Bill Meredith

"Close To the Edge"

William Stevens Meredith was born February 11, 1960 in Lake Worth, Florida. His first official writing assignments were for The Kaleidoscope at Twin Lakes High School (now Dreyfoos School for the Performing Arts) in West Palm Beach. After attending Palm Beach Community College (where he served as editor-in-chief for The Beachcomber) and the University of Florida, Meredith started simultaneous careers in journalism and music in the early 1980s.

Despite his degree in journalism, music provided more opportunities throughout the decade, starting with the group Out For Kicks (with his younger brother Ted Meredith, Esq., as soundman). As drummer/vocalist for rhythm-and-blues band Brookes Bros., Meredith opened for national touring acts like The Outlaws and Firefall before moving to Montreal and working with the successful Canadian band Big City. Management for New Jersey-based electronics company The Wiz followed, after which he relocated to South Florida in 1989 and resumed writing.

During the 1990s, both careers intertwined as Meredith performed with the bands Lite-N-Up, Jasplazma, Blatant Disregard (see Quick Links, referred to below as QL, in right-hand column) and Numb while writing for Modern Drummer (QL), iCE, City Link and Free Press magazines. In 1998, he joined renowned South Florida original act InHouse (opening for Ani DiFranco); in 1999, Meredith toured the North American Collegiate Association (NACA) circuit as a percussionist/vocalist with singer/songwriter Fran Snyder (QL). He currently plays percussion for the act Acoustic Remedy (QL).

Meredith started a still-standing association with the international jazz monthly JAZZIZ (QL) in 2000, working as an assistant editor from 2004 to 2006. He continues to write CD reviews and the magazine’s "On Disc" section, describing the music on the publication’s accompanying compilation CDs. In 2001, he was hired for the still-standing bi-weekly "Local Music" column in the Palm Beach Post (QL). He’s also been drummer for Big Brass Bed (a Bob Dylan tribute band led by former Greenwich Village folk star Rod MacDonald) since 2002, appearing on the group’s debut CD, A Few Dylan Songs (QL). His other recording credits include releases by Jason Colannino (QL), Friction Farm (QL), Black Finger (QL), Andy Stein (QL), Jasplazma, and NetheresQue; other publications include Heat Beat, Closer (QL), and the West Palm Tribune.

In 2006, Meredith opened for B.B. King during a tour with blues band The Hellhounds. Also in 2006, Meredith became a key feature story and reviews contributor to Maryland-based jazz magazine JazzTimes (QL) He’s currently at work on his first book, a children’s novel entitled The Ginger Mouse.

Meredith, who was recently accepted by the Author's Guild (QL) in New York City and also became a contributor to Harp, resides in Lake Worth, Florida with his wife Ginny, stepson Conor, dogs Ginger and Chuck (aka Tank or C.T.), and cat Ruby. Mrs. Meredith is a talented violinist with the duo Illumination, and Executive Director of Inspirit (QL), a South Florida-based nonprofit that takes musicians to perform for people in restricted environments like hospitals, pediatric wards, rehabilitation centers, shelters and retirement homes.