Bill Cushing and Charles Corbisiero

Notes and Letters, Saturday, May 4, 3:30-4:30pm, Mountain View Mausoleum

Over 50 years ago, Chuck Corbisiero and Bill Cushing grew up across the street from each other. Chuck, a professional guitarist, now performs with the Mills Brothers. Bill, a semi-retired college English instructor, earned an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College in Vermont and has four published poetry books. The two reconnected at the end of 2015 after discovering they’d both moved to Los Angeles in the intervening years, and their mutual love of music brought them together to offer a unique look at the world through the blending of music and writing that the two call “Notes and Letters.”

Named the “blue collar poet” while attending university, Bill Cushing’s work has appeared in anthologies, literary journals, magazines, and newspapers. He earned an MFA from Goddard College, then moved to Glendale where he lives with his wife and their son. Bill has four poetry collections: A Former Life, (Kops-Fetherling International Book Award), Music Speaks (2019 San Gabriel Valley Poetry Festival Award; 2021 New York City Book Award), “. . .this just in. . .”, and Just a Little Cage of Bone. 

Chuck Corbisiero earned his BFA in musical performance and arranging from City College of New York while studying under Gil Evans. He later worked with Eddy Arnold and now performs regularly with Orchids in Zoom led by John Mills. He plays both guitar and upright bass, specializing in jazz, blues, and Brazilian. Most recently he has been playing in a duo setting with pianist George Schmidt while alternating nights with fellow jazz guitarist Keith Jordan.