Bill Potts' first professional experience came as a pianist and transcriber for dance bands while he was in the military. While recovering from a car accident in 1957, Potts wrote his magnum opus, "The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess;" the eventual recording featured a who's who of jazz stars and received tremendous acclaim upon its release. He eventually returned to his native Washington, DC, but maintained a busy schedule writing arrangements for such notables as Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Ella Fitzgerald and Paul Anka until his retirement in 1995. He passed away in 2005.