Bill Locklear (b. 1947) has composed at the professional, community, university and public school levels for over forty years including many commissioned works. Mr. Locklear was asked in 1993 to arrange music for the Atlanta Braves World Series homecoming party and in 1996 Mr. Locklear’s compositions were featured at the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. His music is published by TRN Music and Arrangers Publishing Company. Memberships include ASCAP, National Band Association, NAfME, Georgia Music Educators Association and Epsilon Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.


During his thirty-year music education career Mr. Locklear served at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He was twice named “S.T.A.R. Teacher” for the Effingham County school system and selected for “Who’s Who in Teaching” three times. He holds the Bachelor of Science in Education from Jacksonville State University and is a frequent guest conductor in the southeastern United States.


As a performer Mr. Locklear has appeared as a professional bassist for over five decades, appearing with such diverse entertainers as Bob Hope, Frankie Avalon, Frank Gorshen, Dick Shawn, Rita Moreno, Buddy Grecco, Rich Little, Carol Channing, Kate Smith, Kay Starr and jazz musicians Jerry Coker, Clark Terry, Joe Morello, Jimmy Heath, Tom Ferguson, Joe Jones and Slide Hampton. He is the conductor/music director for popular singer Curtis Reed and currently performs with the Clocktower Jazz Ensemble, the Cobb New Horizons Jazz Ensemble and leads his own jazz trio. Mr. Locklear resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with his wife and two children.

Thirty-two seasons ago, well-known band director and symphony conductor Jim Stokes placed an ad in the Times News inviting interested musicians to meet about starting a community band. He was hopeful that 12-15 people might show up. Over 50 people, instruments in hand, showed up and HCB was born! This celebration concert has twice been delayed by covid, so it is now our 32nd season, but our 30th celebration.
In commemoration of this special event, HCB commissioned Bill Locklear to arrange the piece, “Balm in Gilead,” which will be premiered at the concert Oct. 16. Locklear will conduct this new piece and some other works of his “Lullabye” and “A Praetorius Hymn.”
HCB long-time Music Director and Conductor, Winford Franklin, will be conducting the ever-exciting “Procession of the Nobles” (Rimsky-Korsakov), Selections from “Les Miserables” (arr. Warren Barker), “The Beatles: Echoes of an Era” (arr. John Higgins) as well as “Queen City Suite” (Charles Carter),  a three-movement composition representing life the Midwest.
HCB hopes you can join us for this special celebration concert on Sunday, October 16, 3:00 pm, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased in advance from The Hendersonville Visitors Information Center, Crate Wine Market in Laurel Park, or at the door. For more information call 828-713-8590. HCB especially invites all former members of the band and Charter Members to attend!