William Kurk is not just another artist, but one who speaks loudly through his musical concepts, while walking the trail of his ancestry. Both parents were musicians, and grandmother is a noted educator of music and voice (Lena Mclin). Thomas A. Dorsey (founder of Gospel music, 1899-1993) is the great uncle of Kurk, moving into the new millennium with a lineage that is stronger than the average dreamer.
William originally started playing the drums as early as 9 months old. At the age of 9, William studied flute at the Merit School of Music. By age 11, he was on the trumpet, while also acquiring the basics of guitar, and later bass guitar in the same period. His grandmother (Lena) would formally train his voice at the age of 14; singing in church and various events. William would eventually find himself at the piano. At age 16, he taught himself fundamental methods, while sitting in with the Ken Chaney Big Band during the same year. After high school, William continued his vocal studies with Robert Sims and jazz studies with Ron Carter at Northern Illinois University. William transferred to Columbia College Chicago after his one semester at NIU, and was given with a jazz studies scholarship in jazz piano performance under the late Bill Russo (Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton). Kurk completed his bachelor's degree in music composition in 2005.
William has worked as a music director/sound designer/pianist for theater companies in Chicago such as: Black Ensemble Theater, Second City, Court Theater, Goodman, Congo Square, ETA, MPAACT Theater, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater, Urban Theater Company, Second City, DMG Theater Group, Deeply Rooted, and Teatro Luna. William has also been on stage as an actor/singer in productions of "Once On This Island", "Cabaret", "Oklahoma!", and "The Wiz". William was nominated for a Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Musical Director for the 2007 production of "Sarafina!", where he taught and arranged music from the show, with the original South African languages at the ease of his tongue.
Studio work credits for William include Seal, Anthony Nicholson, Melba Moore, Maysa Leak, Duke Jones, Lena Mclin, Morcheeba, Roy Davis, Jr, Dwele, and Chester Gregory among others. His own studio works are noted as well, with two albums under his name ("The Sound: Volume 1 and 2).
William has performed with Chico DeBarge, Frank McComb, KRS-ONE, The Dells, The Coasters, The Platters, Marvelettes, Jonita Lattimore, Michael Ward, Confunktion, Russell Ferrate (Yellowjackets), Melba Moore, Koko Taylor, Martha Reeves, Malcom-Jamal Warner, Roy Hargrove, Bill Cosby, Stanley Jordan, Jon Faddis, and R.Kelly.
The future continues to build the foundation that William Kurk stands on, as he simultaneously created the surface that will be the path for others to tread.
Williamkurk.com for more information and music!
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