Bill Connors

Bill Connors was an American jazz guitarist who had a remarkable, albeit somewhat brief, career in the spotlight during the 1970s fusion scene. He's best remembered by many fans as the original guitarist for the legendary supergroup Return to Forever, appearing on their classic 1973 album "Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy." His fiery, distortion-fueled playing on that record helped define the muscular sound of that era of the band.

After leaving Return to Forever, Connors took a sharp turn, dedicating himself to acoustic solo guitar. He released a trilogy of influential solo albums—"Theme to the Guardian" (1974), "Swimming with a Hole in My Body" (1979), and "Of Mist and Melting" (1981)—that showcased his introspective, lyrical side. After a long hiatus, he returned to the electric guitar in the 1980s with a more smooth jazz-oriented sound on albums like "Step It" (1985), "Double Up" (1986), and "Assembler" (1992) before stepping out of the public eye again. His career was defined by a restless artistic spirit that explored the full dynamic range of the guitar.