| Bill
was born in Atlanta, GA, May 20, 1947 to Carl & Annie Mae Ferguson,
who also had five daughters and another son. He graduated from Southwest
DeKalb High School in 1965 (barely, he says). The following year,
Bill met Linda, and they soon married in 1967 when she was 17.
The newlyweds lived in Decatur, Georgia during their first five
years of marriage. In 1972, they found a home they loved in Norcross
and made the move to the new suburb. Thirty years later, they still
celebrate the wonderful memories of building their family inside
those walls – and continue to make more memories with their
grandchildren when they come to visit.
Bill and his brother had their own cabinet business for 29 years.
They closed the doors in 1996, and Bill has been in the flooring
business since that time.
Bill's love of music came early, and at the age of 12, he began
playing a D28 Martin Guitar given to him by his sister. Unable to
do much with the guitar, Bill decided he wanted to be a bass player.
He played in a band called the "Dynamics" while in high
school. He went on to play bass with several Rock and Roll bands.
Wendell Carter, of Carter’s Music, was instrumental in introducing
him to country music and the Alpharetta American Legion at a very
young age.
Bill met Atlanta steel guitar legend Mac Atcheson in 1969 and a
wonderful and long friendship began. Bill fell in love with the
steel guitar and the beautiful music that Mac made. He bought his
first steel guitar - a Sho~Bud - in 1970.
Over the years Bill has been a part of many Atlanta area bands.
He played with in "Swingin' Texans" with Margie and Buddy
Pattillo. He was part of the "Ray Mize Five" in Alpharetta
at the American Legion for seven years. He played in the Wild Fire
Band at the American Legion in Loganville for ten years. For the
last ten years, ending last September, he has been with the "Country
River Band". Bill is also a featured performer on many regional
steel guitar shows and played the International Steel Guitar Convention
in 2010.
In addition to Bill’s playing he has always been very active
in supporting and promoting steel guitar and country music. In the
late1970’s, Bill was a leader in putting together a series
of jam sessions named “The Picker’s Pick”. These
sessions allowed the professional country music community of Atlanta
to come together for a day of music and fellowship. They continue
today but the name has changed to the “Picker’s Re”Tune”ion,
held in Conyers, GA twice a year and handled by Paul Aiken.
In 1978 Bill joined the International Steel Guitar Association staff
as an audio and later video specialist. Bill has not missed an ISGA
event since he began that role and is a key contributor on the staff.
Through Bill’s years of handling the sound at the International
Steel Guitar Convention and other shows, he has amassed what may
be the world’s largest library of recorded steel guitar performances.
Through agreement with the artists and Scotty, Bill is making these
performances available on the Internet through his “Steelpicker”
user ID on YouTube.
Bill has been very generous with his time and knowledge over the
years mentoring others who wanted to learn to play steel guitar.
Bill’s protégés include Roger Crawford, Jonathan
Cullifer, Brett Day, and Austin Tripp.
Bill and his wife, Linda, have two daughters, Christie and Brandi,
sons-in-law, Chris and Tim, and four grandchildren, Cooper, Eli,
Brooke and Jordan.
|
