William Fitzsimmons is an Illinois- (formerly Pennsylvania) based singer-songwriter. Fitzsimmons is perhaps best known for his songs “Passion Play” and “Please Don’t Go,” which aired during pivotal scenes in ABC’s medical drama Grey’s Anatomy and award-winning daytime drama General Hospital, respectively. His first two full-length albums, “Until When We Are Ghosts” (2005) and “Goodnight” (2006) were completely self-produced and recorded by William at his former home in Pittsburgh, PA. Fitzsimmons’ most recent effort, 2008’s “The Sparrow And The Crow” was his first studio record, and debuted impressively at #2 on the iTunes Top Folk Albums chart, and #56 on the iTunes Top Albums chart. In addition to the above, his music has also been featured on MTV’s Life of Ryan, CW’s One Tree Hill, and Lifetime’s Army Wives, and he has been given reference in the music publications Billboard (magazine), Paste, Spin, and Performing Songwriter Magazine. Fitzsimmons was born the youngest child of two blind parents, and was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is said to have developed his multiple instrument abilities from his mother and father, both of whom were recreational musicians. His childhood home even housed a fully functional pipe organ, said to have been built by hand by his father. He was taught the piano and trombone during elementary school, and began teaching himself guitar during his Jr. High years. He is also proficient at the banjo, melodica, ukulele, and mandolin, and is known for mixing folk music with electronica in some of his production. In addition to performance abilities, Fitzsimmons is credited as the engineer and producer of his first two releases. He is often compared to contemporaries Iron & Wine, Sufjan Stevens, and the late Elliott Smith. William’s career in music came only after completing a Master’s Degree in counseling at Geneva College, and working as a mental health therapist. Prior to his graduate studies, Fitzsimmons worked with the mentally ill for several years. It was during a summer break in the midst of graduate school that Fitzsimmons recorded a collection of songs on home recording equipment which would subsequently become his debut album. Fitzsimmons’ writing often includes reference to personal and family subject matter. His 2006 effort, “Goodnight”’, is said to have been based largely on his parents’ divorce during his adolescence, and his most recent work, “The Sparrow And The Crow,” was written entirely about and following his own divorce. Fitzsimmons’ music became noticed largely through Myspace, the popular, internet social networking site, and touring with fellow artists Ingrid Michaelson and Cary Brothers, among others, and from several featured song placements on popular national television programs such as Grey’s Anatomy. William currently lives in Jacksonville, Illinois and is currently touring the United States and Europe.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 16:10:45 +0000
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