[msb-alumni] Grammy-nominated composer William "Bill" Pursell dies from COVID-19 on September 3, 2020 at Age 94
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2020 13:55:44 -0400
Blank Grammy-nominated composer William Pursell dies from COVID-19
William Purcell at the piano in 2017.
(Pursell Family Archives)
By Meg JamesStaff Writer
William “Bill” Pursell, a Grammy-nominated composer and studio musician who
accompanied such artists as Patsy Cline and Bob Dylan, died Thursday in
Nashville at
the age of 94.
Pursell’s death came after a “very fast, tough battle with COVID pneumonia,”
his
daughter and recording artist, Laura Pursell, said in a statement.
Pursell’s song, "Our Winter Love," became a big seller in 1963. He was twice
nominated for a Grammy, the first for inspirational performance (non-classical)
on
the album “Listen” for Ken Medema in 1974.
His second Grammy nomination was for his 1978 arrangement of “We Three Kings”
for
National Geographic.
Born June 9, 1926 in Oakland, Calif., Pursell was raised in the Central Valley
town
of Tulare. He studied composition at the Peabody Institute, a music
conservatory in
Baltimore and, during military service in World War II, he arranged for the
U.S. Air
Force Band, according to the family. He later studied classical composition at
the
Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., earning a master’s degree in
composition.
In 1953, his arrangement "Christ Looking Over Jerusalem" for the
Eastman-Rochester
Orchestra was awarded a prize.
Pursell arrived in Nashville in 1960 at the invitation of legendary country
artist
Eddy Arnold. Two years later, Pursell was signed as a solo artist with Columbia
Records. His hit, "Our Winter Love," was released the following year.
A career highlight, according to his family, was playing with noted guitarist
Chet
Atkins at a press corps dinner at the White House for President John F. Kennedy.
Through the ’60s and ’70s, Pursell worked as a session pianist for industry
greats,
including Johnny Cash, Boots Randolph, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Johnny
Paycheck,
Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Dan Fogelberg and Dylan, among others.
In 1980, Pursell switched gears, joining the faculty at the Belmont University
School
of Music in Nashville as a composition professor.
In 1985, he was honored as Composer of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers
Association. His symphony, "Heritage," which was commissioned by the Nashville
Symphony and Victor Johnson, debuted in 1989.
Two years later, he earned his doctor of musical arts degree, with distinction,
at
the Eastman School of Music.
In 2017, Pursell retired from Belmont University after 37 years.
Over the years, he taught such country artists as Trisha Yearwood and Brad
Paisley.
It was not clear when he contracted COVID-19, but he entered the hospital
approximately a week ago, according to publicist Harlan Boll.
"While in the hospital, my father became a Catholic … He said his entire life
now
made sense," his daughter wrote in the statement distributed by Boll. "This
gives us
some measure of peace. We know how many lives he touched, and he knew how much
he was
loved."
Pursell is survived by his daughter, Laura Pursell, son Bill Pursell and
stepdaughters Ellen Spicer and Margaret Pursell. He was preceded in death by
daughter
Sharon Pursell in 2012 and wife Julie Pursell in 2018. Donations to the William
Whitney Pursell Scholarship in Composition can be made to the Belmont
University
School of Music.
Steve
Lansing, MI
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