Bill Sample

Bill Sample is a composer, producer, arranger and pianist.

Bill’s career has spanned four decades and his reputation is unsurpassed. Bill is a ‘first call’ musician and composer in Vancouver. As a jazz pianist, Bill opened for Oscar Peterson and Monty Alexander. He performed with Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Robben Ford, Art Pepper, Dee Daniels and Fraser MacPherson. As musical director for David Foster for 9 years, he performed with Celine Dion, Brian Adams, Peter Cetera, and Kenny Loggins, to name a few. He was music director for the Variety Club telethon from 1985 to 1995. In 2003, Bill was inducted into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. In 2008, he played on the Grammy winning soundtrack Ratatouille. In 2010, he received both a Lifetime Achievement Award and Most Influential Jazz Musician from the Royal Canadian Music Project, and his band Sample Stearns Band (from the 70’s) received the Most Influential Group Award. In 2013, Bill was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2014, he was awarded (along with Bob Sarti) an Ovation Award for The Raymur Mothers, a musical. In 2015, Bill released an album of original instrumental jazz compositions for trio titled, Small. Most recently, he and co-writer, Darlene Cooper released their album On the Outside under the name of their newly formed band Wild Blue Herons. Bill has a degree in Music Composition from the University of Victoria and studied piano and arranging at Berklee College, Boston. www.billsamplemusic.com www.wildblueherons.com

Awards

BC Entertainment Hall of fame, 2003 Played on the Grammy winning soundtrack Ratatouille, 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award and Most Influential Jazz Musician from the Royal Canadian Music Project, and his band Sample Stearns Band (from the 70’s) received the Most Influential Group Award, 2010 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2013 Ovation Award for The Raymur Mothers, a musical, 2014

Gear

lots

Tags

Not exactly press, better than:

"I had the great pleasure of getting to hear my dear friend and colleague bill sample and the band WBH a couple of months back- It was a treat from beginning to end-great vocals from Darlene-incredible musicianship from every one on stage and unique but very musical and thoughtful arrangements on every song!! The album doesn’t disappoint at all and a perfect reflection of who they are live- If you get a chance-please give them a listen-you will thank me"

David Foster, 2018

Primary Instrument

Piano

Location

Vancouver

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

I used to teach composition and jazz piano at VCC (Vancouver Community College) and before that at Malaspina College in Nanaimo, where i had the pleasure of teaching Diana Krall for a year.