Bill Bois :: Writing

Musical Inventors

The Life and Legacy of Leo Fender - June 13, 2025
Paul Tutmarc – The Electric Bass Guitar - April 11, 2025
Les Paul, Part 1- Multitrack Recording - March 14, 2025
George Beauchamp - The Electric Guitar - January 31, 2025
J.W. Pepper – The Sousaphone - November 22, 2024
Edwin S. Votey - The Player Piano - November 15, 2024
Joshua C. Stoddard - The Calliope - November 01, 2024
Adolphe Sax - The Saxophone - October 25, 2024
Denner, Frichot, and Asté - Brass and Woodwinds - October 18, 2024
Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel and Johann Nepomuk Mälzel - The Metronome - October 04, 2024
Bartolomeo Cristofori - The Piano - September 27, 2024
Reginald Fessenden - Music On The Radio - September 13, 2024
Jean-Philippe Rameau - Music Theory - September 06, 2024
Emile Berliner - The Microphone - August 23, 2024
Thomas Edison - The Phonograph - August 16, 2024
Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville - Sound Recording - August 02, 2024
Guido d’Arezzo - Sheet Music - April 14, 2023

Music Theory For Non-Musicians, Series 6

What Makes Trip Hop Trip Hop? - June 28, 2024
What Makes Celtic Rock Celtic Rock? - June 21, 2024
What Makes Goth Goth? - May 31, 2024
What Makes Electroclash Electroclash? - May 10, 2024
What Makes Bubblegum Bubblegum? - May 03, 2024
What Makes Ambient and New Age Ambient and New Age? - April 26, 2024
What Makes Hard Rock Hard Rock? - April 19, 2024
What Makes Soft Rock Soft Rock? - April 05, 2024
What Makes Emo Emo? - March 22, 2024
What Makes Bluegrass Bluegrass? - Part 2 - March 15, 2024
What Makes Bluegrass Bluegrass? - Part 1 - March 08, 2024

Music Theory For Non-Musicians, Series 5

What Makes Holiday Music Holiday Music? - December 22, 2023
What Makes Bossa Nova Bossa Nova? - December 15, 2023
What Makes Postmodernism Postmodernism? - December 08, 2023
What Makes Modernism Modernism? - December 01, 2023
What Makes Hyperpop Hyperpop? - November 24, 2023
What Makes Western Swing Western Swing? - November 17, 2023
What Makes Swing Swing? Part 2 - November 10, 2023
What Makes Swing Swing? Part 1 - November 03, 2023
What Makes Trad Jazz Trad Jazz? - October 20, 2023
What Makes Romantic Music Romantic Music? - October 13, 2023
What Makes Cajun and Zydeco Cajun and Zydeco? - October 06, 2023
What Makes Doo-Wop Doo-Wop? - September 01, 2023
What Makes Crooning Crooning? - August 25, 2023
What Makes Barbershop Barbershop? - August 18, 2023
What Makes Opera Opera? Part 2 - August 11, 2023
What Makes Opera Opera? Part 1 - August 04, 2023
What Makes Funk Funk? - July 28, 2023

Music Theory For Non-Musicians, Series 4

What Makes K-Pop, K-Pop? Part 2 - June 23, 2023
What Makes Classical Classical? - June 16, 2023
What Makes K-Pop K-Pop? Part 1 - June 09, 2023
What Makes J-Pop J-Pop? - June 02, 2023
What Makes City Pop City Pop? - May 26, 2023
What Makes Polka Polka? - May 19, 2023
What Makes Ragtime Ragtime? - May 12, 2023
What Makes Calypso Calypso? - May 05, 2023
What Makes Nu-Metal, Nu-Metal? - April 28, 2023
What Makes Baroque Baroque? - April 21, 2023

Music Theory For Non-Musicians, Series 3

What Makes Britpop Britpop? - March 17, 2023
What Makes Grunge Grunge? - March 10, 2023
What Makes Hip Hop Hip Hop? Part 2 - March 03, 2023
What Makes Hip Hop Hip Hop? Part 1 - February 24, 2023
What Makes New Wave New Wave? - February 10, 2023
What Makes Punk Punk? Part 2 - February 03, 2023
What Makes Punk Punk? Part 1 - January 27, 2023
What Makes Heavy Metal Heavy Metal? Part 3 - January 20, 2023
What Makes Heavy Metal Heavy Metal? Part 2 - January 13, 2023
What Makes Heavy Metal Heavy Metal? Part 1 - January 06, 2023
What Makes Disco Disco? Part 2 - December 23, 2022
What Makes Disco Disco? Part 1 - December 16, 2022
What Makes Prog Prog? - December 09, 2022
What Makes Psychedelia Psychedelia? Part 2 - December 02, 2022
What Makes Psychedelia Psychedelia? Part 1 - November 25, 2022
What Makes Folk Folk? - November 18, 2022

Music Theory For Non-Musicians, Series 2

What Makes Reggae Reggae? - October 28, 2022
What Makes Ska Ska? - October 21, 2022
What Makes Electronic Music Electronic Music? - October 14, 2022
What Makes Soul Soul? - October 07, 2022
What Makes Gospel Gospel? - September 30, 2022
What Makes Easy Listening Easy Listening? - September 23, 2022
What Makes Rock & Roll Rock & Roll? - September 16, 2022
What Makes Jazz Jazz? - September 09, 2022
What Makes Country Country? - September 02, 2022
What Makes The Blues The Blues? - August 26, 2022

Music Theory For Non-Musicians, Series 1

The Beat Goes On - July 29, 2022
Pet Sounds - July 22, 2022
I Saw The Sign - July 15, 2022
Baby Don't Forget My Number - July 08, 2022
Unchained Melody - July 01, 2022
Major and Minor - June 24, 2022
Anyone Can Play Guitar - June 10, 2022
I've Got The World On A String - June 03, 2022
Happy Together - May 27, 2022
Brand New Key - May 20, 2022
Every Little Step - May 13, 2022
Rubberband Man - May 06, 2022
Beat It - April 29, 2022

History

From Dr. Down to Devo: The Historical & Artistic Context Behind “Mongoloid” - February 06, 2026
The Dark Side of Music Row: Untangling the Cash Box Murder Mystery - December 12, 2025
The Singing Revolution: How Music Helped A Country Gain Its Independence - November 14, 2025
The Girls Who Beat the Germans: How Chalk, War Games, and Wit Helped Win the Battle of the Atlantic - October 31, 2025
An Absurd Idea, Shallow Waters, And Deep Trouble: The 1978 Failed Nashville Underwater Jewelry Heist - June 06, 2025
The Dwarves Of Wroclaw - April 18, 2025
The Black Cone Monument to Civil Disobedience - March 06, 2025
The King’s Daughter’s Daughter and Jacques Boÿ - December 13, 2024
Baska Murmanska: The Polar Bear Mascot of the Polish Army - August 07, 2024
What You Never Knew About O, Canada! - February 21, 2024

Reviews

Movie Review: EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert - March 06, 2026
Documentary Review: "Man On The Run": McCartney, Wings, and Life After The Beatles - February 27, 2026
Movie Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - November 07, 2025
Concert Review: The Who’s "The Song Is Over" Tour - August 21, 2025
Concert Reviews: Jason Bonham And Ex-TC – A Tale of Two Tribute Acts - May 23, 2025
Concert Review: Peat and Diesel: Celtic Punk Rock from Scotland’s Western Isles - May 12, 2025
Movie Review: A Complete Unknown - February 20, 2025
Movie Review: Becoming Led Zeppelin - February 13, 2025
Concert Review: Ringo & Friends at the Ryman - January 24, 2025
Movie Review: Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour - October 27, 2023
Concert Review: Ministry / The Melvins / Corrosion Of Conformity - March 22, 2022

Profiles

Edith Bolling Wilson: The First Lady Who Quietly Redefined Presidential Power - January 02, 2026
The Road Before And After “(Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay” - December 19, 2025
From “Jet Airliner” to Tuvan Earthquake: The Astonishing Journey of Paul Pena - December 05, 2025
Richard Feynman: The Brilliant Physicist Who Made Science Sing - November 28, 2025
Joey Ramone: American Heartthrob - October 24, 2025
The Beat Girl: Brigitte Bond and the Untold Story of A Ska Icon - August 15, 2025
A Legacy of Psychobilly Love: Lux, Ivy, And The Cramps - August 01, 2025
From EMI Engineer to Unlikely Pop Star: The Norman “Hurricane” Smith Story - July 11, 2025
Two American Women In London; Two Stories: Chrissie Hynde And Holly Beth Vincent - July 03, 2025
A Punk Nonconformist Who Never Sold Out: Remembering Wendy O. Williams - June 20, 2025

Miscellaneous

We Hear With Our Eyes: Angine de Poitrine and The Visual Component Of Music - March 14, 2026
US State Songs Explained: The Surprising Stories Behind America’s Official Anthems - February 20, 2026
From Crustaceans to Microbes: The Weirdest Official US State Symbols - February 13, 2026
The All-Time Top Ten Jukebox Songs (And Why the Data Is a Mess) - January 30, 2026
How Music Scenes Really Work: The Faces, London Blues, and the Accidental Genius of Community - January 23, 2026
When Your Brain Rings the Doorbell At 4:15AM: Exploding Head Syndrome Explained - January 16, 2026
Not the Beatles: Klaatu, The Masked Marauders, and a Short History of Mistaken 70’s Identity - January 09, 2026
A Tale Of TubaChristmas: The Accidental Holiday Ritual That Put The Low-End Brass Front and Center - December 23, 2025
May You Live (And Have Hope) In Interesting Times - October 17, 2025
The Longest Gaps Between Album Releases – Part 2 - October 10, 2025
The Longest Gaps Between Album Releases – Part 1 - October 03, 2025
“Turning Japanese” Exposed: The Real Truth About The Vapors’ Biggest Song - September 26, 2025
Save It For Later: The English Beat’s Accidental DADAAD Classic - September 19, 2025
Music and Fragrance: The Forgotten Multisensory Experience of Baroque Concerts - September 05, 2025
The Story Of Alan R. Moon And The Rise Of "Ticket to Ride" - August 29, 2025
Horses, Hooch, and Hearsay: The Surprising Origin of the Word “Cocktail” - July 25, 2025
A Fun Reboot For America’s Pastime: How the Savannah Bananas Are Changing Baseball - July 18, 2025
Strawberries and… Noodles? The Unexpected Polish Comfort Food You’ll Love - June 27, 2025
“Guys Are Not Proud”: The Anemic Boyfriends: Remembering A Regional Cult Hit - May 30, 2025
Lost Luggage, Good Friends, and Hidden Emerald Isle Gems: Our Iceland-Ireland Adventure - May 16, 2025
Meanwhile, On The Punk Side Of Town: Peel, Hooley, and The Undertones’ “Teenage Kicks” - May 02, 2025
Photo Essay: The 2025 Amigo Guitar Show - April 04, 2025
Don’t Do What Don’t Work: How To Be Happy In 2025 - March 28, 2025
Super Rock Hits - August 30, 2024
Photo Essay: The 2024 Amigo Guitar Show - March 27, 2024
The Era Of Rinse And Repeat - March 01, 2024
The Music vs. The Merch - February 16, 2024
Reacting To The Reactionaries - A Collection of YouTube Music "Reaction" Reviewers - January 19, 2024
Hassha Merodii: Japan's Train Departure Music - January 10, 2024
Plans Have A Way Of Changing - July 21, 2023
A Last Minute Gig - February 17, 2023
The Same Procedure As Last Year - December 29, 2022
Photo Essay: My G.A.S. Collection - July 05, 2022
That One Note - April 19, 2022
Photo Essay: The Amigo Nashville Guitar Show - April 05, 2022
My Boomerang Bass - March 29, 2022
Your First Time? - March 13, 2022