Bill was born in Washington D.C. His family soon moved to La Porte, Texas when the space center was built in nearby Clear Lake. The family chose to take Bill with them. An early interest in music became a permanent aspect of his life. He began playing around Houston while in high school and then moved to San Marcos in '76. In '95 Bill got the job as bass player with Robert Earl Keen. Whitbeck has performed on stage with Steve Marriott, John Lee Hooker, Flaco Jimenez, and George Strait. He has co-written songs with Robert Keen, Rodney Hayden, The Greencards, Fred Eaglesmith and others. Bill has put together a collection of his tunes in a cd called Radio Caroline produced and performed by David Beck. He hopes people like it.