Drums with William B.

Willie B. is a native of Darien, Connecticut and has been playing the drums since the age of 8. During high school he was chosen as the first chair drummer for the Connecticut All State High School Jazz Band from 2006 to 2007. After graduating high school Willie attended Western Connecticut State University for two years with a jazz performance degree. Willie then attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with a performance degree, making the Dean’s List at both institutions and graduating from Berklee Summa Cum Laude in the Spring of 2013. Over the course of Willie’s career he has had the opportunity to perform with such great musicians as Rufus Reid, John Scofield, Maria Schneider, Dave Liebman, Vic Juris, Bob Franceschini, the Dafnis Prieto trio, and more. Willie’s teachers include John Cutrone, Jeff “Siege” Siegel, Fred Klatz, Henrique De Almeida, Kim Plainfield, Chris Coleman, and former Berklee percussion department chair Gary Chaffee. Willie has played in various local jazz and rock groups performing for private and public functions. In 2007 he performed with The Side Notes at Stamford, Connecticut’s Alive At Five concert series opening for The Cars featuring Todd Rundgren.