WILLIAM PITT

Biography

“What’s in a name?”asked Shakespeare’s Juliet.
“Who am I?” inquires Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Names…
At birth, I was tagged as William Frederick Pate. This was a bit long for everyone around me, so it became Billy, first of all, then some time later Bill, but as I didn’t like the economical implication of this name, I chose to be called Will (as in willpower), which for some became Willy - you know, to make me sound friendlier - then, finally, in order to satisfy international pronunciation needs, Sony CBS decided I best be called William Pitt.
Some of my Hindustani friends even call me Hari Om.
So there you go - who am I? And, I agree with Juliet :-)

To continue…
William PITT is the name that was given to what I consider as being one of many short-term “reincarnations” here on Earth. I have also been a dish-washer, waiter, maitre d’hotel and manager in diverse restaurants, a fresh fish delivery truck driver in Paris, a social worker in Geneva, a photo model all over the place, etc. The only “constant” identifying reference in this lifetime “of mine” has been MUSIC.

So…
I guess the whole thing got started in my fourth grade class with Mrs. Spalding in DesMoines, Washington. I was failing miserably in school until the day she revealed me as being a singer, and what do you know? That just tossed my life onto a new map. I was thereafter a good student. Then came Elvis, I got a guitar and there was no turning back - even though I tried a few times to be a “serious” person - MUSIC had found a home in me.

Nb. What inspired me to try writing/composing songs was Frank Sinatra’s interpretation of “When I was seventeen” (I think that’s what it was called). Can’t tell you why, there was just something about it that made me want to write a song.

Tag: singer songwritter