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LEADER OF THE JIMMY DORSEY ORCHESTRA
Born and raised
in Pittsburgh, PA., Bill Tole comes from a musical family. His father was
a high school band director for many years and worked as a professional
trombonist and piano player until his retirement. His mother also played
the piano and for many years performed with master chorales in the western
Pennsylvania area. They were a tremendous influence on Tole developing an
appreciation and love for the art. Bill is the oldest of four children.
His sister Nancy is the featured vocalist with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra,
and is the lead singer and leader of the famous Pied Pipers.
His brother Gary is a busy studio musician in Los Angeles and leader of his own band called
Legends of Swing . And
the youngest of the four children Amy, who had not chosen a career in
music as a performer, enjoyed listening to all music and was one of the
Tole family's' biggest fans.
Wishing to
pursue a career as a musician, Bill attended Duquesne University School of
Music. After four years of college he auditioned for the Tommy Dorsey
Orchestra and went on tour with the band. He later joined the Air
Force dance band Airmen of Note, a continuation of the Army Air Force
"Glenn Miller Orchestra". Tole was first trombonist and
assistant leader for his four years with that band.
Following the
military service he quickly became a much sought after musician. Bill
moved to New York City in the mid 60's and played for many of the top Broadway
shows, worked club dates and was busy doing recordings in the studios.
However, a
change in the studio scene relocated Bill to Los Angeles in 1967 where he
continued his professional career. Bill has performed with many of the
great stars in the music business. Some of the big band leaders he has
played with include; Ray Anthony, Tex Beneke, Louis Bellson, Les Brown, Bob
Crosby, Harry James, Quincy Jones, Nelson Riddle and Si Zentner. The great
singing stars include; Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey,
Tony Martin and many more. Bill is very
much in demand as a soloist, teacher and clinician in the United States . Bill plays a Getzen trombone model 3508
and/or a King 2B PLUS with a Warburton mouthpiece model 11M-T4. He has
performed in Great Britain, Australia and Japan as a clinician and
lecturer as well as soloist in concert.
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