Music

Music and Entertainment

William Krejci began his musical career at age 15, when he first picked up a guitar and began to strum out a few sloppy chords. For the first two years, he was taught by a Notre Dame nun, then was instructed by friends. At age 18, he and a few colleagues formed a pseudo-punk band called X The Owl, which won the Battle of the Worst Bands in March of 1994. That spring, the band released a 7” record called Smile or Die.

Over the next few years, William continued to grow as a musician, seeking further instruction from new friends at college. To help make ends meet financially, he would perform on the South Side of Pittsburgh as a street busker.

After returning to Ohio in the late '90s, he formed a band with long-time friend Joe Hartsel and a new friend from Elyria named Jason McGoldrick. This band evolved many times with names such as Blues Collar and Jupernisek. With backing musicians coming and going, the three core members of the group remained together through the early 2000's.

In 2003, William formed an Irish band with his brother, Tom, called The Brothers Toill (a play on their first names). This band made regular annual appearances at Club Chameleon in Kent as well as at Sláinte and Liquid Therapy in Avon Lake. As their schedules conflicted more and more, The Brothers Toill disbanded in 2006.

Shortly after came William's involvement in another Irish band called Ceud Mile Fáilte, the brainchild of Cleveland fiddler Paul Kirk Jr. A five-piece Celtic ensemble, this band featured traditional tunes as well as many Celtic-inspired original compositions by Mr. Kirk. Members included Paul Kirk Jr. (fiddle), William G. Krejci (guitar), Liz Crowe (cello), Erica Tompkins (fiddle), and Julie Williams (flute). Ceud Mile Fáilte was an annual performer at Great Lakes Brewing Company from 2011 through 2014 for their Saint Patrick's Day celebrations.

William currently performs as a guest with Clash of the Tartans and with his own small assembly of musicians known as the Guinness Bill Band. A blend of Irish, sailing, drinking, and Lake Erie Island music, as well as some original tunes, Guinness Bill Band usually features such guest musicians as Paul Kirk Jr., Jeff Helmer, Bruce and Jennifer Tackett, and the ladies from Clash of the Tartans.

Guinness Bill Band is available for bookings at bars and clubs, private parties, weddings, birthdays, bar mitzvahs, and Irish wakes.