Bill Mann spent a little over three years in Army Intelligence in Germany and Viet Nam before embarking on a seven-year stint as a teacher for blind and deaf blind children. Switching careers, he spent 20 years as a consulting engineer to the manufacturing industry, taking him to the far corners of the earth to repair early computer controlled industrial equipment, set up factories, design and oversee hazardous waste reclamation systems and various other industrial engineering projects. In 1988 he again switched careers and founded Decotec Furniture Manufacturing, a respected West Coast manufacturer of metal casual dining sets, tables, bar stools, exercise equipment and speaker stands. In 1992, meeting the challenges of a changing business climate, he switched gears and started a website, www.barstools4u.com and now sells direct to the public rather than through traditional stores.

His interest in music is strictly from the viewpoint of the audience. Dr. Mann does not sing, play any instruments or even read music. His interest in music stems from his Mothers singing. Flora Mann sang with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus in the early 1900's and was still able to hit G above high C at her death at the age of 70.

Bill has a long record of public service. He served as a Vice President of the Los Angeles Master Chorale during the tenure of John Currie and was involved in the hiring of Paul Salamunovich as the Music Director when John Currie returned to his native Scotland. Some of his other volunteer endeavors include transcribing textbooks into Braille for blind students, serving as a fire lookout in the Angeles National Forest, photographing tombstones for the California Transcription Project, serving with the South Pasadena Educational Foundation, and volunteering as a Coordinator supervising about 20 polls on election day for the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters. He set up the library for the Foundation for the Junior Blind and works with at risk children. In his spare time he has raised 40 foster children and hosted 53 exchange students.