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Hiram Bullock

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 and David Sanborn to Billy Joel and James Brown, Hiram Bullock earned his reputation as a bona fide guitar hero. But all along, Hiram has also been developing his skills as a singer/songwriter and charismatic live performer. His style is not easily categorized, since his playing is a creative blend of rock, funk, blues, and jazz. It is easy to say, however, that his music is fun ! 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”. Hiram 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. Almost immediately after arriving in the Big Apple, Hiram’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. He has worked with many others; a full discography can be found on the discography page of this website. Hiram 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.

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Extended Analysis

The Complete Arista Albums Collection

Read "The Complete Arista Albums Collection" reviewed by John Kelman


When fusion first emerged in the late 1960s/early '70s with artists like trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Chick Corea and guitarist John McLaughlin, the emphasis was on guitar and keyboard heavy lineups like Return to Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra, with an equally strong predilection for the intensity and volume of rock and a kind of thundering funk that was different than the kind of music coming from R&B and soul artists like Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire. Parallel to ...

202
Album Review

Hiram Bullock: Carrasco

Read "Carrasco" reviewed by Ed Kopp


Hiram Bullock is best known as the bare-footed lead guitarist in the old Late Nite With Letterman house band. A student under Pat Metheny at Miami, a member of David Sanborn's old band, and a well-traveled session player, Bullock has recorded eight solo albums since 1986. In the past, Bullock generated a fairly conventional sound by marrying loud improvised guitar with funk. But this album stands out because of its seamless blend of Latin, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian influences. ...

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195

Obituary

Hiram Bullock NY Times Obituary

Hiram Bullock NY Times Obituary

Source: Michael Ricci

Hiram Bullock, 52, Soulful Guitarist, Dies

Hiram Bullock, a soulful and adaptable jazz and rock guitarist who was a member of the original band for Late Night with David Letterman, died last Friday in Manhattan. He was 52. The cause is pending, said Jennifer Armstrong, his partner of 16 years. Mr. Bullock was found to have cancer of the tongue last fall, she said. Mr. Bullock played on some blockbuster pop albums, including “The Stranger" by Billy Joel, Steely Dan's ...

209

Obituary

Hiram Bullock Charismatic Jazz-Rock Guitarist

Hiram Bullock Charismatic Jazz-Rock Guitarist

Source: All About Jazz

Hiram Bullock was a talented and charismatic guitarist, a rock'n'roller with a jazz head who bridged the world of sophisticated pop and the avant-garde New York jazz scene.

A super-session player, Bullock was mentored by the producer Phil Ramone, and his work can be heard on Steely Dan's Gaucho (1980), Paul Simon's One Trick Pony (1980), Sting's Nothing Like the Sun (1987), Billy Joel's The Stranger (1977) and Barbra Streisand's A Star Is Born (1976). He also played with the ...

496

Obituary

Hiram Bullock Late Night with David Letterman Guitarist Dies

Hiram Bullock Late Night with David Letterman Guitarist  Dies

Source: All About Jazz

Hiram Bullock, onetime barefoot guitarist for Paul Shaffer's World's Most Dangerous Band, dead at the age of 52. Bullock had been fighting a tumor in his throat since January. Bullock played guitar behind Shaffer from the debut of Late Night With David Letterman in 1982 until 1984; rumor had it that he suffered from an attendance problem. He also played on Steely Dan's Gaucho, Paul Simon's One Trick Pony, Michael Franks' Skin Dive, Barbra Streisand's A Star Is Born, and ...

Thomas J Wassell
guitar, electric

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Complete Arista...

Legacy Recordings
2012

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Plays The Music Of...

Atlantic Records
2008

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Too Funky 2 Ignore

BHM Productions
2006

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Best Groove Selection

Atlantic Records
2002

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Carrasco

Fantasy Jazz
1998

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Late Night Talk

Venus Records (5)
1997

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