William A. Bottrell (born October 27, 1952) is an American record producer and songwriter. He has collaborated with

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

, Madonna, Electric Light Orchestra and Sheryl Crow.

Biography

Between 1967 and 1970, Bottrell attended Crescenta Valley Senior High in La Crescenta, California, he spent his junior year (1968–1969) at The Frankfurt International School in Oberursel, West Germany. He graduated in 1970 from Crescenta Valley Senior High. He attended the

University of California, Santa Barbara The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a public land-grant research university in Santa Barbara, California with 23,196 undergraduates and 2,983 graduate students enrolled in 2021–2022. It is part of the U ...

between 1970 and 1972, studying for a bachelor's degree in Music. In 1974, he married Elizabeth Jordan, whom he met in high school. That same year, Bottrell got his first job in music, as an engineer at California Recording Studio in Hollywood. In 1978, he moved over to Soundcastle Studios in Silverlake, where he met

Jeff Lynne Jeffrey Lynne (born 30 December 1947) is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder of the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), which was formed in 1970. As a songwriter, he has cont ...

, who eventually hired him to engineer for ELO. In 1979 his daughter Adrianne was born. The 1980s were spent freelance engineering between

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

and

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

, with clients including: The Jacksons, ELO,

, Madonna, George Harrison, Starship and Tom Petty. Daughter Laura was born in 1983. He worked for Michael Jackson at his house in Encino between 1983 and 1986, recording tracks for '' Bad''. In 1988, Bottrell co-produced his first record, '' Aliens Ate My Buick'' by Thomas Dolby. In 1989, Michael Jackson asked him to co-produce, engineer and write songs for his album '' Dangerous'', co-writing and rapping on the album's biggest hit, "

Black or White "Black or White" is a single by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1991, as the first single from Jackson's eighth studio album, '' Dangerous'' (1991). Jackson wrote, composed, and produced it w ...

". The song spent 7 weeks at number one on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the fall of 1991. Bottrell's son William was born under difficult circumstances in 1990. That year, Bottrell built his own recording studio, ''Toad Hall Studio'', next door to the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

in Pasadena, California and founded a weekly jam session called the "Tuesday Night Music Club". One of the resulting acts was Sheryl Crow, whose 1993 debut album (produced and co-written by Bottrell) was entitled ''

Tuesday Night Music Club ''Tuesday Night Music Club'' is the debut album from American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, released on August 3, 1993. The first two singles from the album were not particularly successful. However, the album gained attention after the success ...

''. Her single " All I Wanna Do" from that album won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 37th Annual awards in 1994 for Bottrell and Crow. The album won two additional Grammys and sold 3.8 million in the US. Bottrell was nominated for another Grammy for his work on

Shelby Lynne Shelby Lynne (born Shelby Lynn Moorer, October 22, 1968) is an American singer and songwriter and the older sister of singer-songwriter Allison Moorer. The success of her pop rock album '' I Am Shelby Lynne'' (1999) led to her winning the Grammy ...

's 1999 breakout album, '' I Am Shelby Lynne''. During the making of that album, he closed his recording studio and moved his family of five to Northern California. His son William died after falling off a cliff in 1998. He was separated from Elizabeth that year and divorced in 2000. He has also worked with many other artists, including

David Baerwald David Francis Baerwald (born July 11, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and musician. Career Baerwald first came to prominence in 1986 as one half of the duo David & David, with David Ricketts. David and David's sole album, ' ...

Alisha's Attic Alisha's Attic were an English pop duo of the 1990s and early 2000s. The two members were sisters Shelly McErlaine (born Poole) and Karen Poole, born in Barking and Chadwell Heath respectively. Their father is Brian Poole of 1960s group Brian ...

Five for Fighting Vladimir John Ondrasik III (born January 7, 1965), also known by his stage name Five for Fighting, is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. He is best known for his piano-based soft rock ballads, such as the top 40 hits " Superman (It's No ...

Rosanne Cash Rosanne Cash (born May 24, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter and author. She is the eldest daughter of country musician Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto Cash Distin, Johnny Cash's first wife. Although she is often classified as a country art ...

Lisa Germano Lisa Ruth Germano (born June 27, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Indiana. Her album '' Geek the Girl'' (1994) was chosen as a top album of the 1990s by ''Spin'' magazine. She began her career as a violinist ...

, Kevin Gilbert, Jasun Martz, Tom Petty,

Rusted Root Rusted Root is an American worldbeat rock band formed in 1990 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by singer-guitarist Michael Glabicki (born January 21, 1971), bassist Patrick Norman and percussionist Liz Berlin. The band got its start as the house ba ...

, Ben Jelen, Toy Matinee an
Annie Stela
In 1999, Bottrell formed a group called The Stokemen. This group has become known around northern California for their cabaret-style shows.

Discography

*1981: '' Hold On Tight'' – Electric Light Orchestra *1983: '' Northbound'' – Northbound *1983: '' Secret Messages'' – Electric Light Orchestra *1984: ''

Victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitutes ...

'' – The Jacksons *1986: '' Balance of Power'' – Electric Light Orchestra *1987: '' Bad'' –

*1988: '' Aliens Ate My Buick'' – Thomas Dolby *1988: '' Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1'' –

Traveling Wilburys The Traveling Wilburys were a British-American supergroup consisting of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. Originating from an idea discussed by Harrison and Lynne during the sessions for Harrison's 1987 album ' ...

*1988: ''Streetwalker'' –

(released 2001) *1989: '' Like a Prayer'' – Madonna *1989: ''

Full Moon Fever ''Full Moon Fever'' is the debut solo studio album by Tom Petty, released on April 24, 1989, by MCA Records. It features contributions from members of his band the Heartbreakers, notably Mike Campbell, as well as Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison (who di ...

'' – Tom Petty *1989: ''Monkey Business'' –

(released 2004) *1990: '' I'm Breathless: Music from and Inspired by the Film Dick Tracy'' – Madonna *1990: '' Toy Matinee'' – Toy Matinee *1991: ''

Truth or Dare Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality.Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionarytruth 2005 In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs, ...

'' – Madonna *1991: '' Dangerous'' –

*1991: ''

Black Or White "Black or White" is a single by the American singer Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1991, as the first single from Jackson's eighth studio album, '' Dangerous'' (1991). Jackson wrote, composed, and produced it w ...

–

*1991: '' Give In To Me'' –

*1991: '' Who Is It'' –

*1991: ''No Soul No Strain'' –

Wire Train Wire Train was a San Francisco-based alternative rock band, who released six albums in the 1980s and 1990s. History The band was formed in 1983 by four students from San Francisco State University, Kevin Hunter, Kurt Herr, Frederico Gil-Sola, a ...

*1992: ''Triage'' –

*1993: ''

'' – Sheryl Crow *1994: '' When I Woke'' –

*1995: ''

Earth Song "Earth Song" is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Michael Jackson for his ninth studio album, '' HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I'' (1995). It was released on November 27, 1995, by Epic Records as the third ...

'' –

*1995: ''In Flight'' –

Linda Perry Linda Perry (born April 15, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She was the lead singer and primary songwriter of 4 Non Blondes, and has since founded two record labels and composed and produced hit songs for ...

*1997: ''Restless Heart'' – Tex Beaumont *1999: '' I Am Shelby Lynne'' –

*2000: ''Surrender'' – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers *2000: "For Real – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (Released in 2019) *2000: ''

The House We Built Alisha's Attic were an English Pop music, pop duo of the 1990s and early 2000s. The two members were sisters Shelly Poole, Shelly McErlaine (born Poole) and Karen Poole, born in Barking, London, Barking and Chadwell Heath respectively. Their fa ...

'' –

*2001: ''

Songs from the West Coast ''Songs from the West Coast'' is the twenty-sixth studio album by English musician Elton John, released worldwide on 1 October 2001. Background For this album, John once again collaborated with long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin, marking the fir ...

'' – Elton John *2000: ''Welcome to my Party'' –

*2002: ''Class of Dude'' – The Stokemen *2002: ''Rise'' –

Kim Richey Kimberly Richey (born December 1, 1956) is an American singer and songwriter. Career Kim Richey came onto the music scene in the 1990s and entered her first recording contract at the age of 37. Kim signed with Mercury Nashville. She spent the n ...

*2003: ''Free'' –

Luan Parle Luan Parle (pronounced Lu-on) is an Irish performing artist, songwriter, composer and producer. Parle won a Meteor Ireland Music Award for Best Irish Female and has written and recorded with songwriters and producers Bill Bottrell, Chris Kimse ...

*2004: ''Liam Titcomb'' – Liam Titcomb *2004: ''Benji Hughes'' – Benji Hughes (unreleased) *2004: '' The Battle for Everything'' –

*2005: ''Annie Stela'' – Annie Stela *2005: ''Sierra Swan'' – Sierra Swan *2005: '' Black Cadillac'' –

*2006: ''Save Me From Myself'' –

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...

*2006: '' Bird On A Wire'' –

Toby Lightman Toby Lightman is an American singer-songwriter. Her first album, ''Little Things (Toby Lightman album), Little Things'', was released in 2004 on Lava Records, Lava/Atlantic. Her second album, ''Bird on a Wire (Toby Lightman album), Bird on a Wi ...

*2006: ''On The Jungle Floor'' –

Van Hunt Van Hunt (born March 8, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He released his debut album, '' Van Hunt'', in 2004, and a follow-up, '' On the Jungle Floor'', in 2006, both on Capitol Records. He won t ...

*2007: '' Ex-Sensitive'' – Ben Jelen *2008: '' Detours'' – Sheryl Crow

References

External links

* *
Bill Bottrell Music MySpace

Bill Bottrell Unofficial Italian Website

Tuesday Night Music Club – Unofficial Italian Website (new version)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bottrell, Bill 1952 births Living people Songwriters from California Record producers from California Grammy Award winners University of California, Santa Barbara alumni