Bill Pierce

William Pierce, saxophonist and educator was raised in Jacksonville and Miami. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating in 1972. In the early 70’s, Bill appeared with artists such as Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder. In 1980, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, serving as musical director and sharing the bandstand with other young talents including Bobby Watson, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and Donald Harrison. After three years of recording and touring with Blakey, Bill returned to Berklee, where he became an Associate Professor in the Woodwind Department. He regularly performed with the Freddie Hubbard quintet and in 1985, joined the Tony Williams Quintet. He made five recordings with Mr. Williams and toured Europe, Asia, and America. Since 1986 he has divided his time between academia, performing, and recording under his own name for the Sunnyside label: William the Conqueror (1985), Give and Take (1987), Equilateral (1988), One For Chuck (1991) and Rio (1993). Other recordings include Epistrophy (1995 – Evidence Records), Froggin’ Around (1996 – CIMP), and Burnin”(1997 Criss Cross). Bill is also featured on Tony Williams’ last quintet release, Tokyo Live (Blue Note Records). In 1997 Bill was appointed chairman of the woodwind department at Berklee College. Bill has been a member of the Kevin Eubanks quartet since 1999. The group has released three recordings, “Live”, “Genesis”, and “Shrine” (Insoul Music). Word of South is thrilled to welcome Bill Pierce to the 2026 Festival, where he will be performing as part of our tribute to Miles Davis and John Coltrane.