DATE: APRIL 11, 2024

FROM: LYNDIE WENNER, SRO

BELMONT UNIVERSITY HONORS TWO STUDENTS
WITH INAUGURAL BILL PURSELL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
SCHOLARSHIP FUND WILL HONOR THE LEGACY AND DEDICATION OF BELMONT UNIVERSITY’S 37-YEAR
MUSIC PROFESSOR AND MENTOR BILL PURSELL

A person in a suit and tie Description automatically generatedPhoto of Bill Pursell

NASHVILLE, TN – This past Monday (April 8) the inaugural Bill Pursell Memorial Scholarship at Belmont University was awarded to students Matthew Oliver and Sam Wood, honoring the two students’ outstanding musical works and accomplishments. The ceremony was held at the Massey Performing Arts Center during Belmont University’s Scholarship and Award Day.

“This scholarship is a tribute to the legacy Bill (Pursell) left at Belmont, the countless composition and commercial music students he taught and mentored over the years who have gone on to do great things,” says Terry Klefstad, Professor of Music. “Student scholarships are the best way to honor his dedication to music and teaching. Bill was devoted to his students and gave of himself freely as a teacher. This scholarship is a way to continue that legacy.”

A group of people holding certificates Description automatically generatedPhoto Credit: Katie Hodgson/Belmont University
L to R: Stephen Eaves, Dean, College of Music and Performing Arts – Belmont Univ.; Mark Volker, Professor of Music – Belmont Univ.; Matthew Oliver, Student and Scholarship Fund Recipient; Sam Wood, Student and Scholarship Fund Recipient, Laura Pursell, Professor Bill Pursell’s daughter and Netcom Music Recording Artist; Terry Klefstad, Professor of Music, Belmont Univ. and David Johnston, Scholarship Friend.

A musical tribute for the late composer, arranger, pianist, and Belmont University’s 37-year Professor of Music, Dr. William Pursell (Bill), was held last summer (June 15) to a packed house at Nashville venue 3rd & Lindsley. Netcom Music recording artist and daughter of Bill Pursell, Laura Pursell, the Nashville All-Stars and the Nashville Recording Orchestra conducted by Steve Mauldin performed many of Bill Pursell’s iconic arrangements and songs that he performed on recordings during his 50-year musical career with iconic artists such as Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Dan Fogelberg, Chet Atkins and more along with some of his last original works. Country Music Hall of Fame musician, Charlie McCoy opened the evening accompanied by an A-list of musicians onstage comprised of guitarists Tom Hemby and Pat Bergeson, bassist Jim Ferguson, drummer Bob Mater and pianist Jason Coleman.

Read more HERE. An album of the songs was in the process of being recorded by Bill and Laura but unfortunately Bill passed from Covid -19 in September of 2020.

Album cover art: “Lost In Time – A Tribute To Bill Pursell”

Listen to Bill Pursell’s Final Recordings and Compositions HERE

“It was my dad’s dream to finish this very personal album. He wasn’t able to do it in his lifetime, and I’m so grateful to Netcom Music for allowing me to complete it,” says Laura Pursell. “We are very proud and excited at Netcom Music to release our newest album, Lost in Time. This collection of songs contains the last work of my brother, Bill Pursell, and the brilliance of his arrangements of this music truly embody his spirit and musical genius. We know you will love it!” stated Raymond Clawson, owner of Netcom Music.

 

MORE ABOUT BILL PURSELL

Bill Pursell had worked as a session pianist, composer and/or arranger through the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and beyond for the following artists: Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Boots Randolph, Chet Atkins, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Johnny Paycheck, Joan Baez, Scotty Moore, J.J. Cale, Dan Fogelberg, Bob Dylan, Burl Ives, Eddy Arnold, James Galway, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Ray Price, Bobby Vinton, Charlie Pride, Buddy Emmons, Lefty Frizzell, Brenda Lee, Charlie McCoy and more.

AWARDS & CO-WRITES

  • “Our Winter Love” (instrumental written by Johnny Cowell),spent 14 weeks on the Billboard 100 chart in 1963, peaking at No. 9 on March 30, while reaching No.4 on Billboard’s Middle Roads chart, No. 20 on Billboard’s Hot R & B Singles chart, No. 12 in Australia, and No. 25 on Canada’s CHUM Hit Parade. Bill Pursell’s version was ranked No. 54 on Billboard’s end of year ranking “Top Records of 1963.”
  • 2 x 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.
  • Named “Composer of the Year” by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association (1985).
  • Received a Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music at the age of 70, with distinction.
  • Named “Professor Emeritus” upon his retirement from Belmont University, where he taught musical composition, orchestration, and history of commercial music for 37 years.

For press and all media inquiries please contact:

SRO PR:
Lyndie Wenner, lwenner@sropr.com