Bill started playing drums at the age of 10. Bill’s dad, who was a high school teacher, introduced him to the high school band director, Carlton Lindwall. Mr. Lindwall was a state champion rudimental drummer in Minnesota, and one of the most winning high school marching band directors in Minnesota history.

Mr. Lindwall gave Bill one of his first lessons; it was the long roll. Bill was fortunate enough to have an instructor that knew the rudiments well, and worked with him on all 26 of the standard rudiments. He also taught Bill many of the snare solos in the NARD book.

While in high school, Bill marched with the Dassel-Cokato High School Marching Band, competing against the Rocori High School Marching Band. One of Rocori’s instructor’s was Tom Roe, who was Mr. Lindwall’s nephew and DCI judge for many years.

One of Tom Roe’s students from Rocori HS was Dick Rausch, a good friend and mentor of Bills. Dick marched with the 72 Casper Wyoming Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps. In the mid 70’s, Dick started working with the Rocori drumline. When Bill first saw them he was blown away by how good they were. Bill quickly became interested in how they became so good and eventually went to some of their practices, where he got to know Dick Rausch.

Dick is one of the most inspirational, generous, and talented drummers/instructors Bill has ever worked with. “Dick had you eating and drinking drums!!!”

In 1979, along with some of the Rocori veterans, Bill tried out for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corp in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He marched in the snare line for 2 years with the Blue Stars. It was a bit of a shock for Bill going to division I drum corps and working with instructors like Gerry Kearby, who was straight forward and demanding. Bill quickly learned to respect Mr. Kearby’s abilities as an instructor, who gave it his all to make the Blue Stars drumline the best it could be.

After corps Bill has played set in church orchestras and several bands, and has given lessons on and off over the years. Bill also took set lessons from Eliot Fine, one of the authors of the famous 4-Way coordination drum book.

Bill has a wife and 4 children which are all the love of his life.