Bill Hart Band (Funk/Rock/Jazz) Variety Band from Atlanta, GA

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY: Bill Hart was born and raised in Ontario, Canada and began playing guitar at the young age of nine years old. Hart immediately felt drawn to the instrument and would find every opportunity to covertly rendezvous with his guitar. A lifelong connection was formed. Hart started taking lessons when he was thirteen. Initially, he played rock, influenced by the diverse guitar styles of Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Jimmy Page. One day, in a music store, he saw a jazz musician playing a guitar and doing the most incredible things. Bill wanted to know how the guitarist played that amazing music. Thirty years later, Hart modestly says he is still trying to figure it out. Currently, Hart is the one playing the amazing music, while always keeping it accessible to one and all. Hart's early training was fairly non-traditional. As a teenager, he spent time playing in theater's performing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Little Shop of Horrors”, where he was the designated musician, providing live music for the shows. Fascinated by the mathematical precision of music, Bill attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California, graduating with honors.  Bill has studied under master guitarists, Gary Starling, Mike Stern, Don Mock, Steve Khan, Wayne Krantz and Scott Henderson. Bill's true joy comes from playing his original compositions.  Bill Hart has opened for jazz greats such as Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Lou Rawls, Yellow Jackets, Acoustic Alchemy, Joey Defrancesco, Norman Brown, Rippingtons and Mike Stern. Hart has been the head of the guitar department at the Atlanta Institute of Music & Media for over twenty-five years, teaching and mentoring over 5000 students. He has participated in numerous music clinics with seminar partners such as Scott Ambush and Joel Rosenblatt (Spyro Gyra), Mike Stern (Miles Davis Band), Adam Nitti (Steven Curtis Chapman), Shane Theriot (Neville Brothers, Hal and Oates) and Jimmy Herring (The Grateful Dead and Widespread Panic).  Bill Hart has released five albums: "Watch the Sky", "Think About It", "Subject To Change", "This Is Why" and the new release “Touch Of Blue” Hart toured Mexico and South America with his original music performing at big venues. He was awarded a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela on behalf of the Bill Hart Band for his contribution to the students in South America. Hart was also a Grammy award nominee. Also offers guitar clinics and/or lessons as part of his tour.