Bill LaBounty
Press Kit
Bill LaBounty is an acclaimed American singer-songwriter whose soulful blend of soft rock, R&B, and country has shaped decades of popular music—both as a solo artist and as the writer behind multiple chart‑topping hits for legendary performers.
Born and brought up in the Mid and Pacific Northwest of the fifties and sixties, spawned as a War Child of the massive Baby-Boom, created when, as Van Morrison sang, “Those soldiers came marching home – love looks, love looks in their eyes…”
He grew up in a household surrounded by a musical family of tavern singers, piano players, teachers and horn players where he was exposed to Jazz, Country and eventually Rock and Roll from a very young age.
After graduating high-school in Eastern Oregon LaBounty began forming and playing in bands in his own region and soon made his way south to Los Angeles to record his early compositions in the growingly busy studios of Hollywood. Here he and his band Fat Chance earned a contract at RCA Records and released an album of his first songs. This late sixties, early seventies period was a fertile time for songwriting, recording and performing. His label-released songs were also picked up by other artists of the time, Merry Clayton, The Miracles, Three Dog Night, The Commodores, The Temptations, Franki Valli, Jesse Colin Young, Steve Goodman, Phoebe Snow, Randi Crawford, Brenda Russell, Gino Vanelli, Bobby Caldwell, Peter Cetera, Sean Cassidy with chart-topping records for Robbie Dupree and Michael Johnson.
In 1981, Bill teamed with Russ Titelman to create a self-titled Jazz/R&B album that featured the talents of James Taylor, Jennifer Warnes, Patty Austin, Steve Gadd, Steve Lukather, and many other noted musicians and performers. It’s a West Coast album that is considered iconic in a genre that today is celebrated as “Yacht Rock”.
In the mid-eighties LaBounty married songwriter Beckie Foster and relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. During this period he learned he was receiving radio activity of his own in Paris and Tokyo. From his self-titled Warner Brothers album the song, “Livin’ It Up” was getting attention in Paris in the club and disco scenes. He was approached to create a new album by labels in Japan and France. He recorded his album, “The Right Direction” featuring Larry Carlton, John Robinson, Neil Stubenhaus, Robbie Dupree, Brian Ray, TaTa Vega and a host of others. This marked the beginning of many trips to Paris and Tokyo with his bands to perform.
In the following years LaBounty delved deep into writing songs for other artists creating more #1s with Beckie Foster like “The Weekend”, “Domino Theory of Love” for Steve Wariner and “No Explanation” for Peter Cetera in the movie Pretty Woman. During this time Bill had songs recorded by Waylon Jennings, Brooks and Dunn, Jimmy Buffet, Patti LaBelle, Neil Diamond, Bill Medley, Keb Mo, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Agnetha Faltskog, The Judds, Tanya Tucker and Tim McGraw.
LaBounty is also known as an accomplished keyboardist & synthesist who has worked in the studio and live with artists such as Patti LaBelle, James Taylor, Neil Diamond, Bill Medley, Robbie DuPree, Michael Johnson and David Foster.
In 2011, produced by David Dutreuil, a four CD boxed anthology of Bills work spanning 1975 through 2011 titled Time Starts Now was released on Warner-Rhino Records, France.
To date Bill has had over one hundred songs released by other artists garnering twenty-five BMI awards.
In 2023, Bill met musician and businessman, Frederic Schwarcz who arranged two shows in Paris at the New Morning club. Here he met and worked with Jean-Luc Leonardon a producer, arranger, keyboardist, singer and also leader of the band, Dr. Wu. With an assembly of celebrated Parisian musicians, full rhythm and horn sections and an array of talented soloists and singers. The night was magical. In the months to come an album was created in Paris that rivals the best of LaBounty’s work.
Executively produced by Frederic Schwarcz, co-produced by Jean-Luc Leonardon, horns arranged and orchestrated by Erick Poirier, engineered and mastered by Yves Jaget, Bill’s latest album, “Love At The End of the World” makes its debut in the Spring.
It’s been exciting to find this soul connection in Paris of natural collaborators. What a crew of gifted players and performers I’ve been able to surround myself with! This album is truly something special. The energy in the studio was inspiring and electric. I can’t wait to release it to the World at large! – Bill
Love and appreciation,
Watch Bill LIVE at New Morning Club Paris in 2025
Press Photos
You can also listen to Bill’s music both on this website and through many of the popular music streaming services!
