William Ackerman | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Will Ackerman |
| Born | (1949-11-16)November 16, 1949 (age 75) |
| Genres | New-age, jazz, pop[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record producer |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Windham Hill, Imaginary Road, Lifescapes |
| Website | williamackerman |
William Ackerman (born November 16, 1949) is an American guitarist and record producer who foundedWindham Hill Records.[1]
Ackerman was born in Germany. His adoptive father was a professor of English at Stanford University.[2] He grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attendedNorthfield Mount Hermon School in western Massachusetts. He returned to Palo Alto to study English and History atStanford University.
His life took a turn when he discovered he had a fondness for carpentry. He was five credits short of graduating when he left Stanford to work as an apprentice to a Norwegian boat builder. In 1972, he founded Windham Hill Builders in Palo Alto while playing music for Stanford theater productions and performing impromptu concerts in town.[3]
With money borrowed from friends, he recorded his first album,The Search for Turtle's Navel, later changed toIn Search of the Turtle's Navel, on his own label,Windham Hill Records in 1976. His second album,It Takes a Year, he released in 1977. Shortly thereafter, Will recorded and produced an album entitledTurning: Turning Back by his cousin, guitaristAlex De Grassi. This was followed byRobbie Basho whose music had inspired Ackerman for years. He left carpentry to pursue music full time in 1980. During that year, the label received national attention via the success of a piano album byGeorge Winston entitledAutumn. He then discovered guitaristMichael Hedges at a concert in Palo Alto and immediately signed him to the label. Other musicians in the catalog wereDarol Anger,Mike Marshall,Liz Story, and the bandShadowfax. In time the genre associated with Windham Hill was calledNew-age music.[4]
In 1982,A&M Records became Windham Hill's distributor. The label was selling millions of albums, and Ackerman became a wealthy man. Despite outward signs of success, he was diagnosed with depression. By 1984, Ackerman no longer wanted to run a large corporation. He left California for Vermont. He built Imaginary Road Studios inDummerston, Vermont and has continued to work as a producer.[4][5] The walls of his studio are covered in more than 20 Gold and Platinum records from US and overseas sales.
Grammy Awards
Zone Music Reporter Awards
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