William Hundley Emerson, Jr., known as Bill Emerson, was a prominent American five-string banjo player, born on January 22, 1938, in Washington, D.C., and passed away on August 21, 2021, in Fairfax County, Virginia. Emerson was a pioneering figure in bluegrass music, renowned for his skillful banjo playing, baritone and tenor harmony singing, and his role as a composer and song scout. His career, which began in the mid-1950s, saw him collaborate with some of the most influential names in bluegrass, including Buzz Busby, Jimmy Martin, and Cliff Waldron.

Emerson was a founding member of The Country Gentlemen in 1957, alongside Charlie Waller and John Duffey, and later formed Emerson & Waldron with guitarist Cliff Waldron in 1967. He was known for integrating contemporary rock, soul, and country music into bluegrass, which helped broaden the genre's appeal. Emerson also served in the United States Navy from 1973, where he performed with the Navy Band's Country Current ensemble for two decades.

Throughout his career, Emerson released numerous albums, both as a solo artist and with various ensembles, including Emerson & Waldron, Emerson and Goble, and Bill Emerson & Sweet Dixie. His compositions, such as "Theme Time," "Sweet Dixie," and "Welcome to New York," have become bluegrass standards. In recognition of his contributions to the genre, Emerson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2019. His legacy as a banjo virtuoso and a key figure in bluegrass music endures.