WILLIAM CLINE BAILEY

Born: 18/10/60
islington, London
Genre: Jazz

William Cline Bailey is a British songwriter/Drummer of Sierra Leonean parentage. His early introduction to music began at age seven when he joined the choir at Zion Methodist Church , Freetown, Sierra Leone.

His love for music was developed in the choir whilst performing Secular music. Listening to Soul, Reggae and Jazz Funk also had a profound influence.
As a teenager , he moved to Lagos , Nigeria with his family. In Nigeria he was greatly influenced by Afro beat and began to consider the decision of becoming a musician.

In his late teens he returned to Freetown , Sierra Leone and his passion for Disco and Jazz Funk further developed. He was mentored by Abou Whyte, a leading vocalist/ percussionist based in Sierra Leone .
At this stage he began writing his own songs. He wrote and performed ” Play Time”at a local venue .

Whilst at University in Moscow ,Russia he joined a Ghanaian band .
He was the drummer for six years. The band performed Highlife, Reggae and pop music. He also continued to write and perform his own music .

During an International Student Festival in Moscow he performed his song “Look around you” which gathered huge interest. During this time he made frequent trips to London and was mentored by Sierra Leonean record producer Akie Deen. For the past three decades he has concentrated on studio work. He has recorded and accrued a catalogue of his own songs.

The wealth of musical experience he gained over the years has culminated in his current EP entitled “Solitude”. Solitude is four track EP . Solitude is the title track of the EP and the first song released from the EP. Other songs on the EP include :

” Sunshine & Showers ” , Cruise Control” , “Play Time” which will be released before the end of 2020. The EP was recorded at Beck View Studios , Scarborough , Yorkshire with session musicians featuring : Adam Carpenter- Keyboards/ Guitar, Rohan Oliver- Bass , Cecil Jones “CJ” – Saxophone, William Cline Bailey – Drums

Solitude received extensive airplay on various radio stations in the UK, which included Feferity Radio, Durham On Air and Premier Radio
Solitude also featured on dinner jazz with Mark Walker on Jazz FM London.
Cruise  control , a track from the Solitude EP featured on BBC introducing on BBCTees,

In July 2021 William Cline-Bailey released his second EP entitled Rapture

Mellow mood , a track from the EP featured on BBC introducing on BBC Tees.

In September 2021 William Cline Bailey began presenting “The Jazz Sessions” on Feferity Radio. The monthly broadcast has  gathered a lot of interest from  jazz music lovers .

A new album entitled Euphoria is scheduled for release in October 2022. The 8 track album was recorded at Beckview Studios in Scarborough Yorkshire with session musicians namely Adam Carpenter-Keyboards , Rohan Oliver- Bass,
Pete Norman -Guitar, Cecil Jones -Saxophone and William Cline Bailey – Drums and percussion.

In October 2023, William Cline-Bailey released his fourth studio recording. The EP entitled CHALLENGE contains a fine selection of easy listening and contemporary jazz tracks.

The EP has received airplay on Durham on Air and BBC-Tees.

In July 2024 William Cline Bailey released his fifth studio recording. The album entitled Discovery is a cross over Jazz masterpiece. It includes Freetown Breeze – A fusion of Afrobeats and Jazz Kickdown – Straight ahead Jazz Funk Discovery – Smooth Jazz Below Zero – Fusion of Easy Listening and Jazz Tracks from the album are now regularly featured on Jazz London Radio and Capital Radio Sierra Leone William Cline Bailey now hosts the Jazz Sessions on Radio Scarborough. A weekly Jazz broadcast which is gathering huge interest.