Simpson, Bland

Bland Simpson was born in 1948 and grew up in Elizabeth City and Chapel Hill, N.C. He is a lecturer in creative writing in the English Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Beginning in 1987, he served as the pianist for the Red Clay Ramblers, a critically acclaimed North Carolina-based music group. Simpson collaborated on several theatrical presentations and authored several books.

Bland Simpson was born in Elizabeth City, N.C., in 1948 and lived there until he moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., when he was ten. Simpson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later moved to New York City to be close to the music business.

Simpson released one album before he moved back to Chapel Hill and began performing with a band known as the Southern States Fidelity Choir. Simpson collaborated with fellow band member, Jim Wann, to create the off-Broadway hit Diamond Studs, a musical about the life and death of Jesse James. Since 1987, he has been the pianist for the North Carolina-based band called the Red Clay Ramblers. He is a lecturer in creative writing in the English Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, along with several theatrical collaborations, has authored several books.