Big Noise is representing Kasim Sulton's catalog of recordings and songs for placement and licensing in film, TV, and advertising. Music supervisors can contact Big Noise about Kasim's catalog at 401-274-4770 (USA) or by emailing al@bignoisenow.com.

Click here to enter Kasim's Official Website:
www.kasimsulton.com
Songs, photos, tour dates, news,
CD purchase, bio, discography, press and more

Biography

A highly coveted sideman, singer/songwriter Kasim Sulton is recognized and respected the world over for his work with other artists, including Todd Rundgren and Utopia, Meat Loaf, Joan Jett, Hall and Oates, Patti Smith, Patty Smyth, Mick Jagger, and Celine Dion, to name just a few. His level of involvement has ranged from playing bass, keyboards, and/or guitar, to adding vocal harmonies, singing lead, and contributing as a songwriter, to producing entire albums, as he did with the Meat Loaf's 'VH-1 Storytellers' CD. There isn't much he hasn't done in his 30 years in the music industry.

As one of the most in-demand players in the business, Sulton will still answer the call when asked to perform with other artists; so don't be surprised to see him onstage from time to time with Meat Loaf, Tommy James and the Shondells, or any other artist lucky enough to enlist his talents to enrich their performances. But after years of playing with others, Kasim Sulton is finally giving his own music the center stage it truly deserves, having just released his own 2-disc CD retrospective, 'All Sides.'

With the exception of a brief stay in Los Angeles in 1980 while recording his first solo album, New York has always been home to singer/songwriter Kasim Sulton. He was born in Brooklyn, and moved to Staten Island at the age of six, where he still lives today.

As a teenager, Sulton got his first big break playing piano with rock singer/poetess Cherry Vanilla, who at the time was David Bowie's publicist. 'That gig opened up a world of doors for me that never would have happened otherwise.' As they say, it's a small world, and being in the right place at the right time can certainly help, too. Events have a way of happening that cause chain reactions. A friend asked me to take a ride to Kennedy Airport one day - he was driving fellow musician and David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick there for a flight. We walked into Slick's house and the first thing he said to us was, 'Either one of you guys want to play bass for Todd Rundgren?' My friend saying, 'Go ahead, Kasim, you do it.' Slick saying, 'Call Michael Kaman (renowned musician on the New York scene), tell him you're interested, he knows the details.' But you see, I never would have known Michael Kaman had Cherry Vanilla not introduced me to him.'

That connection turned out to be a very meaningful one. Sulton auditioned and earned a spot as bass guitarist and vocalist for the progressive rock band Utopia. Over 9 releases from 1977-1986, Sulton polished his musical and vocal techniques. He went from a young, gifted musician to one with confidence and a seasoned onstage presence. On the 1980 pop release 'Adventures In Utopia,' he wrote and sang the band's only top 30 hit, 'Set Me Free.' Sulton credits Rundgren with helping him improve along the way, and reach that next level. 'The saying goes, 'Genius creates, talent delivers.' Todd does both. And although he wasn't consciously teaching me, a lot rubbed off over the 10 years in close proximity to him.'

As a member of Utopia, Sulton was afforded the opportunity to perform as a session musician on one of the best-selling rock albums of all time, Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out of Hell.' (48 million copies to date.)

Throughout the '80s, Sulton recorded and performed with a wide variety of artists, including the Indigo Girls, Mick Jagger, Bon Jovi, Jim Steinman, Patti Smith, Patty Smyth, Cheap Trick, and Joan Jett, whom he also toured with as an official member of the Blackhearts. In 1982, his first solo album, 'Kasim,' was released, and a collaborative album with fellow Blackheart Thommy Price, titled 'Lights On,' was released in 1986.

In the early '90s, he hit the road with Hall and Oates for their unplugged tour, and also began contributing background vocals for Meat Loaf's follow-up to 'Bat Out of Hell,' titled 'Bat Out of Hell II (Back Into Hell).' A tour followed in support of the album, which lasted nearly three years and saw Sulton playing both guitar and keyboards, as well as singing background vocals. He continued working steadily with Meat Loaf, appearing on his 1995 release 'Welcome to the Neighborhood,' the Born to Rock tour, and the 1996 release 'Live Around the World.' That same year, Sulton also contributed background vocals for Celine Dion's 'Falling Into You.'

In 1998, he toured with Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, visiting Japan, Australia, Germany, Holland, and England. Later that same year, he took over the reins as musical director for Meat Loaf, and returned to playing bass. It was Sulton's responsibility to arrange and rehearse the band for the upcoming tour. The first performance with this new line-up was a taping of 'VH-1 Storytellers.' 'The Very Best of Meat Loaf,' with three new tracks, was released shortly after that, and a tour of Europe ensued.

In the summer of '99, Sulton joined Todd Rundgren for a brief tour, produced the Meat Loaf 'VH-1 Storytellers' CD, and later that fall toured the U.S. once again with Meat Loaf.

Sulton is currently touring the world with Todd Rundgren, which includes TV appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Home >> Artists A-Z >> Kasim Sulton
Find by Genre >> Songwriters & Composers >> Kasim Sulton