Bill Carpenter

NAACP Image Award nominated author and music scribe Bil Carpenter was raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. A music buff since childhood, he grew up on a diet of country, rap, disco, gospel and pop music. He graduated from the prestigious Duke Ellington High School for the Arts and then earned a B.A. in history from American University. Carpenter honed his PR skills as a junior press secretary for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign where he handled press for celebrity supporters of the campaign such as Judy Collins, Quincy Jones and Little Richard. From there, he served as the media coordinator for Coretta Scott King's 30th anniversary "March on Washington" in 1993 that drew 100,000 people to the nation's capitol. During this period, Carpenter began freelance writing. He was a contributing writer to the Washington Post (1991-1994) and People magazine (1993-1997). He wrote dozens of stories for publications such as Goldmine and Living Blues. During this season, he wrote over 300 articles on performers such as Johnny Mathis, Joan Baez and Sisqo of Dru Hill. In 1996, Carpenter co-founded Capital Entertainment (CE) that has done PR work for artists ranging from Vickie Winans and Aaliyah to T.D. Jakes and "Brady Bunch" mom Florence Henderson. In 2005, Backbeat Books published Carpenter's book,Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia, that was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2007. He also produced the Stellar Award nominated companion CD Uncloudy Days, Time Life Music's #1 Love's Holiday project. The Top Ten smash Shoutin' Down the Aisles, and the Stellar-winning Clark Sisters' Encore CD. Carpenter is a featured music historian in the 2011 Magnolia Pictures limited-release documentary film "Rejoice and Shout" that was directed by Don McGlynn who has created acclaimed documentaries on blues great Howlin' Wolf and big bandleader Glenn Miller.