Marc Atkinson - Bill Mando

Birthday: November 24

Musically speaking, Marc could be called the wise older brother in the Bills' family. He continually infuses the band with his focused musical energy, he was largely responsible for facilitating the musical awakenings of both Paul and Chris (Bill Banjo and Bill Guitar) when they were his guitar students, and he has been a continual source of sage professional perspective since the day the Bills became a band. He also likes to sit back and tell tales and jokes over a good, cold, beer.

His musical roots are strong, having been raised by two deeply gifted, piano teaching parents. From Quadra Island, B.C., to the Jazz Program at Malaspina College, to his succesful projects Loose Gypsies and Loose, Marc has built up a vast musical knowledge that he never tires of adding to. Hence, the mandolin and The Bills. With the Bills he displays his newfound virtuosity on the mando, sings backup on nearly every vocal tune, and, as in the case of their long-term recording project (which resulted in the first self-titled CD), he produces recordings.

When not playing with the Bills he can be found with a guitar in hand, playing jazz, rock, and just about everything else. He leads the Marc Atkinson Trio, a gypsy-jazz project that has toured major Canadian Jazz Festivals several times. Marc can also be heard on CD and on stage with Canada's Mae Moore and a host of other pop, folk, and jazz artists.

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