Clyde Bullard- Son of Atlantic Records executive Clarence “CB” Bullard, who helped the careers of Paula Abdul, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, The Rolling Stones, Donny Hathaway, etc- has been surrounded by music since he was a child. Clyde was introduced to the business of music by his father and his uncle Bill Withers, the Grammy Winning singer and songwriter who penned “Lean on Me”.
Clyde is a professional bassist who began his career working for The Joseph Papp Shakespeare Festival Touring production of “Two Gentlemen of Verona”, when its bassist abruptly left the company.
Clyde was called and he came in and sight read the show with no rehearsal and instantly became a member of The Musicians Union, Local 802 and toured for six months across the country.
Clyde was asked to perform and tour with another Broadway Show immediately after “Two Gentlemen of Verona”- the sensational show “Hair”.
Clyde has also played in productions of “Pippin”, “A Chorus Line”, “ Amen Corner”, “The Wiz”, “Bubbling Brown Sugar”, “Godspell”, ‘Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope”,etc.
Clyde performed for 17 years as the bassist for ‘The Boys Choir of Harlem” and has played for Bill Withers, a sixty city U.S. tour with Eddie Murphy, Luba Mason, Ben Vereen, Donna Mc Kechnie, Julie Budd, Gloria Gaynor, Beth Carvalho, ZeZe Motta, Jair Rodriquez, Martha Wash, The Weather Girls”, The Delfonics, Cuba Gooding & The Main Ingredient, and four performances at The White House, including the Clinton Inaugural Party.
Clyde was also the creator of the “Capitol Records” group in Hollywood California, “Mystic Merlin” that infused music and stage magic illusions together, the group was signed for three albums and featured a vocalist who was then unknown- ‘Freddie Jackson”.
As the producer at Flushing Town Hall since 1998, Clyde has produced these world class artists, The NEA Jazz Masters, Mariam Mc Partland, Clark Terry, Dr. Billy Taylor, Jon Hendricks, Freddie Hubbard, Barry Harris, Randy Weston, The Heath Brothers, Eddie Palmieri, New York Grand Opera, Gloria Lynne, Jay Leonhart, Joey De Francesco, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Woody Herman Orchestra, The Tito Puente Orchestra, Dr. Valerie Capers, Gary Bartz, Adela Dalto, Alex Blake, Hendrik Meurkens, Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Mc Griff, Kenny Garrett, Harold Maybern, Ben Riley, Junior Mance, The Chico O’Farrill Afro Cuban Jazz Orchestra, Jerry Gonzales & The Fort Apache Band, Loren Schoenburg, Jimmy Owens, The Jazz Mobile All Stars, Little Jimmy Scott and many others.
Clyde served as a panelist for The New York State Council on the Arts, administered New York City’s Best Jazz Tour, voted by “The Village Voice” in 2004-“The Queens Jazz Trail Tour”, Clyde founded “The Queens Jazz Orchestra” in 2008 with NEA Jazz Master and Conductor Jimmy Heath.
Clyde is the producer and artistic director of “CenterStage”- The Queens Center for the Performing Arts” which is a 501 organization and has a faculty of 16 professionals that teach Opera, Jazz, Gospel, The Suzuki Method, Theatre, Dance and instrumental music instruction, Clyde is also on the advisory board for “The Josephine Foundation” and is the Associate Producer for “Broadway Blockbusters” and has started a new company, “Supernova Productions” with Andrew Koslosky which produces special event concerts and will be working with “Centerstage” to develop new programs.
Busy with all these projects, Clyde Bullard is still the Consulting producer for his home organization of 13 years: Flushing Town Hall.
Clyde was honored at Flushing Town Hall on April 22nd 2010 and received “The 2010 Cultural Crossroads Award” and also on May 7th 2010 , Clyde was honored by “The Josephine Foundation” and received an award for service in the arts.
“Supernova Productions” recently produced “Noel”- A Night of Everlasting Love, The Story of Christmas, the four concerts were presented on December 17th & December 18th at Flushing Town Hall and featured a chorus of 70 singers and a 20 piece orchestra that Clyde Bullard contracted and also played with them for the concerts, while partner Andrew Koslosky narrated the concert and performed a solo vocal number in the concert.