William Ledbetter is an aspiring musician who is deeply rooted in the blues. He has been playing music since the young age of 3. He began piano lessons while living in Washington D.C. These lessons were hindered by military relocation as his father served in the U.S. Army. In 2004, William and his family settled in Hampton, VA. When William entered middle School, he learned how to play the trumpet. He experimented with multiple instruments but soon found that the guitar was the instrument for him.
After a few years of playing the guitar and having studied with many great guitarist during his high school years, William made a name for himself in Hampton Roads area. He has been featured multiple times in the newspaper and has appeared on TV Broadcast on plenty occasions. He has travelled to Los Angeles, CA, Memphis, TN, and Chicago, IL, to name a few. He has had the opportunity to record on blues legend Eddie Shaw's 2012 album entitled Still Riding High. During his senior year in high school, William was granted the opportunity to open up the 47th Annual Hampton Jazz Festival with his Mentor Jackie Scott and her Blues band.
Originally intending to study engineering, William attended North Carolina A&T State University in the fall of 2014. While at A&T, William joined the Jazz ensemble under the direction of Mondre Moffett. Moffett needed an upright bass player for his ensemble and noticed how William would try playing the bass on his spare time. The following rehearsal as William entered the Jazz Ensemble room, Moffett told him to play bass from then on out. William had never played bass and at that time knew very little about the instrument, but over time he began to fall in love with it. He loved it so much that he concluded to purchasing his own bass. In the beginning of April 2016, William bought his first upright bass from Bob's Bass Violin Shop located in Greensboro, NC. After 2 years at A&T, William with the guidance by Moffett and the approval of his parents decided to Transfer to UNCG to Study Jazz. During the summer, he was accepted into the Miles Davis School of Jazz and began his studies in the fall semester of 2016. William currently studies under Steve Haines, director of the Miles Davis program and Jazz Bass principle instructor, and has made quick advances in his technique and performance. William continues to show his gratitude towards Moffett as he not only still plays for the A&T Jazz Ensemble, but Moffett's Quintet.
After a few years of playing the guitar and having studied with many great guitarist during his high school years, William made a name for himself in Hampton Roads area. He has been featured multiple times in the newspaper and has appeared on TV Broadcast on plenty occasions. He has travelled to Los Angeles, CA, Memphis, TN, and Chicago, IL, to name a few. He has had the opportunity to record on blues legend Eddie Shaw's 2012 album entitled Still Riding High. During his senior year in high school, William was granted the opportunity to open up the 47th Annual Hampton Jazz Festival with his Mentor Jackie Scott and her Blues band.
Originally intending to study engineering, William attended North Carolina A&T State University in the fall of 2014. While at A&T, William joined the Jazz ensemble under the direction of Mondre Moffett. Moffett needed an upright bass player for his ensemble and noticed how William would try playing the bass on his spare time. The following rehearsal as William entered the Jazz Ensemble room, Moffett told him to play bass from then on out. William had never played bass and at that time knew very little about the instrument, but over time he began to fall in love with it. He loved it so much that he concluded to purchasing his own bass. In the beginning of April 2016, William bought his first upright bass from Bob's Bass Violin Shop located in Greensboro, NC. After 2 years at A&T, William with the guidance by Moffett and the approval of his parents decided to Transfer to UNCG to Study Jazz. During the summer, he was accepted into the Miles Davis School of Jazz and began his studies in the fall semester of 2016. William currently studies under Steve Haines, director of the Miles Davis program and Jazz Bass principle instructor, and has made quick advances in his technique and performance. William continues to show his gratitude towards Moffett as he not only still plays for the A&T Jazz Ensemble, but Moffett's Quintet.