Bill Bartolin
DOB Unknown – October 4, 2009
Bill “Cupid” Bartolin was the lead guitarist and songwriter for Ohio power pop band, Blue Ash. The band was formed in 1969, with Bartolin coming on board a year later to replace the original guitarist. Blue Ash became very popular throughout the upper Midwest thanks, in part to logging in as many as 300 live shows a year in those early days. Bartolin was co-writing much of the band’s extensive catalog of songs with Blue Ash leader, Frank Secich. The band signed with Mercury Records who released their first album, No More, No Less, in 1973. It was an instant hit with fans and critics alike, but like so many before and since, lack of record sales lead to the band being dropped within a year. They were given another shot in 1977 when they were signed to Playboy’s vanity label, Playboy Records, also the home of [gasp] Barbi Benton. But just as their first single was catching on beyond their regional fan base, Playboy shut the label down and went back to doing what they do best. Throughout the band’s run, they shared the stage with such other Midwest acts as, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and the Stooges. Up until recently, a collector’s dream, their music finally found it’s way to CD in 2004, which lead to renewed interest in the band who had recently re-formed. Bill “Cupid” Bartolin passed away of cancer on October 4, 2009.
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