William F. Schwentner:
CLASS OF 1960
Mentor High SchoolClass of 1960
Mentor, OH
Edgewater High SchoolClass of 1963
Orlando, FL
St. Joseph High SchoolClass of 1960
Cleveland, OH
St. James Cathedral SchoolClass of 1957
Orlando, FL
Immaculate Conception SchoolClass of 1956
Willoughby, OH
William F.'s Story
From Mentor High, went to Orlando Florida to attend the University of Orlando where I formed a band, joined the Air Force in 1963 and joined another band in Biloxi Mississippi, Honorable Discharge in 1964 (job downsize). Married Sylvia Walker of Edgewater High '63 in 1964 and divorced in 1967 (marriage and music don't mix!!) In 1964 back in Orlando, joined The Holidays which split up to become the Mark IV in 1965. Recorded for KAM Records in 1965 under the name Bill Clifford and started a career as a radio disc jockey, program director, and engineer, also under the name of Bill Clifford. Worked at WHOO, WHIY, WHHL, WREM, WLOF, and WLOQ, all in Orlando, and WTMC in Ocala Florida. Quit the band business in 1967, married the bookeeper at WHOO((Sunny Taylor) and adopted her 3 kids and had 3 more of our own. In 1974, joined Sea World of Orlando and helped open the park. Started as an audio technician, then became Productions Supervisor, and finally Supervisor of Technical Services. Built and ran the parks recording studios and mixed the sound for over 110 concerts and 4 television specials. Also (though I hate to admit it) I worked on the filming of "Jaws-3D". Started up in radio again in 1979 at an oldies station (of course). During my years at Sea World I found time to finish college and was sent overseas 6 years in a row for two weeks each with The Florida Division of Tourism and Pan American World Airways to promote tourism in Florida (saw a LOT of airports!). Joined Circus World in 1983 as the park's technical director. Left in 1984 and moved to Washington DC to work at the Voice of America, first as an engineer, then as Studio Supervisor in Broadcast Operations. Returned to Florida in 1994, found out that radio had changed while I was gone and was no longer hiring "pros", so started my own DJ and Karaoke company called SunnySound South. My wife and I travel all over the country to perform at reunions, weddings, and corporate events (even did the Mentor High Class of '60 40th Reunion and did same for our 50th). In our spare time, we both worked at the same law firm in Orlando. I retired in June '09 and as of Jan '10 we have moved ba...Expand for more
ck to Woodbridge, VA (near Washington) and recently purchased a home in nearby Lake Ridge.
I guess I've done nearly everything I ever wanted to do (except become famous and rich). I've performed for thousands of people over the years, made records (although unreleased), and was in radio for more than 30 years. I've done concert sound mixing and TV production for more than a hundred of the greatest stars in the business. It's been my privilege to know Johnny Tillotson, Dennis Yost & The Classics IV (original group), Kenny Rogers, The Everly Brothers, the Casinos, Bobby Goldsboro, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and so many more I can't keep count! I even met Bill Haley and his guitarist Frannie Beecher before they died, and worked at Voice of America with a man named Bill Dawson (also deceased) who was the original recording engineer for Haley & The Saddlemen back in West Chester Pennsylvania. I count as a highlight finally meeting Rocky Olson (Brian Olson Mentor Class of '57) who made it all the way up to #60 on the charts with "Kansas City" in 1959, which was the second-best selling version of that record of all time.
You can find more (including pictures of friends I've met in the business) and you can find some of my music at YouTube dot com (as Bill Schwentner although all my recordings were as Bill Clifford). One of the newest upcoming stars I've become acquainted with is Philly Cuzz who has released three albums on his own label and has a hit on Satellite Radio called "One Summer Night" (not the oldie, it's new but sounds old). You'll find it on YouTube along with several others. One of them, "My Favorite Doo-Wop Song" is a tribute to the people who have helped him along the way. I'm proud to say that in the middle of the video is a Banner for SunnySound South. Just type in "Philly Cuzz" on the site.
You can also see vintage 60's songs from my oldest friend in the music business, Dennis Yost (The Classics IV). He suffered severe brain injury from a fall in 2005 and died of respiratory failure December 7th, 2008. A terrific waste!! Dennis was probably the greatest talent that everyone's heard but no one's ever heard of. I miss him!
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