Willie began playing saxophone at the age of nine, studying first with Pop Bethel, a former member of the legendary John Philip Sousa Marching Band, and later with William Shadle, first clarinetist with the New Jersey Symphony. Years later, he pursued his love for jazz studying theory and technique with nationally acclaimed reed master Billy Novick. His early love of the playing of Paul Desmond, and later Stan Getz is evident in his warm, mellifluous tone and flowing lines, though his unique sound is inspired as well by the innovations of two other heroes, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. While able to burn on up-beat Latin jazz and be-bop tunes, Willie is equally at home with ballads and, either in support of or without a vocalist, The Great American Songbook.