Bill Slade was born September 10,
1946 in a small rural Georgia town. Hawkinsville is
located almost in the middle of the state about 25 miles
south east of Perry. He lived in town his first year
and then moved to the country on the farm where he still
lives in the house he grew up in. Bill is a product of
Pulaski County and is very proud of his home town. He
was educated in the Pulaski County school system where
he played first trumpet in Hawkinsville High School’s
first marching band. He retired from the Pulaski County
School system after 30 as a teacher, and administrator.
He received his Education Specialist Degree from Georgia
Southern University.
After retirement Bill re-acquainted
himself with his love of Bluegrass and Gospel Music. He
hooked up with a couple of friends (Larry and Gabe
Gattis) that played banjo and guitar and they talked him
into performing skits playing a washtub bass, that’s
right, a #3 washtub with a stick and a string. This
proved to be so much fun that a singer (Ginger Beecher)
was persuaded to join them. Ginger showed up with a
beautiful voice and a mandolin. The three real
musicians talked Bill into buying a “real” bass fiddle
and learn to play. Since then Jimmy Howard has joined
as bass singer and Dobro player. As they say the rest
is history. Bill married his high school sweetheart
Aleta and they have one son William. Bill is currently
working with the Department of Juvenile Justice working
with troubled youth.
Bill’s other interest include
offshore fishing, flats fishing, hunting, riding his
motorcycle and old car restoration. These have all
taken a backseat since the Gooseneck String Band was
formed.
Bill asks that you come see us
perform; he thinks you can have as good a time as the
band does.
