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While the Blue Notes might be either musical sounds or bandmembers, the Little Bill in this case is Bill Englehart, also known as Washington's "Ambassador of Bass Guitar." His style ranges from the type of slide guitar pieces associated with early country blues to sophisticated, romantic R&B balladry.
Englehart has had a long stretch to develop these concepts, having kept a group together under the name of Little Bill & the Blue Notes since 1956. Prior to that, it was the 1955 Tacoma Blue Notes, pinning down the exact part of Washington a bit more precisely. Younger players who have towered over Little Bill on the bandstand include an organist, Dick Powell, who is of no relation to the movie matinee idol of old; guitarist Billy Stapleton; and drummer Tommy Morgan. "Bye Bye Blackbird" is an example of the type of standard number the group recorded, well outside of the blues genre. ~ Eugene Chadbourne