Bill O'Donnell

Bill studied saxophone and clarinet while in high school prior to joining the Navy. While in the Navy he attended the Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C.

Upon completion of military service he attended Glassboro State College and graduated with a degree in elementary education. Bill taught school for the Old Bridge Township Board of Education for thirty-one years and retired in 2001.

In addition to a career in teaching Bill also worked as a fill-in host at various New Jersey radio stations, most recently at WBGO Jazz 88 in Newark.

Bill’s musical talents led him to play with many musical celebrities over the years including the Lee Castle/Jimmy Dorsey orchestra, Les Elgart, Art Mooney, Myron Floren, Sammy Kaye, Warren Covington, Helen O’Connell, Margaret Whiting, Kay Starr, Chris Riddle and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, The Benny Goodman Tribute Band directed by Everett Longstreth, Al Martino and Tony Bennett.