Bill Daugherty was born and raised in St Louis, Missouri and was brought up in a family of musicians. His father, Rich Daugherty, is one of the premiere jazz pianists in the city and his mother, JoAnn, made a name for herself early in her career as a vocalist in nightclubs, on the radio and in USO shows. His father is the featured pianist on Bill's first solo album, "Look To The Rainbow." Bill's uncle, Bob Daugherty, is an established bassist in the world of jazz and lent his talents to the album, as well.
His first New York credit was as a member of the company of players known as Light Opera of Manhattan in residence at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Bill then went on to work for the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey first in "Candide", followed by "Naughty Marietta" (featuring the legendary Allan Jones), "Annie Get Your Gun" (with Judy Kaye) and "Damn Yankees" (directed by George Abbott and starring Davis Gaines and Orson Bean). Some of his favorite roles he's performed include Hero in "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum", Leo Hubbard in "The Little Foxes", Magaldi in "Evita" and Nicely Nicely Johnson in the first European tour of "Guys And Dolls." Other regional show credits include, "My Fair Lady", "The King and I", "The Pajama Game", "The Fantasticks", "Death of A Salesman"and "Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Shortly after arriving in New York, Bill made his nightclub debut at Vivian Blaine's Park Ten Restaurant on 34th and Park. He and his pianist eventually became the team "Daugherty & Field" and went on to become one of the most celebrated musical comedy acts in the business, entertaining audiences across the country and abroad. Daugherty & Field played most of the major clubs and concert halls in New York City, including Carnegie Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Town Hall, The Oak Room at The Algonquin, Club 53 at the NY Hilton, The Russian Tea Room, Eighty Eight's and were featured for seven years running at Kaufman Hall in the 92nd St Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series, Their travels took them to LA's Gardenia Room, Chicago's Halsted and Briar Street Theatres, London's Pizza On The Park and Die Kleine Komedie Opera House in Amsterdam.
Perhaps their proudest moment was their eight month Off-Broadway run titled fittingly enough "Daugherty & Field Off-Broadway." They were nominated for an OBIE and during their partnership, won Backstage's first year Bistro Award and 4 consecutive MAC awards.
After the team split, Daugherty's first solo show -"Start All Over Again" - won Bill another Bistro Award, this time for Outstanding Vocalist of 1995. Shortly thereafter, Bill was featured at the Kennedy Center in "This Funny World", a critically acclaimed salute to Rodgers & Hart.
Soon after, Bill began directing and teaching and eventually producing as well. As a director, he has worked with New York artists including Carol Woods, Connie Pachl and Frank Zagotis. He is currently a member of the faculty at Collaborative Arts Project 21 (CAP21) in conjunction with NYU where he teaches first and second year undergrads in Vocal Performance, Vocal Technique and Private Voice.
Bill is a regular at Town Hall in New York for their Broadway By The Year and Broadway Unplugged concert series and is the resident producer for Thoroughbred Records and has been responsible for their entire catalog (all available on CD Baby.)
Most recently, Daugherty wrote and directed the hit Off-Broadway Musical "When The Lights Go On Again" which packed houses at NY's Triad Theater for 8 months! The Original Cast Recording is available here, as well.
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