Open Door Management: Bill Traut: Biography

About Bill Traut
Bill Traut's music career has spanned six decades. He has been a musician, an arranger, a producer, a manager, a publisher, a label executive and an attorney. His career began in the 1940s as a saxophonist and arranger for several of the traveling big bands of the era. In the 1960s he began producing records and performing as a studio musician. Since that time he has produced hundreds of records in all genres, including rock, pop, folk, jazz, blues and country. Among his many credits he has produced Styx, American Breed, Nazz, Exile, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich and currently he’s co-producing Kurt Elling. As an executive he was President of Dunwich Records (rock classic “Gloria” by Shadows of Knight, Del-Vetts, Saturday’s Children, Knaves) and Dunwich Productions (American Breed “Bend Me Shape Me”, H. P. Lovecraft, Castaways, Mason Proffit, Cryan Shames) in the 60’s and Wooden Nickel Records (Styx “Lady”, Wolfman Jack, Siegel-Schwall Band) in the 70s, and became the CEO of jazz-fusion label Headfirst Records (Brian Auger, Lesette Wilson, Mike Metheny) in the early 80s. As an attorney and business affairs counselor he has assisted countless artists and labels for over 25 years. As a manager he has represented acts ranging from R&B artists The Impressions, The Dells and the Ohio Players to Jazz artists Oregon, Tony Williams, Bill Holman and Kurt Elling. His Open Door Management is one of the top jazz and world music management companies today, boasting several Grammy winners and nominees (see artist roster). Bill Traut has also made significant contributions to the successful development of the Recording Academy (The Grammys) for over 40 years, through his role as a Governor, Officer and Legal Counsel of the Los Angeles and Chicago Chapters, National Secretary, National Trustee and as longtime Co-Chairman of the National Awards Screening Committee. Other committees he is currently serving on include the Jazz and World Music Screening Committees (Co-Chairman) and the National Awards and Nominations Committee. Traut’s contributions to the music world, and in particular to the genre of jazz, are innumerable. The continued success of the artists represented by Open Door Management is a direct product of Traut’s knack for recognizing quality musical talent, combined with his ability to bring his broad range of industry experience to bear on their careers. Related Links: Dunwich Album Discography: Dunwich Singles Discography: Wooden Nickel Discography: All-Music Guide - Bill Traut 1: All Music Guide - Bill Traut 2 : Manager Spotlight: `O P E N D O O R M A N A G E M E N T` `865 Via de la Paz, Suite 365` `Pacific Palisades, CA 90272` `PHONE - 310 . 459 . 2559` `FAX - 310 . 454 . 7803` `Contact: BILL TRAUT` `Bill @ Open Door Management.com`

Bill Traut's music career has spanned six decades. He has been a musician, an arranger, a producer, a manager, a publisher, a label executive and an attorney. His career began in the 1940s as a saxophonist and arranger for several of the traveling big bands of the era. In the 1960s he began producing records and performing as a studio musician. Since that time he has produced hundreds of records in all genres, including rock, pop, folk, jazz, blues and country. Among his many credits he has produced Styx, American Breed, Nazz, Exile, Count Basie, and Buddy Rich and currently he’s co-producing Kurt Elling.

As an executive he was President of Dunwich Records (rock classic “Gloria” by Shadows of Knight, Del-Vetts, Saturday’s Children, Knaves) and Dunwich Productions (American Breed “Bend Me Shape Me”, H. P. Lovecraft, Castaways, Mason Proffit, Cryan Shames) in the 60’s and Wooden Nickel Records (Styx “Lady”, Wolfman Jack, Siegel-Schwall Band) in the 70s, and became the CEO of jazz-fusion label Headfirst Records (Brian Auger, Lesette Wilson, Mike Metheny) in the early 80s.

As an attorney and business affairs counselor he has assisted countless artists and labels for over 25 years. As a manager he has represented acts ranging from R&B artists The Impressions, The Dells and the Ohio Players to Jazz artists Oregon, Tony Williams, Bill Holman and Kurt Elling. His Open Door Management is one of the top jazz and world music management companies today, boasting several Grammy winners and nominees (see artist roster).

Bill Traut has also made significant contributions to the successful development of the Recording Academy (The Grammys) for over 40 years, through his role as a Governor, Officer and Legal Counsel of the Los Angeles and Chicago Chapters, National Secretary, National Trustee and as longtime Co-Chairman of the National Awards Screening Committee. Other committees he is currently serving on include the Jazz and World Music Screening Committees (Co-Chairman) and the National Awards and Nominations Committee.

Traut’s contributions to the music world, and in particular to the genre of jazz, are innumerable. The continued success of the artists represented by Open Door Management is a direct product of Traut’s knack for recognizing quality musical talent, combined with his ability to bring his broad range of industry experience to bear on their careers.

Related Links:
Dunwich Album Discography:
Dunwich Singles Discography:
Wooden Nickel Discography:
All-Music Guide - Bill Traut 1:
All Music Guide - Bill Traut 2 :
Manager Spotlight: