Will Glazier Vocals, Trumpet, Songwriter
Will Glazier (vocalist/trumpeter of Snug Harbor August 2010)
Will Glazier – Musician, Composer, Band Leader
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Buffalo, New York, Will Glazier grew up in a home where music wasn’t just background noise, it was a way of life. By age 14, he had already co-founded the well-received ska group Cherry Bing alongside local peers, including future Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos. Over six years, Cherry Bing recorded four albums, landed a spot on the 2004 Vans Warped Tour, and built a loyal following through relentless regional shows.
Accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, Glazier immersed himself in jazz studies under some of the country’s finest instructors during the summer of 2003. When Cherry Bing disbanded, it marked a turning point , a moment to reflect, reset, and chart a new course. The call of the West Coast proved irresistible.
In 2006, Glazier relocated to Bellingham, Washington, enrolling at Whatcom Community College and later Western Washington University, where he joined both schools’ jazz ensembles. Immersing himself in the local music community, he connected with Joel Ricci (La Push, The Funk Revolution, Yogoman Burning Band), who became a mentor and key introduction into the heart of Bellingham’s scene. Soon after, Glazier founded Snug Harbor with Justin Smith (NW Backline), Stephen Blair, and David Lofgren (Robert Sarazin Blake band), a horn-driven funk and soul outfit that would become a regional fixture.
From day one, Glazier wore many hats for Snug Harbor, bandleader, composer, vocalist, booking agent, and promoter. His onstage presence was, and remains, energetic and unrestrained, with a focus on drawing equally passionate performances from his bandmates. Their first release, recorded under the name Apothecary House Band, laid the foundation for a sound both rooted in classic funk tradition and alive with modern edge (recorded by Joel Ricci).
In 2009, Snug Harbor’s debut full-length, Sounds From the York, took its name from the neighborhood where Glazier lived. The sold-out release show at Bellingham’s Wild Buffalo House of Music earned high praise from owner Craig Jewell and Roger Mills, who told the crowd, “Remember folks, you heard them here first!” Over the years, Snug Harbor would go on to release three more albums, earning a reputation for exuberant, earthy grooves and tight, dynamic arrangements.
Glazier graduated from WWU in 2013 with a BA in Audio and Video Production, further expanding his skill set as a creator and producer. In 2014, a chance introduction to Michal Menert (Pretty Lights Music, SuperBest Records) led to the formation of the Michal Menert Big Band — a 22-piece electro-acoustic soul ensemble based in Denver, CO. Snug Harbor served as the project’s backbone, with members joining Glazier on festival stages and national tours
That same year, Glazier launched his electronic project Willdabeast, blending bass music with funk and soul textures and teaming up with longtime friend Dan de Lisle on horns. The project expanded his reach into the electronic music world while staying true to his roots in live performance and instrumental mastery.
In 2020, Glazier founded Grand Alliance Music, an independent label and creative collective dedicated to championing underground talent in bass, funk, soul, hip-hop and experimental music. Under his leadership, GAM has released music from a diverse roster of artists, produced compilation albums, and fostered a community-driven approach to music promotion. The label serves as both a platform for his own projects and a launchpad for emerging voices in the scene, reflecting Glazier’s belief that collaboration is the lifeblood of great music.
Across every endeavor, whether leading a nine-piece funk band, composing for a 22-piece big band, or blending analog warmth with digital grit, Will Glazier’s mission is the same: keep the music fresh, alive, and fiercely human. His work celebrates the deep groove, the communal spirit, and the kind of joy that can only be found when players and audience meet in the moment.
More information on the project can be heard here: www.soundcloud.com/willdabeastofficial - www.facebook.com/willdabeastofficial or at www.willdabeastmusic.com
Listen to Will Glazier's music HERE and visit Grand Alliance Music HERE
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Buffalo, New York, Will Glazier grew up in a home where music wasn’t just background noise, it was a way of life. By age 14, he had already co-founded the well-received ska group Cherry Bing alongside local peers, including future Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos. Over six years, Cherry Bing recorded four albums, landed a spot on the 2004 Vans Warped Tour, and built a loyal following through relentless regional shows.
Accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, Glazier immersed himself in jazz studies under some of the country’s finest instructors during the summer of 2003. When Cherry Bing disbanded, it marked a turning point , a moment to reflect, reset, and chart a new course. The call of the West Coast proved irresistible.
In 2006, Glazier relocated to Bellingham, Washington, enrolling at Whatcom Community College and later Western Washington University, where he joined both schools’ jazz ensembles. Immersing himself in the local music community, he connected with Joel Ricci (La Push, The Funk Revolution, Yogoman Burning Band), who became a mentor and key introduction into the heart of Bellingham’s scene. Soon after, Glazier founded Snug Harbor with Justin Smith (NW Backline), Stephen Blair, and David Lofgren (Robert Sarazin Blake band), a horn-driven funk and soul outfit that would become a regional fixture.
From day one, Glazier wore many hats for Snug Harbor, bandleader, composer, vocalist, booking agent, and promoter. His onstage presence was, and remains, energetic and unrestrained, with a focus on drawing equally passionate performances from his bandmates. Their first release, recorded under the name Apothecary House Band, laid the foundation for a sound both rooted in classic funk tradition and alive with modern edge (recorded by Joel Ricci).
In 2009, Snug Harbor’s debut full-length, Sounds From the York, took its name from the neighborhood where Glazier lived. The sold-out release show at Bellingham’s Wild Buffalo House of Music earned high praise from owner Craig Jewell and Roger Mills, who told the crowd, “Remember folks, you heard them here first!” Over the years, Snug Harbor would go on to release three more albums, earning a reputation for exuberant, earthy grooves and tight, dynamic arrangements.
Glazier graduated from WWU in 2013 with a BA in Audio and Video Production, further expanding his skill set as a creator and producer. In 2014, a chance introduction to Michal Menert (Pretty Lights Music, SuperBest Records) led to the formation of the Michal Menert Big Band — a 22-piece electro-acoustic soul ensemble based in Denver, CO. Snug Harbor served as the project’s backbone, with members joining Glazier on festival stages and national tours
That same year, Glazier launched his electronic project Willdabeast, blending bass music with funk and soul textures and teaming up with longtime friend Dan de Lisle on horns. The project expanded his reach into the electronic music world while staying true to his roots in live performance and instrumental mastery.
In 2020, Glazier founded Grand Alliance Music, an independent label and creative collective dedicated to championing underground talent in bass, funk, soul, hip-hop and experimental music. Under his leadership, GAM has released music from a diverse roster of artists, produced compilation albums, and fostered a community-driven approach to music promotion. The label serves as both a platform for his own projects and a launchpad for emerging voices in the scene, reflecting Glazier’s belief that collaboration is the lifeblood of great music.
Across every endeavor, whether leading a nine-piece funk band, composing for a 22-piece big band, or blending analog warmth with digital grit, Will Glazier’s mission is the same: keep the music fresh, alive, and fiercely human. His work celebrates the deep groove, the communal spirit, and the kind of joy that can only be found when players and audience meet in the moment.
More information on the project can be heard here: www.soundcloud.com/willdabeastofficial - www.facebook.com/willdabeastofficial or at www.willdabeastmusic.com
Listen to Will Glazier's music HERE and visit Grand Alliance Music HERE
Will with Sharon Jones