Jay features KEVIN BULMER on the Local Spotlight all this week at 3:40 pm
He’s a songwriter … former broadcaster … and he once ran a stock car race track for a couple years.
Meet Kevin Bulmer.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Kevin is first and foremost a proud and loving father of his two sons, Eddie and Jaden. In his free time, you’re most likely to see him with his two best pals enjoying local events, parks, arenas, libraries and other activities.
At work, Kevin has become one of his area’s leading media marketing professionals, with an extensive background in both the broadcast industry and in managing and creating his own businesses. Kevin has been an on-air radio host, published author, manager of a NASCAR-sanctioned stock car track, and a partner in the formation of an event management company.
Kevin absolutely loves music, and is particularly attached to the works of his favourite artists, and the art of songwriting in general. Initially sparked and inspired by the album “III Sides to Every Story” by the band Extreme, Kevin has been writing songs for his own enjoyment for more than two decades. A select few songs have been recorded and released. He hopes to share more in the coming years.
When it comes to music, Kevin’s fascination has always rested on the craft of songwriting. Kevin is passionate about the music – and musicians – that inspire him, and enjoys writing songs for his own enjoyment when the mood strikes.
Since the early 90’s, Kevin has written hundreds of songs, but has recorded only a handful of them to date. As time passes, he hopes to bring an increased earnestness for demoing and distributing parts of his vast collected catalogue, creating new work, and performing as time allows.
A look at Kevin’s musical history:
DISCOGRAPHY:
“Solo: The Return of No Schedule Man”
4-song acoustic EP, released February 21, 2014
“No Scheudule Man“
Full length CD, released June 26, 2010
“I Remember”
3-song EP, released July 27, 2007
“Light It Up”
Single, released December 2000
“Forget About Tomorrow (with the band “Innocent Bystander”)”
5-song cassette, released in 1994
About “Solo: The Return of No Schedule Man:
4-song acoustic EP, Released February 21, 2014
This project was a long time in coming. I spent a great deal of time away from my guitar, for many different reasons. And when I returned to it, I did so tentatively. But at some point in the winter of 2012/2013, I started sifting through my catalogue of songs and singling out some that I felt like working on, with no particular agenda in mind.
Eventually, I blew the dust off my little 8-track digital recorder and captured some newer versions of a handful of songs, just to see how I felt about them.
One of those songs was called “Déjà Vu.”
My kids ask me about my music a lot. So I shared with them that I’d been working at it again. They immediately asked to hear the songs. We were in the car, and I played snippets of four or five tracks for them. I didn’t play any of them all the way through. And again, at that time, these songs were rough: demos of demos. My boys congratulated me and encouraged me to keep working at it, but didn’t say much more than that at the time.
Weeks later, while I was preparing a meal in the kitchen, I heard someone singing the chorus to “Déjà vu” from the other room. I entered to find Eddie, my oldest boy, sitting on the couch and happily chirping out the melody that he’d only heard once before, weeks prior, and not even in its entirety. I was stunned.
“What are you singing, little buddy?” I asked.
“It’s that song you wrote, Dad,” he said.
“How in the world did you remember that? You didn’t even hear the whole thing and that was weeks ago.”
“It’s a great song and I really like it, Dad,” he said. “You should put it on iTunes.”
And so it began.
I want to thank Eddie and Jaden (that’s Jaden on the cover) for helping me to see what I couldn’t see on my own. They showed me that it’s worth continuing to create for one simple reason:
It’s fun.
And if you’ve got something that you enjoy just humming to yourself, then that’s enough.
Eddie, Jaden and I will be humming along in 2014.
You’re welcome to join us.
TRACK LISTING:
- Intro: Old McDonald (1:00) ***Recorded in Wallaceburg in the late 70’s***
2. Deja Vu (3:33)
3. Bilge Rat Blues (3:12)
4. Lullaby (3:40)
5. March (4:10)
CREDITS:
All songs written by Kevin Bulmer (SOCAN)
Produced by Kevin Bulmer with Tim Schwindt
Recorded at River Music Productions in London, Ontario
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Tim Schwindt for River Music Productions
Musicians:
Kevin Bulmer (lead and backing vocals, guitars)
Tim Schwindt (percussion)
“Left Right Left” vocals on “March” by Eddie Bulmer, Margaret Bulmer, Kevin Bulmer, Tim Schwindt, Patti Schwindt, Justyn Schwindt and Heather Schwindt
2007: “I Remember” (2007)
Over a six-year period from 2001 through 2006, Kevin was mostly inactive as a performer, due mostly to the incredible time commitments he took on in his professional career. Coupled with that, Kevin’s two sons were born; Eddie in 2003 and Jaden in 2006. Though Kevin kept writing songs of all types, he played live very seldom.
That all changed early in 2007 when Kevin took on a project in honour of his grandfather, Murray Newkirk, writing and recording three songs in support of the Wallaceburg Antique Motor and Boat Outing (WAMBO) and the town of Wallaceburg in general.
In February of 2007, Kevin brought to Wallaceburg a song he’d written years earlier. He played it for WAMBO Chairman Chip Gordon and town historian and author, Alan Mann. They instantly encouraged Kevin to continue with the project.
Kevin soon wrote the songs “I Remember” and “Glass” and began the process of trying to get them on CD. To help out, he called his old friend from the Riverband, Dave Cook, and began working with London-based producer, Kevin Gorman.
In June of 2007, the “I Remember” CD was recorded at KG Records in London. It was released in July of 2007.
In addition to the three songs on the CD, Kevin once again mixed in his own songs for many of the subsequent performances to support the disc, including “Everything’s Just Fine,” “Orlando,” “Bagley Avenue,” “Benjamin Briggs,” “No Schedule Man” and “Back to Buena Vista.”
Some highlights of that time:
- Performed at Wallaceburg & District Museum new “Glass Gallery” exhibit opening ceremonies
- Performed at WAMBO for Knights of Columbus charity dinner, on main stage on opening night and in refreshment tent on the Saturday night
- Performed original “Evening of Image, Story and Song” concert at Jeanne Gordon Theatre in Wallaceburg
- Supporting artist for Juno-award winner, David Francey at Sarnia Library Auditorium and at Aeolian Hall in London
3-song EP, released in June, 2007
TRACK LISTING (click on the song title for lyrics and more on each track):
CREDITS
Produced by Kevin Gorman and Kevin Bulmer
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Kevin Gorman at KG Records in London, Ontario CANADA
All songs by Kevin Bulmer (SOCAN)
Musicians: Kevin Bulmer, Dave Cook Kevin Gorman
Cover photos (front and back): Al Mann, Mann Historical Files
Design by Jeff Graham, CPT Entertainment Inc.and Kevin Bulmer
Photo credits: Al Mann
