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Hi, My name is Bill Toliver. First of all thank you for your interest. I am presently a Jazz Musician (drummer) a spoken word artist and an actor. I played music in the US and Europe during the early 60's. Following that I took a break from the street life, drug life and a life of alcoholism to change my behavior. That was in 1971. Nine years later after I "got myself together" and after going back to school while rehabilitating myself, I became a Funeral Director and Embalmer. I practiced that for 10 years. Following that I became a Death Scene Investigator for The City and County Of San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office. I worked there for 15 years before retiring in 2001. During the 25 years I worked closely around death, dying and those persons most affected by that sequence, I experienced a myriad of feelings. But being a "professional" at scenes of death, I was unable most times to express those feelings so I "shoved them." I thought that the feelings were permanently stacked away in some mental compartment. But I came to find out that all of the emotions surrounding death that I came in contact with somehow affected me. I began to write poetry while a Funeral Director and Embalmer. I wrote more and more as a Death Scene Investigator. The feelings that I had stored inside my mind found a way to filter into my soul. It all got inside. Every affected persons tears, wringing of hands, bowed head, well meant word, vacant stare, scream of anguish, empty mother's hands, senseless death, eye of blame and more was there along with the wasted blood staining the street indicating the savage selfishness of murder. Those kinds of emotions prodded my soul to somehow speak out. I began to sense life and living in a different light .I needed to say something to people something good. I wanted to help people really see. I began to write about war, greed, selfishness, children, homelessness, nature and women. I found that I could color words and emotion with music, sounds and tone. As a foster child women essentially raised me. The men in those foster homes were not a great part of my upbringing. My need to have a mother, at least a mother figure, directed me to develop a keen insight into what this personage called woman is and how to make myself worthy enough to warrant a mother's love since mine gave me away. I grew to develop a deep appreciation and respect for woman and a respect (almost reverence) for all known and unknown attributes she manifests in being. Her strength, love, forgiveness, tenacity, inner vision, poise, nurturing, creativity and passion are unequaled. A woman's soul is her strength. Most men being possessive "control freaks" in their hurry to be "men" and living with subconscious fears related to the power of woman miss that aspect. "She" becomes a threat to the insecure man. I love the word......SHE. SHE. That word alone, to me, embodies the cosmic consciousness that is created, designed and called WOMAN. This work is in celebration of the creation of WOMAN. "SHE". I hope this effort finds a place to touch in you. Peace, Bill Toliver Check out the artist's website: http://www.geocities.com/alphamalebluelight Track List: 1. Africa 2. Promise of Day 3. Touching You 4. Sassy Walk 5. Pretty Rocks 6. She 7. My Star 8. To Breathe With a Virgin 9. Breathe the Garment Free 10. Gentle Footsteps of Her Soul 11. How Jealous I Am 12. Thought About You 13. She Too 14. Sweet Kisses 15. Africa II Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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