Bill Bryant  was born on 29 July, 1953, in Stokenchurch, Buckinghamshire (England). He is best known for his work on the Howard Jones No.1 album, Human's Lib, contributing to the lyrics of the tracks, Conditioning, the No.2 hit What Is Love?, Hunt the Self, Equality, Natural and Human's Lib, and also the B-side It Just Doesn't Matter and Always Asking Questions from the follow-up, The 12" Album. Bryant’s lyrics on the Human's Lib album, which have been influenced by Eastern philosophy, describe the freeing of oneself from the personal limitations of one’s conditioning, knowledge of love and the equality and naturalness of life.

 

Bryant’s early childhood was spent in Rayners Lane, London. His parents were working class; his father became a lorry driver after serving in the army in World War II and his mother worked in various factories in the locality. Apart from learning Morse code in under two hours, Bryant’s achievements at school were limited. At the age of 15, he became an apprentice instrument maker; something he enjoyed and became very good at.

In 1971, at the age of 18, Bryant met the Indian master, Sree Sree Mentu Maharaj, founder of the Universal Peace Mission. Mentu Maharaj is described as being a Sat Guru, messenger of God, and a world teacher, whose aim was to work for the common purpose of love, unity and peace. After several years of devotion, love, resolve and steadfast following of the teachings of Mentu, at the young age of 21, Bryant experienced a deeply felt, transforming spiritual experience. Changed by the experience, Bryant began to speak and write song lyrics on spirituality. After a time, a small group of followers gathered around Bryant. From his home in High Wycombe, England, he began to hold regular meetings at which he would speak at length on his knowledge and experience.

Bill was introduced to Howard Jones by two of Jones's brothers. He first met Martin Jones whilst working as an instrument maker in a factory in High Wycombe. Bill and Martin enjoyed each other’s company and a strong friendship formed between them. Martin Jones introduced Bryant to others, including his brother Roy Jones, and from these introductions developed regular meetings at which Bryant would talk to groups of people on spiritual matters. Martin and Roy Jones were both musicians and began putting Bryant’s words to music. Together they wrote early versions of the songs Conditioning, Equality and What Is Love?, songs that Martin and Roy Jones's brother, Howard, would include on his first album, Human's Lib. Howard Jones became a follower of Bill's after attending one of his meetings and later reworked some of the songs originally written by his brothers Martin and Roy. Bryant was said to have a powerful and creative influence over Jones, and he became Jones’s spiritual mentor and best friend, each being best man for the other at their weddings. Bill recognised that Jones was an exceptional musician and worked with him to bring his own lyrics and Jones's music to the public.

For several years Bill guided and supported Jones until such time as Jones attracted the attention of an experienced manager; Dave Stopps, the promoter of the Friars, Aylesbury. The partnership between Bryant and Jones ended shortly before Jones’s appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Kid Jensen Show.

In the immediate years that followed the break-up with Jones, Bill stopped writing and ended his regular open meetings at which he spoke. He earned a living mostly from setting up small businesses in various areas not connected with music. In 1985, through an initiative to find a new outlet for his songs, Bryant met a young musician called Paul Linn, who, ironically, was a great fan of Howard Jones. Bill loved Paul’s music and voice and Paul loved Bill’s lyrics; thus, a new partnership was born. Bill helped Paul to purchase equipment and between them they started from scratch to write music together and work out routines that could be played at live venues. Within a year, Bryant and Linn had become very popular and were packing small music venues across England and Wales with their devoted following. Bill's lyrics graced a wealth of songs on the first 6 eclectic Paul Linn albums. However, Bryant and Linn were never to experience the same degree of success as Jones. After a good run of many years, the live gigs came to an end. Today, Bill lives with his wife Jo, son William, and mother Maureen near Glastonbury, England.

 

Bill is very happy to have decided with Paul to give it another go as of October 2012, and a new era of live gigs in now under way, and an album of 12 songs is being written, which should be ready early in 2014. They both agree that this new album features some of the very best material they have ever created together. Paul says, "Bill has been the one person in my life to have believed in me absolutely, always, unconditionally. I remain blessed and honoured to act as the musical voice for his words. I have benefitted immeasurably from his help and support over the years, in so many ways, and I owe him a great deal. For example, he encouraged me to sing and play at the same time, something I insisted I could not do when we first met. But his strength and belief paid off, and quickly. He has helped me over and over in my personal and working life, and understands me undoubtedly more than any other. We really are happy with each other as friends and music writing partners, it just works, and it's thrilling to discover after many years that we still have that magical connection, and are loving this return to music enormously. It's a very exciting time".