About Bill English
Lived 1925 – 2007 (aged 81). Bill English was a drummer.
William English (August 27, 1925 – March 4, 2007) was an American jazz drummer.
Early life English played early in his career with rhythm and blues musicians in the 1950s, including Sonny Thompson and Amos Milburn. He then worked with Julian Dash, Bennie Green, and Erskine Hawkins in the mid-1950s before becoming a house drummer at New York's Apollo Theatre. Late in the 1950s he worked with his own ensemble, and in the 1960s played with Earl Hines, Prestige Blues Swingers, Gene Ammons, Quincy Jones, Joe Newman, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell, and Eddie Jefferson. He remained active into the 1970s, working with Eric Dixon among others.
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Important facts
People in Bill English's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bill English's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bill English?
American jazz drummer (1925–2007)
When was Bill English born?
Bill English was born on 27 August 1925 in New York City.
When did Bill English die?
Bill English died on 4 March 2007 in New York City.
What was Bill English's occupation?
Bill English was a drummer.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Bill English (musician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill English. https://biography.guide/bill-english-drummer/
MLA: "Bill English." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-english-drummer/.
Chicago: "Bill English." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-english-drummer/.
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