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Johnny Bulford

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Released: May 20, 2008
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General Info

  • Genre: Country / Folk / Southern Rock

    Location Nashville, Un

    Profile Views: 204157

    Last Login: 3/22/2013

    Member Since 3/25/2007

    Website www.johnnybulford.com

    Record Label Songwriter for Warner Chappell

    Type of Label Unsigned

  • Bio

    Johnny Bulford has always known the music was his calling. At the age of 11 his grandmother put in a tape of Garth Brooks and Johnny's imagination was triggered. Not long after that he had an opportunity to see Garth live. After the show he looked at his mom and said "That's what I want to do". Now, a decade later, he is well on his way. He soon began learning guitar and writing songs. Even in this very early stage of his career, his songs showed a maturity that most writers twice his age had yet to develop. At barely 15 years old he was able to enchant seasoned musicians with songs of love and loss, of faith and desperation. He was clearly a diamond in the rough. By the age of 19, Johnny's earnest and likable personality, natural talent, and passion for music enabled him to open for headliners such as Collin Raye, Josh Turner, Trick Pony, and Emerson Drive. It was during this time that he released his first indie album "Southern Thing". The title track is a fun tune about spring break and the frivolity of youth. In 2003 he was faced with a decision, college or music? The problem was that his passion for music could only be rivaled by his love of academics so he chose to do both. Meanwhile he was actively touring and promoting his second album "What Happens Here Stays Here" 2004 had him competing in the prestigious Colgate Country Showdown. This competition starts at the local level, moves to the state level, then on to regional's and finally, ends at the nationals . Johnny won the state level but didn't take the regional's. But that would all change in 2008. During the next few years he made many trips to Nashville developing relationships with label executives and consistently left them wanting to hear more. He became actively involved in local charities such as the Russell Home for Atypical Children and he was commissioned by the veteran's group 'Remembering the Brave' to write a song for fallen soldiers. That song has been played at numerous events for America's Gold Star families. The 2008 Colgate Country Showdown pitted Johnny against some of the toughest talent to date. In all, more than 50,000 artists competed in all states and regions to make it to the finals in Nashville. This was his chance to shine and shine he did. Only 5 artists were chosen for the final competition, and when the smoke cleared, Johnny was the winner of $100,000. Winning that 'Happy Gilmore check' as he likes to all it, did more than just give him some extra spending cash. It kicked open doors to Nashville's inner circle of writers. Recognizing pure talent when they see it, Warner Chappell Music signed Johnny as a staff writer and immediately put him to work writing and co-writing with some of Nashville's hottest and most successful writers including Michael Dulaney and Lisa Carver. 2009 saw the release of "Livin It Up", which features tracks written or co-written and produced by the singer and collaborations with renowned Nashville songwriting heavyweights, the Grammy nominated Charlie Craig (Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton) and Robert Arthur (Brad Paisley, Mark Chesnutt, Jeff Bates). The title track talks of high school and rivalries and just being a kid. 2010 found Johnny writing with Grammy Nominated Chris Young. Chris's album 'Neon', released in the fall of 2011 carried with it "Flashlight", a song he wrote with Chris and Robert Arthur. 'Flashlight' was Johnny's first cut on a major label. Johnny and the country music world would have to wait until 2011 for that to happen. In October 2011 Johnny and fellow writers Jon Stone and Phil Barton wrote a song called 'A Woman Like You'. They pitched it to recording artist Lee Brice. Lee started his career as a songwriter and had some success as an artist. He had several songs that did well on the charts but none of them went to the coveted number 1 slot. All that changed in late 2011 when Lee recorded and released "A Woman Like You". It debuted at #60 on the charts and steadily rose to the #1 spot on April 24, 2012. This was the game changer for Johnny and Lee. Johnny also teamed up with singer/songwriter Chris Roberts to form the duo Summerlin Road. Johnny's writing and voice coupled with Chris' seasoned stage presence make this a formidable duo that regularly wows audiences all along the 'Strip' in Nashville. They also opened the 2012 K92 All-Star Jam headlined by Sara Evans. Johnny resides in Nashville and can also be spotted performing at 'writers rounds' throughout the city. He also frequently travels with his five piece band across the southeast. His distinctive voice, passionate lyrics and haunting melodies are a shining testament to past country greats like Vince Gill, James Taylor and his childhood idol, Garth.
  • Members

    Johnny Bulford Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar.. Alicia Bulford on Back Ground Vocals Robert Chipley on Lead Guitar Alex Gross on drums James Spoon (Spoonhour) on Bass
  • Influences

    Garth Brooks and My Grandpa Davis
  • Sounds Like

    Please go to www.johnnybulford.com and sign up for Johnny's fan club so we don't loose you again. Thanks, Rhonda..

Stream

  1. Johnny Bulford

    Heading back to Sacramento in the morning for a few days of Golf and Guitars http://t.co/VFRgFzDYBR

  2. Johnny Bulford

    "Not That Easy" http://t.co/H3l94dFrrZ

  3. Johnny Bulford

    My cousins performance last night at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando. She's keeping the tradition alive back home!... http://t.co/JR1p8g7szA

  4. Johnny Bulford

    AWLY http://t.co/hzu4lPqGsV

  5. Johnny Bulford

    Sloppy Joes, Key West 2013 http://t.co/C9GEQF7YJG

Comments

Post a comment...
  • 2 years ago
  • Marietta BUckner




    Hope the year is treating you well

    2 years ago
  • 2 years ago
  • Nancy Moody


    Hey.
    Your so welcome.
    Hope all is the best in your world!

    2 years ago
  • Vanessa Rue

    Good Morning,

    I just stopped by for a visit and to say "HI"

    2 years ago
  • amber plourde

    mr. johnny bulford,

    you're my favorite country singer.
    hands down,
    no questions asked.

    - amber

    2 years ago
  • Wendy Jans

    Here's a little live version of my new song "Gravity" - I hope you enjoy it.


    2 years ago
  • alan hare

    thanks for add

    great music

    2 years ago
  • Sing For Me Entertainme…

    When Singers Preach
    Hope to see you there.

    2 years ago
  • AMANDA NAGURNEY (Singer…

    Hey Johnny,

    Just wanted to invite you to Music City Bar and Grill this Thursday July 29th. I play from 8:00pm-9:30pm. Hope to see you there!
    Thanks,                                                                                                                                                           
    Amanda

    www.AmandaNagurney.com

    2 years ago
10 of 1523More

Bio:

JOHNNY BULFORD NAMED THE “BEST NEW ACT IN COUNTRY MUSIC” AT THE 27TH ANNUAL COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN! Talk about life imitating a great country song! Rising country sensation Johnny Bulford’s (www.johnnybulford.com) wild and incredible 2009 is truly living up to “Livin It Up,” his infectious new song that’s also the title track to his upcoming third indie album. Representing radio station WWKA Orlando, the charismatic Central Florida based singer/songwriter was named “Best New Act In Country Music” at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown (www.countryshowdown.com), which was hosted by superstar LeAnn Rimes at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and was syndicated across the country. The multi-talented performer, who plans to invest the $100,000 Grand Prize check he received into furthering his blossoming career, beat out four other finalists with renditions of his original songs “How Could I Not” and “What Happens Here Stays Here,” the title track from his popular 2007 indie album. “It’s the best thing that’s happened in my career so far, and it seemed like everybody in Nashville was watching the show, so people wanted to know why I wasn’t jumping up and down and acting more excited,” says Bulford. “I guess I deal with this kind of thing differently, and I was in shock a little bit. When they announced my name, my legs started shaking and all I could think about was not falling down and not saying something silly. I thought back to when I first started listening to country music, when my grandmother popped in a cassette of Garth Brooks when I was 11 and thought, wow, it’s been quite a journey. Yet really, it’s only beginning.” Bulford, who recently scored a highly coveted endorsement deal with manufacturing powerhouse Taylor Guitars, came close to the mountaintop experience with the Colgate competition before as a Florida finalist in 2003 and Florida State winner in 2004. He’s following in the giant footsteps of some of today’s top country artists who also competed in past local, state, regional and National competitions, including Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans and Miranda Lambert. Not that he minds the superstar company—the way things are going, he’ll probably be opening for those artists sooner than later. At the tender age of 24, the seasoned performer—whose competition accolades also include placing second in the Recording Academy sponsored Florida Grammys in 2007—has already opened major shows for Collin Raye, The Warren Brothers, Josh Turner, Emerson Drive, Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, Tanya Tucker, Darryl Worley, Jason Michael Carrol, Justin Moore, Gretchin Wilson, John Anderson, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, Jamie Johnson, Blake Shelton and even Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night fame. Bulford is active on the charity circuit and recently performed an acoustic benefit concert for cancer research and medical grants at the University of Central Florida, where he’s taken time off from his pursuit of a master’s in business and marketing. This whirlwind of activity is leading up to the highly anticipated release of Livin It Up, which features tracks written or co-written and produced by the singer and collaborations with renowned Nashville songwriting heavyweights, the Grammy nominated Charlie Craig (Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton) and Robert Arthur (Brad Paisley, Mark Chesnutt). Many of the songs are currently available on his MySpace site (www.myspace.com/johnbulford), and a pre-release of the album is for sale online and at his live performances. “Even though there are a lot of strong ballads on the new album, it’s definitely a happier, more upbeat set than What Happens Here Stays Here and my (2005) debut Southern Thing,” Bulford says. “As a songwriter, I would say that I write based on experiences in my own life as well as being observational—I even write love songs based on observing the relationships of people around me. The title track ‘Livin It Up’ started with my idea of a hook that said, ‘I’ve been livin it up, now I’m trying to live it down. But it’s not a reckless party song, more about mischievous small town things like stealing the mascot and pouring soapsuds in the fountain by city hall.” “Then,” he adds, “there’s ‘Real World’ which was inspired by my experiences and those of my friends during our college years. I wonder what we all have to show for our time then. We spent a lot of time partying, but did we really learn anything? On a more reflective, inspirational note, I really like the ballad ‘Remember The Brave,’ which is a song dedicated to our troops.” Being a prolific songwriter helps set Bulford apart from the many wonderful singers in country music who rely on the magic of Music City songwriters for their material. Speaking of his preference to record his own material, he says, “I know many artists in Nashville love to draw incredible songs from the well of amazing writers in Music City, but I love writing and singing my own songs and to be honest, would feel weird singing someone else’s songs all the time—not that I wouldn’t ever do it! With outside material, I think the key would be identifying with what the song says—or if I wish I would have written it. I love collaborating with Charlie and Robert, and feel I have learned something valuable from everyone I have ever worked with. For me, the key to writing great songs is knowing first of all what isn’t going to work.” While Bulford’s childhood growing up in Central Florida was heavy on the gospel and Christian music—which he heard at home and sang in church—the singer recalls laying in bed at night listening to a local pop station and recalls falling in love with classic rock (Fleetwood Mac, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin) after his father introduced him to it. Though he has long felt that his smooth voice is more suited for country than rock, the singer cites a wide range of classic and modern influences in a multitude of genres. While he still enjoys Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and Brad Paisley (both as a singer and guitarist), Bulford is equally passionate about Irish rock singer Damien Rice and contemporary singer/songwriters like Amos Lee. Because of his natural ability to write great songs, there was a time when Bulford contemplated simply being a Music City songwriter and letting others perform his material. But his fans in Florida and throughout the region, and the millions who saw him win the Colgate Showdown, won’t hear of it. They want him onstage where they can enjoy his great showmanship and the powerful energy he has when he sings from the heart. “I used to listen to country music as therapy that got me through tough times,” he says. “That’s what’s great about this genre, that the writers and artists write and sing about life, and it can help listeners who are going through things. Knowing that I have written songs that can lift people’s spirits like this is the coolest thing in the world to me. If my words or my performance helps change someone’s life, I can’t ask for any greater gift.” Those are his spiritual goals, but what about his immediate career aspirations? “To perform on Conan O’Brien and record a duet with Carrie Underwood!” Now that would truly be Livin It Up!
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Member Since:

March 25, 2007

Members:

Click on photo to go to their site.

Johnny Bulford Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Alicia Bulford on Back Ground Vocals and Lead Vocals

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Robert Chipley on Lead Guitar

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Alex Gross on drums

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Mike Spoon (Spoonhour) on Bass

spoon

Influences:

Garth Brooks and My Grandpa Davis

Sounds Like:

Please go to www.johnnybulford.com and sign up for Johnny's fan club so we don't loose you again. It's at the bottom of the main page. Thanks, Rhonda

Record Label:

unsigned

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