About Bill Jenkins
Born near Detroit, Bill Jenkins came to the West Coast from rough and moody bluegrass country alongside the Ohio River, where he graduated from high school in a town of 250 people. Burning to study film, he left San Francisco State University with a degree in Screenwriting and found himself standing at a fork in the road, deciding whether to continue working on his screenplays, or become a corporate warrior.
He ended up in that world with the idea that he would return to the arts full-time as soon as possible. During that time, as he developed a reputation for being dedicated, staying engaged, and mentorship, he wrote songs for office holiday celebrations and performed them for his staff, discovering that he had a knack for what he called “mini movies.” A keen observer, he continued to write empathetically and inclusively from varied perspectives and voices, drawing on his own experiences.
He sees himself as a musical storyteller who thinks of songs in images, and music in strong visual language. A committed yet unsigned lyricist, he would like to hear from a recording artist, or organization interested in his existing demos or in collaborating on new work. Besides “Thicker than Rain,” winner of the 2020 USA Songwriting Competition, some of his other songs include “Lonely Is the Life of an Angel,” “The Masterpiece in My Mind,” “Mōbēl Man,” “C. Monique,” “You Are My Road,” and inspired by a memorable visit to the Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, “The Eyes of the Doll.”
Awards
“Thicker Than Rain” – 2020 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Only category – 1st Prize & Overall 3rd Prize
“You Are My Road” – 2019 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Only category- Finalist & one of 20 Overall Honorable Mention winners
“The Masterpiece in My Mind” — 2021 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Only category – Finalist
“The Masterpiece in My Mind” – 2021 USA Songwriting Competition Dance/Electronica category – Finalist
“Big Blue Dragon on the Wall” – 2022 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Only category – Finalist
“One Cupcake Away” – 2018 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Only category – Finalist
