music classes
Biography
Hello, welcome to my website. I have been playing banjo and guitar since the folk revival days of the early 1960s. After graduating from UCLA in 1971 with a B.A. in music, I pursued a career as a professional 5-string banjo player. My first band, Hot Off the Press, was a major force in promoting bluegrass music in the Los Angeles area. During this time, I recorded my first instrumental album, "Bill Knopf on Banjo with Hot Off the Press and Friends." I also wrote my first banjo book: Hot Licks and Fiddle Tunes for the Bluegrass Banjo Player.
In 1979, I left Hot Off the Press for six months to tour with actress/singer Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett of TV's "Beverly Hillbillies"). In November of 1980, I became a featured player with Doc Severinsen's touring "Las Vegas" show. Besides Las Vegas, we played Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, the Mardi Gras, state fairs, conventions, TV's "Hee Haw," and one of President Reagan's Inaugural Balls in Washington, D.C. I remained with the show until 1985.
Since working for Doc wasn't a full-time position, I was able to play two summers at Knott's Berry Farm (1982 and 1983) with a band called The Rounders. This band also worked at the 1984 Summer Olympics performing bluegrass in the Los Angeles Coliseum Park and restaurant venues. During these years, I recorded two more banjo albums: "San Andreas Quickstep" (1979) and "Pacific Swing" (1983).
In 1979, I left Hot Off the Press for six months to tour with actress/singer Donna Douglas (Elly May Clampett of TV's "Beverly Hillbillies"). In November of 1980, I became a featured player with Doc Severinsen's touring "Las Vegas" show. Besides Las Vegas, we played Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, the Mardi Gras, state fairs, conventions, TV's "Hee Haw," and one of President Reagan's Inaugural Balls in Washington, D.C. I remained with the show until 1985.
Since working for Doc wasn't a full-time position, I was able to play two summers at Knott's Berry Farm (1982 and 1983) with a band called The Rounders. This band also worked at the 1984 Summer Olympics performing bluegrass in the Los Angeles Coliseum Park and restaurant venues. During these years, I recorded two more banjo albums: "San Andreas Quickstep" (1979) and "Pacific Swing" (1983).
"The Dukes of Hazzard" television show hired me to play banjo on the soundtracks for their final season in 1984. Also, this year I went to work at Disneyland. I started as a musician in Disneyland's annual program, "Operation Christmas," which toured children's hospitals and schools for the disabled. The next year, the Magic Kingdom put together a bluegrass band with me as the leader. The Pinewood Pickers played together in the park for five years.
After leaving Disneyland in 1990, former Hot Off the Press members Howard and Carol Yearwood and I, along with mandolin virtuoso Tom Corbett, formed the bluegrass band, Crossroads. We appeared at bluegrass festivals and concerts, gospel concerts, movie premiers, corporate parties and picnics, and countless private parties. Crossroads broke up after a few years when Tom left to pursue a solo career and Howard "went country"—he had fallen in love with the Fender Telecaster. Tom and I still worked a lot together, either in Tom's band or as a duo.
Several episodes of television's "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" featured my friends and me as the band for town celebrations. I also teamed up with pianist Kathy Craig a couple of times per year for concerts featuring ragtime, traditional jazz, marches, pop standards, and bluegrass favorites. Kathy and I have recorded two CDs: "Scott Joplin Ragtime" and "John Philip Sousa Marches." When not appearing with a band, I can also go solo. I play banjo and guitar and perform a repertoire drawing from traditional folk, bluegrass, and country music; early jazz and swing; ragtime; marches; and classic rock and blues.
In 1983, I started First Inversion Record and Publishing Company. My latest CD is "Begin the Beguine." As a studio musician, I've played on the soundtracks to many films, including "Fire Down Below," "Something to Talk About," "Back to the Future III," "A Horse for Danny," "Tad," "Cannery Row," and "Pursuit of D. B. Cooper." Also, I've played on countless radio and television commercials.
Over the years, I have written over twenty instruction books for banjo and guitar. In 1979, my friend Doug Dillard asked me to write his banjo book. We had a good 'ole time pouring over his recordings and making the transcriptions. Also, I added an instructional section explaining tunings, tablature, rolls, chords, left-hand techniques, and back-up—just like what you would see in a beginner's manual. It came out in 1980, published by ALMO Publications/Columbia Pictures Publications. After several years, it went out of print. Then, in 2001, Centerstream Publishing brought back a slightly abridged version.
During practically this entire time (at least since 1978), I had been teaching banjo and guitar at the Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor until it closed in 2010. We started in Reseda, CA, moved to Canoga Park for twenty years, and in 2002, we relocated to Granada Hills, CA.
Since 2010, I have been teaching at home, as well as playing in the Tom Corbett Band, the Murphy Family Bluegrass Band, and the Bluegrass Ghosts. Tom and I also play several duo gigs together: Knott's Berry Farm, Cal Vets retirement home, and private parties. I still get the occasional commercial jingle, film score, and TV show, including fun sessions for "Bob's Burgers."
A few years ago, fiddle player Phil Salazar decided to form a new band. He recruited musicians he had worked with in the past, hence the name Phil Salazar and the Kin Folk. I was in his band briefly in the early 1980s. We have recorded two CDs: "Project 1, Part 3" and "All That! For This?"
Over the years, I have written over twenty instruction books for banjo and guitar. In 1979, my friend Doug Dillard asked me to write his banjo book. We had a good 'ole time pouring over his recordings and making the transcriptions. Also, I added an instructional section explaining tunings, tablature, rolls, chords, left-hand techniques, and back-up—just like what you would see in a beginner's manual. It came out in 1980, published by ALMO Publications/Columbia Pictures Publications. After several years, it went out of print. Then, in 2001, Centerstream Publishing brought back a slightly abridged version.
During practically this entire time (at least since 1978), I had been teaching banjo and guitar at the Blue Ridge Pickin' Parlor until it closed in 2010. We started in Reseda, CA, moved to Canoga Park for twenty years, and in 2002, we relocated to Granada Hills, CA.
Since 2010, I have been teaching at home, as well as playing in the Tom Corbett Band, the Murphy Family Bluegrass Band, and the Bluegrass Ghosts. Tom and I also play several duo gigs together: Knott's Berry Farm, Cal Vets retirement home, and private parties. I still get the occasional commercial jingle, film score, and TV show, including fun sessions for "Bob's Burgers."
A few years ago, fiddle player Phil Salazar decided to form a new band. He recruited musicians he had worked with in the past, hence the name Phil Salazar and the Kin Folk. I was in his band briefly in the early 1980s. We have recorded two CDs: "Project 1, Part 3" and "All That! For This?"