Brother Of John McEuen Passes Away in Kona, Hawaii
William Eugene McEuen (aka ‘Bill’), 79, passed away on Thursday, September 24. In a message on Facebook, his brother, John McEuen, made the announcement, writing, “It is with tremendous sorrow that I share news that my brother William Bill Eugene McEuen (aka Bill) has passed away in Kona, Hawaii – a place he loved.”
William Eugene (Bill) McEuen was an Artist Manager, Record Producer, Television Producer and Film Producer (Aspen Film Society) and studio owner (Aspen Recording Society).
William E. worked with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (records, TV, movies), Steve Martin (records, TV, movies), Pee Wee Herman (records, TV, movies), Steve Landesburg (records), Starwood (records), Louisiana’s Le Roux (records), Robert Schimmel (records, TV), The Sunshine Company (records, TV), Merrell Fankhauser (records), the early Allman Brothers (as The Hourglass – records), his brother John (records, film scores, TV,) and several other acts in show business.
As a songwriter and guitarist, he was musical mentor to his five-year younger brother, teaching John guitar when he was 17, guiding his career in the ensuing years. Bill came up with those magic chords to John’s signature song, “Dismal Swamp.” With Bill’s stewardship, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band would take stages worldwide – “they made music history together”… thanks to him.
Produced by William, the NGDB’s Will the Circle Be Unbroken album (created by Bill in 1971) is in the Library of Congress and Grammy Hall of Fame, plus the NGDB’s “Mr. Bojangles” (also in Grammy Hall of Fame) alone would have been enough of an accomplishment for some producers other than Bill. (Episode Six of the PBS Ken Burns documentary Country Music was titled Will the Circle Be Unbroken. (John closed that episode’s last 25 minutes with Bill’s photos and the story of the Circle album has been #1-4 on three Amazon charts since September of 2019.)
But film called Bill, and with Steve Martin’s The Jerk and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (two of nine films produced by Bill for his company, Aspen Film Society), comedy movies were never the same. Martin’s four albums (produced/recorded live by Bill) would do 10 million units and change the comedy world also. His production of Martin’s iconic King Tut sold nearly two million units, hitting Billboard’s #2 spot.
Bill ‘made the deal’ for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band being the first American Band to go to Russia in 1977, where they did 28 shows.
William E. was mentor to many who continue in show business doing great things.
He leaves behind his lovely wife and business partner Alice of 58+ years (Alice did the calligraphy on the Circle album); brother John, and a bunch of singing, laughing and people dancing with happy feet who loved what he brought them.
“Bill,” aka William E. McEuen, has left the building.
For a complete list of McEuen’s credits please go to https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568530/ or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._McEuen