A Personal Note from Bill Kehl 

Thanks for taking the time to peruse this website and for perhaps considering one of my programs for your next community event!  And I would be remiss not to extend a warm, generous and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to each and every one of you who have sponsored and/or supported my performances, and helped to spread the word about my work over these many years.  You have inspired me to constantly strive to be a better educator, musician and performer.  May my gratitude always abide for the wonderful opportunities you have provided.  So once again, thank you!  ~~  BK

Musician and performer Bill Kehl is celebrating over 30 years

of making music magic in the moment!

Rural Waushara County resident and local musician Bill Kehl, is celebrating over 30 years of making music in Wisconsin and the Midwest.  Since moving to Wisconsin in 1980, Bill continues to offer unique, educational and interactive musical enrichment presentations to audiences of all ages everywhere.

Many may remember Bill’s performances with Princeton, Wisconsin-based “Northern Light” from 1980 until the group disbanded in 1993.  He was one of the driving forces behind the creation of their distinct blend of “ethnic-cosmic-folksy-funky-jazz”, as the group was fond of calling their style of new acoustic music.  He also wrote several of the very popular songs included on the three successful recordings that the group released in the 1980’s, titled “Along the Way”, “Colors of the Rainbow”, and “Getting ’Better with Age”.   A live recording of Northern Light performing Bill Kehl’s “River Song” (about the local Fox River) was included on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Simply Folk 10 year anniversary recording released in 1988.

Bill founded Planetary Productions, Ltd. in 1993, a small company dedicated to increasing environmental awareness among young people.  Shortly thereafter, he began to use the phrase edutainment to describe his program “Earth, Music… Magic!”, which he still regularly offers to schools, libraries, nature centers, camps and other groups throughout the state.  This program includes a dynamic demonstration and interactive performance with a large share of his primitive musical instrument collection from all over the world, and is an animated and innovative perspective on the discovery and development of musical instruments.

In the late 1990’s Bill Kehl embarked on a journey that led him to research and study the tradition of drums and drumming, or “rhythmaculture”, as experienced by various cultures of the world. This led him to begin facilitating a group rhythmic performance experience entitled “A Circle of Drums… The Rhythms of Life”, which he presents to audiences on a national basis to this day.  This energizing, group-enhancing program has delighted participants at festivals, retreats, conferences, workshops, seminars and corporate team-building sessions since 1997.  He continues to study different styles of world drumming and continues to collect drums of all types.

Most recently Bill has created another program for adults which he calls “Heart & Soul ~ Body & Mind:  Music, Culture and the Creative Spirit”. This presentation draws on elements from his cumulative musical studies and experiences to create an engaging, intimate performance for all audiences.  This program has become popular in academic circles, as well as with the older generation, and he has had the privilege of sharing this new endeavor with senior citizens, nursing home residents and retirement community members.