Intro to Journalism Final Article - Music Lives Through Bill Hanna - The Profile of Bill Hanna

This is my Intro To Journalism Final Article. I originally wrote this back in December 2009. It is my oldest article I posted up here. Read it and Enjoy

Music Lives Through Bill Hanna

The Profile of Bill Hanna

On a cold and rainy December night, inspiring guitarist Andy Perez decided to venture to Uptown Charlotte to perform at the Double Door Inn. He has been at the Double Door a few times before to jam with some of Charlotte, North Carolina veteran jazz musicians. A few weeks ago he had technical difficulty with is guitar causing a less then satisfying performance. Hoping not to repeat that again tonight, Andy reaches for his guitar and steps on stage. During the set, he stayed on rhythm, progressed the correct chords, and his solos showcased his ability as a guitarist. There weren’t any technical difficulties with the amps, and his guitar stayed in tune. Overall it was a great performance on stage, making this the highlight of Andy’s week. But none of this could have been possible if it wasn’t for Charlotte’s God Father of Jazz, Bill Hanna.

Bill Hanna has lived an eventful life dedicated to music. Graduating from Mooresville High school in Mooresville North Carolina, he then went on to get his Bachelor’s degree in business from Davidson College. From there he earned a Masters degree in Music with and emphasis on trombone from Indiana University. For a time in his life, he was enlisted in the army. While in the army, Bill started playing in a Jazz band in 1955. It wasn’t until in the Army Jazz Band that Bill realized that music was going to be his life’s work.

Bill then played on the road performing with different musical acts. He has performed with the Stan Kennedy Band, the Woody Herman Band, and the Glen Miller Orchestra. Even during his days at Davidson College, he had a chance to s play a song with one of the most legionary Jazz musicians ever. “I sat in with Louis Armstrong once. One tune, a blues in B flat,” said Bill Hanna. For most of Bills life though, he has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina. While in Charlotte, he has performed for the circus, performances on ice, and the Charlotte Sympathy Orchestra for a period of seven years. He has been a member of several Rock, Country, Beach, and Jazz Big Bands. “I have done everything you can do musically,” said Hanna. For years now Bill has hosted a Jazz Jam at the Double Door Inn for up and coming musicians as well as veterans who have not been musically active for a while.

Bill’s love for music can be rooted to the fact he was born into a musical family. His parents meet when his father was auditioning for his mother’s band. They eventually married and had William Hanna on November 10, 1932 in Louisville Kentucky. His mother taught piano to Bill in the first and second grade. Then in the seventh grade, it was when his uncle introduced him to trombone. In elementary school, Bill decided to join the school band. Bill originally wanted to play the saxophone, but his band director caused him to switch instruments. Bill had a C melody saxophone, but his director kept giving him E flat sheet music. When Bill would try to play the parts for class, the music would end up sounding horrific. So his uncle introduced him to the trombone so that he could play that in band. “If my elementary school band director knew what a C melody sax was, I would be playing sax today,” said Hanna.

While being a musician, Bill Hanna is also a teacher. He has taught music for 50 years of his life now. For the first 30 years he would teach at various Jr. High and High school around Charlotte North Carolina. Then for the last 20 years, he has been teaching at Central Piedmont Community College. And at Central Piedmont community college, that is where Andy Perez was introduced to his Jazz improve instructor Bill Hanna. Bill chooses to teach others on music so that one day a younger generation would be able to achieve their dreams. Bill Hanna is an inspiration for a younger generation of musicians go out and to reach their potential. “Because he is such a good player, he want me to be that someday”, said Andy Perez. More than just scales and modes, Bill has taught his students something more important. “What counts is being you on stage. He encourages me to play Jazz as Andy Perez plays Jazz because Bill plays jazz as Bill,” said Perez.

Bill Hanna is a veteran when it comes to music, but he isn’t going to stop playing anytime soon. He keeps playing for his own personal reasons, not for the public. Music to Bill is something no one can ever master, because of that Bill only sees himself becoming a better musician every times he plays. “I love the way music feels, I love the way it sounds, I love the way it keeps you youthful.” And all of Bill Hanna success, achievements, influence to others some from his genuine passion for music. Bill Hanna is the perfect example of if you dedicate yourself for to something for so long; this is what you can one day become.