Bill Schustik

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American Troubadour Bill Schustick travels the highways and by-ways of the United States, sharing his unique insights into American history. In his concerts, he sings songs and tell stories, accompanying himself on a variety of instruments - Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Concertina, Dulcimer, bones, Jew's harp and Limberjack. His rich baritone voice mesmerizes audiences as he brings American history and lore to life through ballads, sea chanteys, folksongs, and tales.

Raised in Lewiston, New York, Bill launched his professional career at Nantucket's Straight Wharf Theatre in September 1967. He later became one of the original members of Pete Seeger's Hudson River Sloop Singers, appearing in folk festivals around the country. In 1976, he was chosen as the Official Chanteyman for "Operation Sail '76" by the President of the United States, Gerald Ford, when the tall ships sailed to celebrate the nation's bicentennial. In this capacity he performed hundreds of concerts nationwide and recorded Stormalong, the official album for the festivities.

His list of credits spans the Broadway stage to television. He appeared in the Broadway production of Billy and Off-Broadway in Love and Maple Syrup. At New York's Lincoln Center, he performed with Andre Kostelanetz. Mr. Schustick was also the narrator for Paths to Rebellion, a PBS-TV four-part musical documentary. From there, He went on to play a starring role in Canada's King 5 Television docu-drama Song for Louisa. American television audiences saw him perform some of his Civil War repertoire on the Ford's Theatre Tenth Anniversary Gala, that was televised by NBC.

Mr. Schustick wrote the book and score and collaborated with Edward Villella on the classical ballet Off to the Sea Once More for the New Jersey Ballet. Bill also wrote the book and score and starred in his own six-person cabaret show on the Civil War, titled Many Thousand Gone. The show opened April 8, 1984, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The gala opening was hosted by President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan and attended by many other prominent government officials. President Reagan was the third President for whom Schustick has performed.

Bill Schustick is a Renaissance man whose other talents include innovative costume designs, beautiful and whimsical pen and ink drawings, and delicate model ships. No matter how busy his schedule, he always manages to steal away each summer and fulfill his role as chanteyman aboard the 158-foot square-rigged topsail schooner, Shenandoah, which sails out of Vineyard's Haven on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

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