD of Simon on saxophone as well as his musical compositions performed by others was produced posthumously by Gunnar Jacobsen and Jack Brokensha
Jack Brokensha
John Joseph "Jack" Brokensha was an Australian-born American jazz vibraphonist.Brokensha was born in Nailsworth, Adelaide, South Australia. He studied percussion under his father, and played xylophone in vaudeville shows and on radio...
. Simon worked with lyricists Jack Yellen
Jack Yellen
Jack Selig Yellen was an American lyricist and screenwriter.-Life and career:Born in Poland, Yellen emigrated with his family to the United States when he was five years old. The oldest of seven children, he was raised in Buffalo, New York and began writing songs in high school...
, Charles Tobias
Charles Tobias
-Biography:Born in New York City, Tobias grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts with brothers Harry Tobias and Henry Tobias, also songwriters.He started his musical career in vaudeville. In 1923, he founded his own music publishing firm and worked on Tin Pan Alley...
, Gene Lees
Gene Lees
Frederick Eugene John "Gene" Lees was a Canadian music critic, biographer, lyricist, and former journalist. Lees worked as a newspaper journalist in his native Canada before moving to the United States where he was a music critic and lyricist...
and Chuck Darwin. Jack Yellen referred to the song "Remembering Time" as "my favorite non-hit" (Jack Yellen lyrics, Simon music). His musical compositions were performed by Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
, Teddi King
Teddi King
Teddi King was an American jazz and pop vocalist. Born Theodora King in Boston, Massachusetts on September 18, 1929, she won a singing competition hosted by Dinah Shore at Boston's Tributary Theatre, later beginning work in a touring revue involved with "cheering up the military in the lull...
, Tony Scott, Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
, B. Bopstein (pseudonym for Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
), Don Byas
Don Byas
Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, long-resident in Europe.- Oklahoma and Los Angeles :...
, Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer known particularly for his pioneering work in bebop.-Biography:...
, Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones may refer to:*Jimmy Jones , American jazz pianist*Jimmy Jones , American singer/songwriter*Jimmy Jones , footballer who played for Stoke...
, Gene Ramey
Gene Ramey
Gene Ramey was an American jazz double bassist.Ramey was born in Austin, Texas, and played trumpet in college, but switched to sousaphone when playing with George Corley's Royal Aces, The Moonlight Serenaders, and Terrence Holder. In 1932 he moved to Kansas City and took up the bass, studying with...
, Trummy Young
Trummy Young
James "Trummy" Young was a trombonist in the swing era. Although he was never really a star or a bandleader himself, he did have one hit with his version of "Margie," which he played and sang with Jimmie Lunceford's Time-Life Orchestra.-Biography:Growing up in Savannah, GA and Richmond, VA, Young...
and Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
among others.
Quote
On meeting Tony ScottTony Scott (musician)
Tony Scott was a jazz clarinetist known for an interest in folk music around the world...
in NYC:
External links
- Indiana State University Special Collections http://www.ius.edu/library/specialcollect.cfm#33
- New York Sheet Music Society
- New York Times Article: Jazz: Bill and George Simon Swing Group
- Allegro Archives
- Gunnar Jacobsen's Puppy Jazz
- IAJRC Journal
- Allegro Archives, Volume C No. 10, October 2000: Requiem