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Bill Bentley

Columnist, TMR

Covering Bentley's Bandstand

Bill Bentley
Bill Bentley got his first drum set in 1965 and still has it. He's been a deejay, record store clerk, publicist, writer, concert promoter, record producer and a&r director, sometimes all at once. He's worked at KUT-FM, Austin City Limits, L.A. Weekly, Slash Records, Warner Bros. Records and Vanguard Records. He still plays drums, and his most recent writing position was at aarp.org. Yikes. He also has a fondness for producing tribute albums, and has done them for Roky Erickson, Skip Spence, Sir Doug Sahm, and Lou Reed. More to come.


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Articles From Bill Bentley
Wednesday May 8, 2019 15:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley covers a batch of new must-hear releases, including works by Greg Antista and the Lonely Streets, Simba Baumgartner, Marty Brown, Willie Farmer, Nils Lofgren, and more!
Tuesday Apr 9, 2019 00:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley shares his enthusiasm for ten new releases, including music by Luther Dickinson and Sisters of the Strawberry Moon, Steve Earle & The Dukes, Kelly Hafner, Durand Jones and the Indications, Professor Longhair, Jimbo Mathus, Peter Rogan, Mavis Staples, Townes Van Zandt, and Yola.
Monday Mar 11, 2019 45:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews 11 exemplary new releases, including music by Gary Clark, Jr., Trisha Yearwood, Grateful Dead, and much more!
Tuesday Feb 12, 2019 40:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley has reviewed a whole slew of new releases, including a graphic biography about the Apollo Theatre, an anthology of tunes released by New Orleans' Ric and Ron record labels, albums by Melody Guy, Marley's Ghost, Don Stevenson, and more!
Thursday Jan 10, 2019 00:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley kicks of the new year with a full slate of terrific new releases by JD Allen, James Booker, Austin Brookner, Charlie Faye, John Hiatt, John Kilzer, Bryan Lee, and more!
Sunday Dec 23, 2018 35:00 PM ET
As is his tradition when recapping the very best in music for the closing year, Bill Bentley is back with another batch of specially-crafted haiku reviews.
Monday Dec 17, 2018 10:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley spotlights a slew of top-notch new releases—including the 50th anniversary edition of the Beatles' 'White Album,' plus new music by Charles Bradley, Van Morrison, Graham Parker, and much more!
Tuesday Nov 13, 2018 40:00 PM ET
Ten exciting new releases are covered by music industry veteran Bill Bentley, including Bottle Rockets, Doyle Bramhall II, Erin Costelo, Elvis Costello, and much more!
Wednesday Oct 3, 2018 50:00 PM ET
Music industry vet Bill Bentley is back with reviews of unmissable new releases! This month features Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, Alejandro Escovedo, Jose James, Willie Nelson, and a whole lot more!
Friday Sep 7, 2018 15:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley shares his thoughts on a new batch of releases by a diverse group of artists, including: Mandy Barnett, Ray Bonneville, Shemekia Copeland, Steve Forbert, Mike Farris, and more!
Tuesday Aug 7, 2018 10:00 AM ET
Elvin Bishop's Big Fun Trio, Rodney Crowell, Trudy Lynn, previously-unreleased John Coltrane, a Grateful Dead reissue — all this and much more in music industry veteran Bill Bentley's latest Bandstand!
Friday Jul 20, 2018 45:00 PM ET
Concise, poetic reviews as only music industry veteran Bill Bentley can do! A new batch of haiku to mark the best of 2018 at the halfway point.
Tuesday Jul 10, 2018 55:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley brings us reviews of a dozen new releases, including exciting new music by Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck, Rory Block, Kinky Friedman, Charles Lloyd, Kathy and the Kilowatts, and more!
Friday Jun 8, 2018 40:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews ten new releases, plus a Song of the Month! Artists covered include Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Nicki Bluhm, Julie Christensen, Lamont Dozier, Barry Goldberg, Shakey Graves, Beth McKee, Billy Price, Sons of Kemet, Leo "Bud" Welch, and John Wesley Harding.
Friday Jun 1, 2018 35:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley sat down to learn more about the life and work of Concord Music Group marketing team member—and all-around music lover—Gulce Turek.
Monday May 21, 2018 40:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley is continues his innovative reissue review method: a crystalline haiku conveys his enthusiasm for music by Eric Andersen, Joseph Arthur, Sandy Bull, The Grateful Dead, Lou Reed, and much more.
Tuesday May 8, 2018 25:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley has another ten recent releases that come highly recommended! New music by Ry Cooder, Kat Edmonson, The Electric Flag, Bill Frisell, George Jones, Van Morrison & Joey DeFrancesco, John Prine, Professor Longhair, Kid Ramos, and Walter Wolfman Washington.
Saturday Apr 7, 2018 35:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley returns with another full slate of new and recent releases that are definitely worth your attention—including Marcia Ball, The Claudettes, Joachim Cooder, Betty LaVette, Reggie Young, and more!
Monday Mar 12, 2018 20:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews 11 exemplary new releases, including music by David Byrne, Big Shoes, Sue Foley, Grant-Lee Phillips, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Powell St. John, Chris Smither, and Stephane Wrembel—plus a concert video by Van Morrison and vinyl box set from The Velvet Underground!
Thursday Feb 8, 2018 15:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews ten highly recommended new albums by diverse artists including Bing & Ruth, Calexico, Anderson East, Jeffrey Gaines, Janiva Magness, David K. Matthews, John McCutcheon, Ron Nagle, and lynn taylor and the BarFlies.
Wednesday Jan 10, 2018 05:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley celebrates the start of a new year with ten highly recommend releases. Artists reviewed this month include: Nona Hendryx and Gary Lucas, The Lone Below, Abe Partridge, Ella Fitzgerald, and more!
Saturday Dec 30, 2017 35:00 AM ET
From music industry veteran Bill Bentley comes a unique and innovative reissue review roundup! Twenty-one reissued albums and one reprinted book are assessed in haiku form. A bit of poetry to close out 2017.
Tuesday Dec 19, 2017 30:00 PM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley rounds up the very best in music releases from the second half of 2017!
Wednesday Dec 6, 2017 20:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews ten new releases including work by Peter Bernstein, Bob Dylan, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Gregory Porter, Tuomo & Markus, Imelda May, The Palandins, and Van Morrison.
Friday Nov 3, 2017 15:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews ten stellar new releases including albums by The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bill Carter, Robert Francis, Bette Smith, a biography of Kinky Friedman, and more!
Friday Oct 6, 2017 00:00 AM ET
Lots of great new releases reviewed by music industry veteran Bill Bentley, including Amadou and Miriam, The Americans, Chris Hillman, The Flamin' Groovies, Joan Osborne, Van Morrison, and more—also Anthony DeCurtis' Lou Reed biography.
Wednesday Aug 30, 2017 40:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley heartily recommends 11 new releases, including a biography of Al Green, an Elvis Presley retrospective, and albums by Nicole Atkins, The War on Drugs, Zeshan B, and more!
Monday Aug 7, 2017 40:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley has another roster of right-on releases! This month includes new music by Lynn Castle, Slaid Cleaves, Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm, A.J. Croce, and much more!
Tuesday Jul 11, 2017 20:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley recommends ten releases, including new music by Rose Cousins, Jim Lauderdale, Peter Lewis, Joe Medwick, Willie Nile, Oumou Sangaré, The Secret Sisters, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, plus an Arthur Alexander reissue and Dan Hicks' memoir.
Thursday Jun 29, 2017 20:00 AM ET
Mid-way through 2017, music industry veteran Bill Bentley chooses his favorite releases so far - including Pieta Brown, Father John Misty, Diana Krall, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and more!
Monday Jun 12, 2017 00:00 AM ET
Ten exemplary new releases reviewed by music industry veteran Bill Bentley. This month: Dan Auerbach, Selwyn Birchwood, Benjamin Booker, Don Bryant, Dion, Dustbowl Revival, Diana Krall, North Mississippi Allstars, David Olney, and more.
Friday May 5, 2017 30:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews ten eclectic new releases. Included this month: Amy Black, The Bluebonnets, BoDeans, Garland Jeffreys, The Chaz Lipp Groove Tripp, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Texas Mavericks, John Mellencamp featuring Carlene Carter, Red Young & His Hot Horns, and a Jean-Jacques Perrey reissue.
Thursday Apr 6, 2017 10:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley has reviewed ten new releases well worth your time, including The Wild Reeds, Pieta Brown, The Mavericks, Scott Nolan, a book by Holger Petersen - and much more!
Monday Mar 6, 2017 50:00 AM ET
Music industry vet Bill Bentley reviews ten excellent new releases, including music by Seela, Gary Clark Jr., Cindy Lee Berryhill, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, and more!
Monday Feb 13, 2017 40:00 AM ET
Ten new releases are reviewed by music industry veteran Bill Bentley, including great work by Shinyribs, Delbert McClinton, Silas Lowe, Jimmer, Ruthie Foster, Bash & Pop, a new book about Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and more!
Monday Jan 9, 2017 10:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews new releases by Brian Eno, Jane Siberry, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Dennis Coffey, Jude Johnstone, a tribute to Eleni Mandell, and more!
Friday Dec 23, 2016 40:00 PM ET
Bill Bentley wraps up 2016 with the second half of his 'best of,' including The Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, Alejandro Escovedo, Solange, Van Morrison, Wilco, and more!
Monday Dec 12, 2016 15:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews new releases by Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Rumer, Trudy Lynn, The Rolling Stones, Sophia Johnson, Creole String Beans, Murali Coryell, Harvey Mandel, Don Rich and the Buckeroos, and more!
Friday Nov 4, 2016 35:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews new releases by Julie Rhodes, Dale Watson, The Lemon Twigs, Dawes, and more - including a new book that explores the 'Anatomy of a Song.'
Friday Oct 7, 2016 30:00 AM ET
Music industry vet Bill Bentley is back with reviews of ten great new releases, including Dwight Yoakam, Van Morrison, Daniel Foose, David Halley, Gregory Porter, Trip Trio, Nick Waterhouse, and more!
Thursday Sep 1, 2016 15:00 AM ET
Bill Bentley shines a spotlight on new releases by Wilco, New Orleans Suspect, Duke Levine, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, a Michael Bloomfield biography, and much more!
Friday Aug 5, 2016 10:00 AM ET
Music industry vet Bill Bentley delivers the good word on ten new releases, including Hayes Carll, Robert Ellis, MIchael Kiwanuka, and more!
Friday Jul 1, 2016 50:00 AM ET
Back with another ten reviews of new releases, it's music industry vet Bill Bentley! This month Bill discusses Joseph Arthur, The Evenfall Quartet, Andre Williams, Laura Mvula, Mudcrutch, and more.
Tuesday Jun 21, 2016 20:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley looks back at the first half of 2016, shining a spotlight on his favorite releases.
Tuesday Jun 7, 2016 10:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley reviews ten exciting new releases, including albums by Eric Clapton, William Bell, Charlie Faye & the Fayettes, Dr. Lonnie Smith, The MnMs, and more!
Thursday May 5, 2016 05:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley on recent releases by The Bo-Keys, The Bones of J.R. Jones, John Doe, Brian Eno, The Mike Eldred Trio, Michael Fracasso, Golden State Lone Star Blues Revue, MIchael McDermott, The Suffers, and Them.
Friday Apr 1, 2016 00:00 AM ET
Ten exciting recent releases reviewed by music industry veteran Bill Bentley, including: Brian Cullman, Kent Finlay, Skylar Gudasz, Dylan LeBlanc, Janiva Magness, Lukas Nelson, Grant-Lee Phillips, Margo Price, Sarah Vaughan, and a tribute to Blind Willie Johnson.
Thursday Mar 3, 2016 45:00 AM ET
Ten new reviews courtesy of music industry vet Bill Bentley! An Elvis Costello concert video, a book about The Replacements, plus new releases by Lake Street Dive, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, and more!
Friday Feb 5, 2016 45:00 AM ET
Don't miss the latest music reviews by veteran journalist Bill Bentley. This month includes Sandy Carroll, Korey Dane, Dion, The I Don't Cares, Los Jazz Vatos, Sidestepper, and more!
Friday Jan 22, 2016 05:00 AM ET
Music industry veteran Bill Bentley selects the very best reissues of 2015. There are no less than 25 reviews - from Lou Reed to James Booker, Danny Lile to the Muffs. Definitely something here for everyone!

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