PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

I began playing piano at age 8.

Switched to the drums at age 10.

Began playing professionally at age 13.

I began full-time touring at age 16.

Lead my first full-time band on the road at age 19.

In 1976, I located in Milwaukee at age 22  and about 2 years later came off the road
and began working full-time with a couple of primary bands and as a "hired gun" with about 30 other bands.

Studied music full-time at UWM for about 3 years.

Started Bill Sargent Bands November 18, 1982.

In 2003, I took up playing the Washboard.

I am co-owner and Chief Operations Officer of Candle Mountain, LLC. Candle Mountain is a Christian company that produces, records, and publishes music by exceptional Christian artists.

I also serve as Director of the Wisconsin Chapter of Drummers For Jesus as well as the performance/ministry group "Drummers For Jesus".

I served as percussion instructor for the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Music Festival at Olivet Nazarene University.

In addition to my performance schedule, I conduct drum clinics, drumming for worship clinics and seminars on various aspects of the music business and success as a musician.

 

STUDIES: I was very fortunate to have the world-renown cornetist & vocalist, Bob Schulz, as my mentor and band director for my entire school life from Junior High School through my departure from high school. I also was mentored by Dr. James Latimer - University of Wisconsin and Pavel Burda - University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. My studies also included lessons with "The Granddaddy of Percussion" Roy Knapp, Gary Gauger of "RIMS" fame, Casey Scheuerell, Franklin Else and Lance Haas.

STYLES I PLAY: Swing, Big Band, Jazz, Dixieland, Blues, Soul, Rock, Pop, Country, Bluegrass, Polka, Ethnic, Classical and Christian/Gospel.

EXPERIENCE & TALENTS: I've done TV, Radio, Studio and am a good reader.
 

SERVICE: I have served on the Board of Directors of Unlimited Jazz LTD. For the past several years and currently, I serve on MATC Occupational Music Advisory Board. I also served as the Charter Vice-President of Fundraising for the local Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I have PERFORMED WITH: The Jim Cullum Jazz Band, The Drifters, The Shirelles, Jon Bauman "Bowzer" from Sha-Na-Na & The Stingrays, Terry Blaine & The New York City All-Stars, Buddy Morrow, Charlie Spivak, The Russ Morgan Orchestra, The Ink Spots, Steve Allen, Clyde McCoy, The Jan Garber Orchestra, The Dick Jurgens Orchestra, Bob Havens, Ray McKinley, Ray Brown, James Moody, Marvin Stamm, Buddy DeFranco, Ritchie Cole, Sam Most, Barrett Deems, Chuck Hedges, Bryan Lynch, Dan Nimmer, Henry Cuesta, Bob Schulz, Ed Polcer, Brian Lynch, Bobby Burgess, Dganit Daddo & Yuval Keidar, Kerry Christensen, Jimmy Duffy, Tommy Justice, Tom Artin, Ed Reed, Heinie Beau, Smokie Stover, Bob Hirsh, Bill Hanck, Ruben Ristrom, Bobby Roberts, Dave Bany, Duane Thamm, Dale DeVoe, Vince Giordano, Buddy Apfel, Gary Church, Bobby Gordon, Kim Cusack, Tom Bartlett, John Bany, Russell George, Bobby Lewis, Gene Bolen, Dave Gannett, Art Davis, Jordan Baskin, Lee Richardson, Tom Hook, Steve Jensen, Tommy Griffith, Bob Leary, Joe Lulloff, Ron Thielman, Barney Floyd, Guy Fiorenza, Dan Shapera, The Steamboat Syncopators, The Leningrad Dixieland Band, The Gypsy Hombres, Lou Brown's Firehouse Jazz Band, Sensation Jazz Band, Roger Pemberton, Willie Pickens, Mark Shane, Dave Hazeltine, Jon Weber, Paul Libman, Jimmy Damon, Tony Galante, Cathi Hayes, Herb Jeffries, The Spiral Staircase, Darryl Kennedy, John Cooper, Jerry Martin, The Lloyd Pedersen Show, Heritage, Sam McCue, Jim Schwall, Phil Driscoll, LaMar Boschman, Paul Ferrin, Pat Mesiti, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Randy Ruiz, Radiant Church Worship Team - Colorado Springs, Rory Hoffman, Joe Alme Big Band, Williams & Ree, Annette Griffin, "Miss Iowa" - Sherry Riley, Tony Renard, Ivan Fleming, Dizzy Dean, St. Leo's Catholic Church Choir - Minot ND and many others!


 

Big Band artists: River Cities Jazz, Swing Nouveau, Howard Schneider Orchestra, Ken Kilian's "Saxtet Plus" Big Band, Dave Kennedy Orchestra, The Bill Sargent Big Band featuring The Rodo Sisters, Steve Swedish Orchestra, Jerry Blake Orchestra, Dick Strauss Orchestra, UWM Jazz Ensemble, Air Command Orchestra, Airmen Of Swing, Chuck Howard, Grant Krueger, Tod Konrad Orchestra , Dennis Oliver's Madison Jazz Orchestra & The Ray Neuman Big Band.

Jazz & Swing Standards artists: Chuck Hedges Swing Quartet, The Swingin' Jumpcats, Mr. Lucky Swing Orchestra, The Swingin' Kools, Karolyn Kafer, Jeff Pietrangelo, Jesse Hauck, Jackie Allen, Ken Kilian Swingtet, Tommy Sheridan, Warren Wiegratz, Jack Grassel, Don Chesebro Quartet, Brad Pregeant, Ellen Winters, Doug Hayes, Chelsea Krombach, Ann Denison, Harold Miller, Anita Stemper, Richard Crabtree, Jill Jensen, Dan Dance, Conrad Johns, Mark Davis, Frank Puzzullo, Skip Crumby-Bey, Dean Lea, Billy Johnson, Manty Ellis, Catalin Rotaru, Larry Lange, Jack Hannah, The Dick Eliot Trio, Merv Harding, Mike Drake, Gary Christensen, Duane Sturmer, Don Momblow, George Prichett, Frank Vlasis, Jeff Hamann, Curt Hanrahan, Pat Crawford/Dave Braun Combo, David Hughlett, Sam Steffke, Hattish Alexander, Ray Tabs, Joey Cross, Jeff Stoll, Tom Baker, Harry Kozlowski, Kaye Berigan, Rudy Moroder, Mel Rhyne, Matt Buchman, Sam Kidd, Larry Moore, Paul Silbergleit, Tom McGirr, Nick Contorno, Jim Kishline, Jerry Grillo, Jackson Dordel, Ross Ingram, Diane McCarthy, Joan Seele, Ron DeVillers, Jimmy Johnson, Ed Doemland, Jimmy Hatzi, Bill Odden, Herbie Stark, Bob DeBlaey, Bill Martin, Guy Goodlad, Tom Sorce, Tom Newburg, Allan Johnson, Ken Accardi, Mike Plog, Ken Kilian, John Gibson, Gary Meisner, Mike Britz, Dave Sullivan, George Welland, Dennis Oliver, Dan Schneck, Jack Plovannich, Al Anderson, Tim Bell, Larry Tresp, Scott Van Domelen, Steve Lewandowski, Olu Sijuwade, Mike Sullivan, Jeff Chase, Bill Rose, Mitch Biba, Dennis Oliver, Ed Franks, Snoopy's Swingers, Frank Charles & The Downtowners.

Dixieland & Traditional artists: Doc DeHaven, Bill Sargent's Trad-Jazz Rousers Dixieland Band, The Bob Schulz & Bill Sargent Reunion Band, Six Friars & A Monk, Bill Sander's Basin Street Saloon Band, Mama Digdown's Brass Junction, Don Nedobeck's North Water Street Tavern Band, The Banjo Barons Ragtime Band, The Dixie Doodlers, Rev. Al Townsend, Sammy Armato, Bob Neighbor, Mike Carrell, Ron Martinson, Lee Burrows, Herb Draeger, The Cardinal Trio, Don Chesebro, Ralph Hutchinson, Gordy Lofgren, Hugh Allison, John Knurr, Martha Artis, Lois Whitlock, Dan Albrechtson, Rob Moore, Dave MacGregor, Gert Stemper, Marilyn Larson, Bill Sargent's Swing Kings, Jerry Krahn, Al Johnson, Dick "Doc" Westring & Jerry Steuber.

New Orleans Zydeco: John the Conqueroo

Blues and R&B artists: The Fabulous Feno & The Last Tranzaction Band, Chuck Might & The Bluescasters, Rick Holmes, Gary Huckleberry, Ron O's All-Star Band, Jasper Buchanan, Big Johnson & The Delta Thrusters, The Upsetters, Robert Allen Jr., Jim Kishline, Bill Stone, Sandman & The Repeat Offenders, The Blue Casuals, LB & The U-Turns, Stone Fingers, Big Tate & The Million Dollar Blues Band, Lee Gates, Glenn Davis, Howard Luedtke, Jakula Blues Band, Willie Higgins, Dave Rogers, Aaron Young & The Crowd Pleasers, Jimi Holsinger, Big Johnson & The Swing, Serious Jones, The Highlanders, The Sofa Kings, Baloozin', The Koenig Brothers & Paul Filipowicz.

Country artists: Sherwin Linton & The Cotton Kings, Hi-Lonesomes, High Country, Buffalo Nichols, Billy & June Spaulding, John Mehne & Big Irv Lampman.

Rock & Top 40 artists: Tom Green, Everyday People, Butterscotch & Milestone.

Bluegrass artists: Cork 'n Bottle string band & John Parrott.

Latin artists: Frankie Sabath & Frankie Martinez.

Christian artists: Brookfield Assembly of God Music Ministry, Larry Bach, The City Of Hope CD Project, Paul Ferrin, Keith & Kristyn Getty, LaMar Boschman, Hales Corners Lutheran Church Choir & Praise Team, The Drummers For Jesus Group, John 3:16, West Layton Assembly of God Praise Band, Hillside Fellowship, John Davis, Greg Lathe, Ed Trudeau, David Kaap, Fourgiven, Pastor Jon Lawson, Pastor Gaylord Lemke, Pastor Rick Moore, Pastor Marsha Headley, Bill Busch, Catherine Maceda, Benny Ramos, Aaron Wyler, Tommy Grewolf, Ben Burkee, Spirit and Truth, World Harvest Prayer Church, David Pitzo & The Sound of War Drums, Brookfield Assembly of God's Frontline Youth Choir (#1 in the Nation - 2003), Strings of Hope, The Messengers, One Heart, Tom Zovar, Kristi Northrup, Larry Hart,  Immanuel Lutheran Church Contemporary Praise Band and Parklawn Assembly Of God Praise Band.

Classical artists: The UWM Symphony, The UWM Wind Ensemble, Dr. James Latimer, The Cudworth Legion Post Band, Geoffrey Simon, Thomas Dvorak, The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Pavel Burda, Marvin Rabin, Richard Severing, Thomas Sandborn, Kenneth Caldwell, Richard Wolf, Tommy Schlueter, The Wisconsin Youth Symphony Percussion Ensemble, The UWM Percussion Ensemble & David Seiler.

Polka artists: Louis Bashell, The Justmann Band, Jeff Winard, Roman Hanes, Barbara Flanum (Barbara & The Karousels), Bill Stavatski, Hank Magayne, Johnny Persa, Concertina Millie, Chuck Berger, Don Grzanna, Brian Erickson, Harold Steinbach, Al Dykstra, John Krempasky, Wayne Thornton, Jim Vigue, The Salzburg Express, Karl's Country Dutchmen, The Swedish Culture Club, The Jolly HI-FI s& Jim Petrick.

Yodeler Kerry Christensen.

Comedian Skip Wagner.

Miscellaneous  The Milwaukee Bucks Band, Erock for Kids, The Shorewood Players, The Milwaukee Ethnic Band, Mayor Henry Maier, The Sunset Playhouse, The Modjeska First Rate Youth Theatre, The Heritage Christian School Pep Band, and on and on!!

 I currently serve in the Music Ministry at Brookfield Assembly of God.