News! Bill is honored to again be mentioned in the current issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, in their Dreadnought Guitar Issue: “But dreadnoughts can be very versatile. Players like Michael Hedges, Bill Mize, and Tommy Emmanuel have demonstrated how well dreadnoughts can work for playing fingerstyle, and in the hands of progressive flatpickers such as Tony Rice, David Grier, and Grant Gordy, they can double as jazz machines. And, of course, dreadnoughts have been the guitar style of choice for countless singer-songwriters, including Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, the Avett Brothers, and Bruce Springsteen.” “The Angel’s Share included in Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s “Essential CDs for 2010” Bill’s “The Angel’s Share” has just been released. Check it out on the Music page! Recent CD Reviews Dave Walker’s Guitar Reviews Minor 7th Reviews Guitar International Interviewhttp://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=26095&page=2Music.htmlhttp://davewalkermusic.com/page2/BillMize_AngelsShare_Review.htmlhttp://www.minor7th.com/m7_10_10.htmlhttp://guitarinternational.com/2011/01/02/interview-with-acoustic-guitarist-bill-mize/shapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2shapeimage_1_link_3shapeimage_1_link_4
 
Tennessee’s rich music heritage Growing up in Sevier county in East Tennessee in the 50s and 60s provided Bill a deep well of musical influences to draw from. Local music showcases out of Nashville and Knoxville exposed Bill to artists of southern soul, early rock, bluegrass and mountain music. Artists like Steve Cropper, Otis Redding and Elvis Presley made a huge impact, inspiring Bill to take up the electric guitar. A few lessons with Achie Burns (Jethro Burns’ brother) began him on his path in the 1960s. In the 1970s, Bill traded his electric for an acoustic, and began crafting his fingerstyle technique and intricate style. In the 1980s, still working at his family’s lumber mill, Bill made a name for himself when he won the Winfield National Fingerstyle Championship (after placing 3rd the previous year). With a unique style that emphasized tone, melody and compositional substance, offers from Windham Hill and Narada acoustic labels sealed his status as an up and coming fingerstyle guitarist, and he began touring nationally with artists such as Alex DeGrassi. In the 1990s, Bill won a GRAMMY for his collaboration with David Holt on Stellaluna. Since then, Bill has released five CDs, one transcription book (thru Mel Bay), and has licensed music for several documentaries, film and audio projects. Most recently, his music was featured in the PBS 2009 Ken Burns production “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea”. He is a sought after performer and clinician, playing nationally at festivals and concerts such as the Montreal Jazz Festival’s Guitar Weekend, and the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. Splitting his time between the rocky and smoky mountains, Bill still lives part time in an old cabin built by his grandfather, and draws inspiration from the forests and streams of Greenbrier. About Bill Mize
Equipment 1962 Martin D28 McElroy Signature Model Pickups: LR Baggs Amp: AERhttp://www.mcelroyguitars.comhttp://www.lrbaggs.comhttp://www.aer-amps.infoshapeimage_6_link_0shapeimage_6_link_1shapeimage_6_link_2
Bill performs at the legendary “Loveless Cafe Barn” for the Music City Roots show in Nashville! Thanks to Ole Smoky Moonshine for their sponsorship! Check out the Video above.