Hiram
Bullock
@ Pizza On The Park
27 December 2006
Click an image to enlarge.
Biography
25 July 2008, Hiram Bullock passed away in Manhattan after
suffering from throat cancer. Click
to go to the Hiram Bullock tribute page...
Hiram Bullock was born in Osaka, Japan and came to America at the
age of 2. As a child, he studied piano at the Peabody Conservatory
of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, playing his first recital at the
age of 6. He learned to play the saxophone at age 11, and began
playing the bass guitar in junior high school rock bands as a teenager.
He switched to guitar at age 16, admittedly “to meet more
girls”. Bullock attended the University of Miami music school,
where he studied with Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius, and where
he met many of the musicians that he would play with throughout
his professional career. One of his steady nightclub gigs was with
the singer Phyllis Hyman, and this eventually led him to New York.
Over the course of his career, from his mid ‘70s run with
The Brecker Brothers to his various stints as a “hired gun”
for everyone from Gil Evans, David Sanborn to Billy Joel and James
Brown, Hiram Bullock earned his reputation as a bona fide guitar
hero. But all along, Bullock has also been developing his skills
as a singer/songwriter and charismatic live performer. His style
is not easily categorised, since his playing is a creative blend
of rock, funk, blues, and jazz. It is easy to say, however, that
his music is fun!
Almost immediately after arriving in the Big Apple, Bullock’s
international career began. He first played with David Sanborn,
meeting producer Phil Ramone and playing on many gold and platinum
albums. His credits include: The Brecker Brothers, David Sanborn,
Paul Simon, Chaka Khan, Pete Townsend, Bob James, Sting, James Brown,
Miles Davis, Kenny Loggins, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Burt Bacharach,
Roberta Flack, Spyro Gyra, Eric Clapton, Al Green and James Taylor
to name a few.
Bullock gained a huge following as the barefoot guitar player on
Late Night with David Letterman. From the inception of the show
until 1984, he was a regular member of the World’s Most Dangerous
Band, led by Paul Shaffer. Other television work includes being
a member of the house band on Saturday Night Live, and working as
the musical director on David Sanborn’s critically acclaimed
Night Music show. He was also seen acting the part of a musician
in Under Siege (starring Steven Segal); he wrote 6 of the internal
songs in the film.
Bullock’s career as a solo artist began in 1983. He has produced
all of his albums, which include many of his own songs. He is also
known as a dynamic performer, who gives his all for the sake of
the show.
Musicians:
Hiram Bullock – guitar & vocals
Chris Codish – keyboards & vocals
Frank Gravis – bass & vocals
Jeremy Gaddie – drums & vocals
|
