Kim Bullard
keyboardist I singer I producer I arranger I programmer
History: Born
in Atlanta, Kim studied classical music and by the age of 14 had
begun playing out with local bands before moving to Los Angeles
and continuing his musical education at UCLA with a focus
on arrangement and film composition.
In the mid-70s,
Kim moved to France and worked as Musical Director for Véronique
Sanson, the original singer of the song Amoureuse (coincidentally
later covered by Kiki Dee on Elton's Rocket Records). Through Véronique,
Kim met Stephen Stills and subsequently toured with Crosby, Stills
and Nash (CS&N). After that, Kim recorded and toured with Poco
for five years.
The 80s saw
Kim continue to tour with CS&N and other artists while also
developing his studio skills, working with Yes, Cheap Trick, Heart,
Cher and Kenny Loggins. In 1987, Kim co-wrote four songs on and
co-produced Tori Amos' first album, Y Kant Tori Read.
In the 1990s
Kim continued to lengthen his resume by working with artists as
diverse as Bette Midler, Foghat and Nine Inch Nails. In recent years,
Kim has focused more on session work than on touring: in 2003 he
produced songs from the Team America, World Police film (by South
Park's Trey Parker and Matt Stone) and also produced Because I Can,
the debut album from his daughter Katy Rose. Leading up to his joining
Elton's band, Kim contributed to records by Glen Campbell, Avril
Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson. Bullard
joined the Elton John Band following the untimely death of Guy Babylon
in the fall of 2009. He began touring with John in Moscow, followed
by The Red Piano concerts
Current
Credits:Through his extensive session work in Los Angeles, Kim developed friendships with people within the Elton John music community. When Guy Babylon passed away, Kim was asked to become the keyboardist for the Elton John Band and immediately took to the task of learning his parts for The Red Piano concerts coming up in less than a month’s time. Kim’s first performance as a member of the Elton John Band took place on October 7, 2009, in Moscow. Some 780+ shows later, Kim is at home on the big stage. He currently lives in Los Angeles, in the house where the television show, Mr. Ed, was filmed.. What's
it like to be with John? "One day you're playing the organ at the London's Royal Academy of Music, and another
day we're live at Royal Albert Hall. He's the nicest and hardest
working Rock legend I know. It's a blast," says Bullard.