In the Malibu Foothills, at a friend's house on a Saturday night, I heard this particular bird call. Maybe it's common, but I don't quite recall hearing this particular one around here, before. Anyone have any idea what it might be?

Mystery Malibu Bird Call 3-27-2021

Yes, I know. The Firesign Theatre's "Duke of Madness Motors" bit was not only rare at this time, but legendary in radio. Years after that bit aired, someone started calling legendary 60's DJ Jerry Goodwin the "Duke of Madness" in Boston radio in the mid-1970's, and the name stuck. I never even heard the Firesign bit when I began producing for Jerry's WBCN 2AM to 6AM show in '78, but it just so happened I loved and emulated the Firesign Theatre, James Joyce-style wordplay, and the art of radio production in general. Here's a bit of what made listeners wonder if they really heard what they THOUGHT they heard at that time, a frequent comment in phone calls to the program, which both Jerry and I considered the highest compliment to our work. Most of this was made on at most a four track reel to reel, with frequent effects and music being dubbed in "live" via "carts" (Professional 2- Track cartridge tapes that looked a lot like 8-tracks, but had short tape loops that one could stop and start on a dime; most commercials and many songs up to about 10 minutes in length could be found on "carts"). We also had an early "Harmonizer" by Eventide, which had the ability to loop live and very short pieces of audio with tuning, speed, and echo effects.

WBCN Duke of Madness (Jerry Goodwin), 1978-81 era SAMPLE 01

Here Jerry performs a great piece written by Charles Bukowski. I perform a somewhat stupider piece written by me.

WBCN Duke of Madness (Jerry Goodwin), 1978-81 era SAMPLE 03

Certainly among the most amazing days of my young life was spent in England, in November of 1980 on the Thames-moored houseboat belonging to this man. I recorded him on tape, after meeting his wife, Ki, and (then teeny toddler) daughter Silky, who instantly adopted the little novelty shoes I had brought for her Da as a silly gift as I knew he liked silly things. Although his mortal being "flung the dummy" (as he liked to say), I don't believe this incredibly strange angel, this heroically weird, tragically sad and absolutely brilliant and beautiful man is anywhere but everywhere now, and a part of me that I and anyone who ever knew him treasure. I am only slightly embarassed by my earnest younger self in this report, made for WBCN in Boston upon my return to the states.

Vivian Stanshall Interview 1980

This is a piece I wrote and produced at WBCN, Boston in 1981, shortly after first encountering an article about the Church of the SubGenius in Weirdo Magazine. It features the voice of the late comedian and actor Chris Collins, who was Cobra Commander in the GI Joe cartoons, along with voices in Transformers, Smurfs and many others. 

"Bob"'s School Of Time Control (1981)

This was my prizewinning entry in Yoko Ono's 2009 remix contest. Yoko, you are so amazing, you are such an inspiration!

Yoko Ono: The Sun Is Down (Organic Pop Remix by Bill Kates)

Written and performed by Billy West. Produced by Bill Kates at K-Rock, NY, 1991. If voice work could be classified as genius, I believe Billy nailed it here.

Elmer Fudd IS Jim Morrison

Written and produced by Bill Kates. Performed by Billy "Futurama" West at K-Rock in New York, 1992.

Shoes! (Featuring Billy West)

An excerpt of the song adaptation of Dr. Seuss's There's A Wocket In My Pocket that I created with Greta Gertler-Gold and Adam Gold for TONIES™ toys and Dr. Seuss Enterprises. It appaars on their Cat In The Hat figure. https://us.tonies.com/products/dr-seuss-cat-in-the-hat-tonie

This tune was inspired by the work of Lambert, Hendrix, and Ross.... something about the rhythm of the Dr. Seuss text just immediately suggested a jazzy, '50's vocal approach. 

Words ©1974 Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Music ©2022 by Bill Kates, Greta Gertler-Gold and Adam Gold.

Kates-Gertler WOCKET excerpt

An excerpt of the song adaptation of the classis children's book, Dr. Seuss's ABC, that I created with Greta Gertler-Gold and Adam Gold for TONIES™ toys and Dr. Seuss Enterprises. It appaars on their Cat In The Hat figure. us.tonies.com/products/dr-seuss-…t-in-the-hat-tonie

The music just sort of wrote itself as it was read aloud...

Words ©1963 Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Music ©2022 by Bill Kates, Greta Gertler-Gold and Adam Gold.



Kates-Gertler ABCs excerpt

An excerpt of the song adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic book, Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? Created by Bill Kates with Greta Gertler-Gold and Adam Gold for TONIES™ toys and Dr. Seuss Enterprises. It appaars on their Cat In The Hat figure. us.tonies.com/products/dr-seuss-…t-in-the-hat-tonie

This music was inspired by various kid's music records that I was gifted as a child by my grandfather, a physician who's patients included Sam "Goody" Gutowitz, the owner of the Sam Goody's Records chain, which he started in the late 1940's. Sam would pay my grandfather in records, apparently, and he would give the 78's, LP's and 45's for kids, to us grandkids. Echoes of Woody Guthrie, Tom Glaser, Peter, Paul and Mary, Danny Kaye, Paul Robeson, and Ukelele Ike resounded in my home and got under my skin. The way Greta and Adam helped bring exactly what I sonically dreamed, here to life, I consider to be nothing short of miraculous.

Words ©1973 Dr. Seuss Enterprises. Music ©2022 by Bill Kates, Greta Gertler-Gold and Adam Gold.



Kates-Gertler LUCKY excerpt

Bill Kates Characters and Imaging Demo 01

A new "Spooky" ringtone I produced for HaHaas ringtones, just in time for Halloween.

SpookyRing Twilight-POV

My contribution a recent TMBG covers compilation. Again deep and special thanks to Andy Sykora for his rhythmic Genius.
The They Might Be Giants original is well represented here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrrCZNfvbDo 

Shared here for educational purposes only. The song is copyright 2003 by They Might Be Giants. TMBG Music (BMI)

Am I Awake? (TMBG Cover)- Feat. Andy Sykora, Drums and Percussion.

By popular demand, for your listening and dl'ing pleasure, in full CD resolution: The legendary radio clip from WBCN's "Duke of Madness" program, featuring the late Chris Collins, along with Jerry Goodwin, Kerry Waldron Nolan, and Bill Kates. Written and produced at WBCN, Boston by Bill Kates, based on a really old joke. From 1979. It ain't nothin' but a party.

Jerry Goodwin/ "Duke of Madness" clip: Larry & The Barrel

A promo I made during my tenure as production director at WBGO, Newark, in 1999.

WBGO All Blues Promo

This is one thing here that I had nothing to do with producing. Damned if I know the original source of this, though I swear it has something to do with either the Conception Corporation and/ or the Credibility Gap. If any of you folks know, please tell me! We used to play it on Jerry Goodwin's Duke of Madness show back in the late 70's- early 80's on WBCN, Boston.

Your Neighbor's Thoughts

An older but pretty bare-bones version of my demo reel, circa 2012.

BILL KATES CHARACTERS 10 - 2012 - B

Another track written and performed entirely by Kevin some time around 1997, which I gave him a hand with in the final mix/ mastering phase. He was considering putting this out under the name Stupidworld, though other band names he was throwing around at the time included Duckwood and Black Locomotive.

Ice Cream Cone by Kevin "Fabulon" Janosky aka MacBeth

Ummm... This is from some years back. I meant to add bass to it.... it remains unfinished, but I might as well let it be heard, if you dig this far... And yes, that's actually me playing slide guitar, with some sampled and real drums.... an anonymous friend provides the French vocals.

LSR Rough-No Bass

A 1979 bit from Jerry Goodwin's WBCN radio show that I wrote and produced, based on an actual nightmare I had about being forced to work at McDonald's. Sorry for the bad EQ on the "radio" sound. Hey, I was still pretty new at this, then.

Fat Chance Players-Pwudgia's-1979

One more featuring the great Billy West, in what we essentially did as a parody of the "Batman" movie that had just come out, with Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger. This was heard on "The Flo & Eddie Show" on K-Rock in New York, as well as other programs on the CBS network and elsewhere. Written, performed and produced by Billy West and Bill Kates.

Gumby, The Movie (1989)

Recorded at Python House, London, in November of 1980, when they had just begun writing The Meaning of Life. Terry Jones and Gilliam were playing pool and pinball in the next room.

Michael Palin Interview 1980

A compendium of the minute or two I've been at the game of vocal pretendering, including work for SuperCell, TriSTar/ Columbia Pictures, CBS, SiriusXM Comedy, and much more. For bookings, please contact Brandie Ilsen brandie@aperture-talent.com

Bill Kates 2019 VO Character Reel

Originally aired on WBCN, Boston, in (I believe) March or April, 1981. Shared here for educational and archival purposes only. Yes, FM radio did used to sound like this, particularly in the 2am to 6am slot on 104fm WBCN, Boston, at this time.

Duke Of Madness DREAMS Sunday Sometimes Special 1981 WBCN, Boston

Another bit of previously unreleased genius written, performed, & produced by Kevin "Fabulon" Janosky, circa 1998 or so. I just added the pre-recorded bits and mastered it. 

Kevin "Fabulon" Janosky: All The Way From Here (Single Mix)

Prev. unreleased solid rockin' pop by the man MTV once described as "like Prince meets Todd Rundgren". Circa 1998.

1. Kevin "Fabulon" Janosky: Home Now

For radio production lovers only. A 1996 sampler of "imaging" I created during my 8 year tenure as production director of New York's K-Rock- "Howard Stern in the morning, Classic Rock all day!"- featuring the voices of Billy West and Matt Sager along with myself and others.

Bill Kates 1996 92.3 K-Rock Imaging Sampler

I had this idea. I thought I pulled it off pretty well, but the management didn't want to run it, thought it was too negative. In this instance, I believe they were correct. I was playing with the idea of "for life..." but, well... that's life. Prison is a pretty crappy way to promote anything. The only one who ever really pulled that off was Elvis, with Jailhouse Rock, and Johnny Cash, with his prison albums, which are amazing. In my defense, I'm making fun of prison MOVIES, and no disrespect is intended to any poor soul undergoing incarceration.

XM For Life- Rejected Promo

This is a track by John Sebastian Sr, father of The Lovin' Spoonful musician, which I had as a 78 as a kid. I do not own the copyright for this recording, but I believe it to be in the public domain and present it here for educational Purposes only.

The Maiden With The Flaxen Hair-John Sebastian Sr.

Bill Kates: Best Reel Ever

Written and produced by Bill Kates 
Music © 2020 by Bill Kates and Greta Gertler 
Prairie Dawn- Gloria Tsai
Cookie Monster- Bill Kates
All instruments performed and mixed by Greta Gertler
All Characters © Sesame Workshop

Tonies Kates - Tsai - Gertler Sesame DEMO

Created on my phone with ModSynth for Android and Guitar Rig for PC. An attempt to do something reminiscent of early Fripp/Eno experiments using a cell phone — Scott Rasmussen

Phone Synth Project #1 by Scott Rasmussen

Born and raised just North of New York City, Bill has been an audio theater specialist since the age of six, voicing and producing sonic stories, music and soundscapes for both fun and profit. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

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