William Tell (musician)

Infobox musical artist
Name = William Tell


Img_capt = Tell's debut album "You Can Hold Me Down" (2007)
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = William John Tell
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1980|2|7|mf=y
Mission Viejo, California, U.S.
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano
Genre = Alternative rock
Pop punk
Occupation = Singer-songwriter
Years_active = 2001–present
Label = Universal Records
New Door Records
Associated_acts = Something Corporate
URL =

William Tell (born February 7, 1980) is the former rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for the Piano rock band Something Corporate. After leaving the band in 2004 for a solo career, William Tell was signed as a New Door Records solo artist. His first solo record, "You Can Hold Me Down" was released on March 13 2007.

Biography

William Tell was born into a gospel music family in Orange County, California. He learned to play guitar from his father (also named William Tell) at a young age and began writing his own songs as well. Tell met some of the members Something Corporate through mutual friends and one night when he was playing at a club they were also playing, he was asked to temporarily fill in, as their rhythm guitarist Reuben Hernandez left to study abroad. So on March 27 2001, Tell permanently joined the Drive-Thru Records piano rock band Something Corporate.

Tell witnessed the success of Something Corporate over the three years he played with them — through their EP "Audioboxer", released on October 2 2001, to their full-length albums "Leaving Through the Window" (2002) and "North" (2003), as well as tours with bands like New Found Glory.

During a break between touring for the band, Tell decided that he wanted to leave to pursue his own solo career. On February 4 2004 it was announced by the band that Tell had left. He returned home to California and began writing songs. His first song, titled "Radio Sound" (which later appeared on his debut album as "Sounds"), was about his mixed emotions dealing with leaving his friends and former band. Through the course of the next two years, Tell would continue writing and rewriting material, as well as recording. Brian Ireland, drummer for Something Corporate, would come in to help him during the recording process and also play shows as part of Tell's band. One of Tell's many performances was the Bamboozle Left festival in Pomona, California on October 14, 2006.

In 2006, Tell was signed to Universal Records' subsidiary New Door Records as a solo artist and began putting the final touches to his debut album. He collaborated with another Something Corporate member, Andrew McMahon, for the track "Fairfax" on the record. During January 2007, Tell recorded a practice session for the website Rehearsals.com and on March 13 2007, Tell released his 10-track solo debut album titled "You Can Hold Me Down" (named after one of the songs).

Currently Tell is opening for Ozma with Kaddisfly and New Years Day. His touring band consists of bassist John Girgus, guitarist and pianist Evan Voytas, and drummer Michael Lasaponara (of the band Roses Are Red).

Discography

:"For Tell's releases with Something Corporate, see Something Corporate's discography"

Albums

* "You Can Hold Me Down" (2007) #11 Top Heatseekers

Non-album tracks

* "After All", "Katie (Where'd You Go?)", "This Mess", "Yesterday is Calling" & "Young At Heart" (Acoustic)- released as bonus tracks to certain releases of "You Can Hold Me Down" (2007)

External links

*Myspace|williamtell|William Tell's profile
*Purevolume|williamtell|William Tell's profile
* [http://www.williamtell-online.net/ William Tell fansite]
* [http://www.williamtell.com/ William Tell official site]
* [http://www.burningstars.net/willaimtell07.html Burning Stars interview with William]