William John Evans was born August 16, 1929, in Plainfield, New Jersey. Bill’s father, of Welsh descent,  grew up in Philadelphia. His mother, whose maiden name was Siroka, was of Russian heritage and a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was in the solemn liturgy of the church that Bill had his first encounter with music.  Bill had an older brother, Harry Evans Jr,. Both sons were encouraged to pursue music in spite of the fact that neither parent played an instrument. Since Harry was studying piano, the younger Bill was encouraged to take up the violin. When Harry's piano teacher came to the house to give lessons, Bill would stand by out of sight and listen. When the lesson was finished, Bill would go to the piano and play what he had heard, not yet knowing how to read a note of music. It became apparent that Bill would also need piano lessons and the violin was put in the closet.  In addition to playing his brother's classical repertoire by ear, Bill would improvise at the piano, often imitating the dance and big band music he heard on the radio.

Bill's brother later became a music educator, rising to the position of Superintendent of Music in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana School District. Harry also played jazz and frequently performed in Louisiana. There is a 2-LP recording of Harry's playing that his son Matt Evans issued privately several years after his father's death. Harry’s career was documented by his son, Matthew, Though he was more outgoing than his brother, Harry suffered from depression throughout his life and committed suicide about a year before Bill’s death. Sadly, Harry seemed to feel he could never be the pianist his brother was.

Harry Evans Senior was from Philadelphia, an immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen originally born in Wales, UK. Mr. Evans Sr. was engaged in a variety of business adventures throughout his life including a bakery, a coin operated laundry and a golf driving range. Mr... Evans was fairly successful with the driving range and soon asked the young Bill to help out with the family business, retrieving golf balls on the range. Bill started playing golf at this age and continued to find time to play while a young man, until the demands of the music business became too much to continue.

In high school Bill took up flute to participate in the band at Plainfield High School in North Plainfield, New Jersey. After graduation Bill enlisted in the the U.S.Army and played flute, piccolo, and piano in the Fifth U.S.Army Band at Fort Sheridan near Chicago.

Click here to listen to part one of the earliest known recordings of Bill Evans, a radio broadcast of the Fifth U.S. Army Band durring the Korean War.  Warning: long clip (2.6 megs) could take a long time to buffer

Click here to listen to an interview with Bill Scott about Bill Evans in the Army Band.