Bill Culp

Bill Culp rose to prominence in 2005 as a critically acclaimed Canadian solo artist mixing vocal harmonies, roots music and high-energy into a style often compared to Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, The Band, and Dave Alvin. With performances at the CCMA awards weekend in Calgary, the IPO Festivals in Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool UK, radio play in 12 countries around the world, three months on the prestigious FAR American Roots radio chart eventually peaking at Number 12, nominations at both the Hamilton Music Awards and Toronto Independent Music Awards, numerous positive reviews from around the globe, a North American record deal with Bullseye Records, Culps solo success is a reflection of his extensive and diverse musical background.Bill Culp was born in Dunnville, Ontario, Canada where there were only two kinds of music: country and what young people were listening to. The combination of rock and roll energy and rootsy honesty has been the signature of Culps 20 years on the Canadian roots and rock music scene.Starting his career as a singing cowboy at age seven, Culp played his first bar gig at age 15. His songwriting found its first vehicle when he co-founded Canadian punk legends Problem Children, a group whose debut album reached the Top 10 on the National Campus Charts in the mid-1980s. In addition to his early heroes, which included Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, Culp gravitated to the lively Hamilton roots punk scene that included Teenage Head, Tom Wilson and the Florida Razors, The Shakers, and The Bopcats, but was also inspired by American groups of the era such as The Blasters and The Long Ryders.Culp hit the road at age 18 and never looked back, playing in the Tennessee Rockets and Six Gun Justice. As a member of the Fabulous Diefenbakers, Culp performed as a sideman for the likes of Jack deKeyzer, Gene Taylor, Ken Whiteley, Chris Whiteley, Washboard Hank, Donnie Walsh aka "Mr. Downchild" and Mary deKeyzer. Finally, Culp combined his extensive live performance experience along with his many musical friends to create a stunning solo debut disc called RootsNRoll.The term Roots music can mean different things. It can mean getting back to the foundations of popular music in country, blues, and rockabilly. It can also mean getting back to where you came from, says Bill Culp. RootsNRoll combines both meanings. Culp calls upon the spirit of Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, and Buddy Holly while interpreting them through the Southern Ontario musical environment he grew up in. Country, rockabilly, pop, folk and roll & roll elements are fused together on 14 solid tracks comprised of infectious originals and songs by Tom Wilson, Dave Alvin, Jack deKeyzer and Dave Rave.On RootsNRoll, Culp has channeled the spirit of Memphis with a little help from some notable Canadian performers including the legendary Garth Hudson (The Band, member of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame) on keyboards, Jack deKeyzer (2003 Juno winner for Roots recording) on lead guitar, Chris Whiteley (four-time Juno nominee) on pedal steel, harmonica and trumpet, Mary deKeyzer (Torontos Queen of Country Blues), Dave Rave (Teenage Head, The Shakers), and Bob McNiven (Stompin Tom Connors) on harmony vocals, Conrad Kipping (Melody Ranch) on fiddle and mandolin, Big Dave Tufford (Sue Medley, Melody Ranch) and Paul Kelly (Problem Children) on guitar, with Mark Matthews (The Skansters, The Liquidaires) on drums. Co-produced by Jim Zolis (best known for his work with Jane Siberry, the Nylons, the Northern Pikes, and Glass Tiger), the result is a soulful collection of tunes that renew the meaning of roots.