A Tribute to Hiram Bullock, Clips from Letterman 1982-86

A short tribute to Hiram, who passed away on this date eleven years ago, July 25, 2008.
1. December 9, 1982. Viewer Mail.
2. February 10, 1983. Viewer Mail.
3. December 3, 1982. "Gimp." Composed by Hiram; finally appeared on his 1994 album "World in Collision."
4. November 6, 1986. "Funky Broadway."

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

Hiram was beyond amazing on guitar. Never got the notice he deserved.

[@hfuhruhurr5139]

Yes he did. Find clips of him with David Sanborn

[@xy9394]

My favorite guitar player of all time...not just his playing...but his spirit

[@eidetecker]

Hiram and Jeff Beck are my favs, and Hiram for the exact reasons you've said.

[@bobkhan9145]

How much we miss him... RIP Hiram and play with the angels now!

[@jhardycarroll]

I loved this band so much I started playing drums.

[@TheAcceleratorMagazine]

Just checked the Net bout Hiram and bio sez he passed away in '08 from cancer. Miracles got me past cancer in '97, cost me a kidney, '06, brain tumor and '13 melanoma on left bicep. Ain't none of us gettin out of here alive, but always saddens me a bit more when talented musicians pass on but at least they l leave something good behind. Never felt like I deserved the 30 or so miracles that have kept me here. Still walking. Still a security contractor at 66. I got the music in me but that's where it's gonna stay, I reckon. Got a magic 1957 Gibson hollow body electric that some craftsman mounted the neck of a solid body on after supposedly a bar fight in Memphis in around that time. Ain't pretty but its amazing. I'm not. Was lookin up Hiram to see if still playin so maybe could get him to play it. Cancer sucks. Hiram, you were a cool dude.... hey, if you get this write back. Who knows? I've been dead a couple times. Ain't like you read about. Much. Ya'll in for a shock. L8r.

[@rickketchum-rx2op]

Monster guitar player!!!! May he rest in peace.

[@blessedman8203]

Great, Great, Great guitar player. One of the best I have ever heard and he played with so much passion and feeling. The Great Old Days Of Hiram Bullock. A Great Guitarist!!!

[@angelthman1659]

I'm the one who wrote the first letter about Hiram's guitar. Ironically, I was in the audience (I lived in NJ not too far). One of my life regrets is not having told Dave during the audience warm-up. I wanted to ask if he was going to read my letter, but chickened out. Who knows, maybe I would have gotten on camera. Not meant to be as they say.

[@iamjmw]

Hiram was a very kind man, taken from this world way too early. I studied with Hiram, & he was giving & patient. He invited me to several studio gigs with him, David Sanborn, & Marcus Miller, all monster players. I got his Strat out of pawn for him several times. Wonder what happened to it. It was a beast of an instrument. RIP

[@sloburnjo]

Thanks for sharing, wow. His sounds live on ...Now what year Strat? pickups? ✌

[@iamjmw]

He had PAFs & it was a early 60's Strat

[@fawltytenor]

I love that Hiram was invited back to promote From All Sides. How can you not love Hiram, such an amazing musician. Always fun to watch, but he was such an absolute badass musician. So killing.

[@jamesmichaelfrank]

Pure Gold .. I miss these days .

[@GS-uy4xo]

I must have seen Hiram 4 or five times, with Sanborn and his own projects - at every show I’d be amazed by his playing and crazy ability to entertain. I remember he walked around the orchestra pit at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburgh on what looked like a 2x10 railing - killing solo!!! Miss him dearly.

[@sporkfindus4777]

I love Hiram's chorus-laden sound, conviction and he was a tasty lick machine!!!

[@dstol62]

Imagine if today’s late night bands sounded like this.

[@FusionHowie]

Something happens to my spine when I hear Hirum, Alan Holdsworth, Cole train.... Peace from Detroit !

[@fortedrummer3026]

Great memories of Hiram Bullock. In 1988, a guitarist and bandmate loaned me his second-generation audio cassette recording of Hiram and his band (with Charley Drayton on drums) live at a nightclub. One set. Amazing energy throughout. It was one of my favorite recordings. They played "Funky Broadway," "Window Shopping", a beautiful instrumental rendition of "Dear Prudence", and Hiram's solo interpretation of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", along with a few other tunes. I made a copy of that tape and wore it out from listening and playing the drums along with it. In 1990 I got to see Hiram and his band in that same nightclub, sitting front and center. He left a musical imprint on me.

[@fdre3wsd]

this band was probably in my ear more than any other growing up, the commericial intros and outros, the regular intro and outro, playing with guests. music they don't get credit for but so so talented

[@Trist805]

Awesome clips. Hiram was a legend.

[@igorlaniella465]

Left lot of love in San Sebastian Jazz Festival. He offered such a show with his band (improv, playing and singing like the master he was and his funny dancing between the spectators...) that even BB King, that was playing after him said: I am sorry I not gonna fly as high as Hiram. He was of course also fantastic. An evening I'll never forget. 23 years ago. I am getting old.

[@Joe-jn5li]

I sat at the table butted up against Hiram’s in NYC at a restaurant called Tomeo. I recognized him immediately. But it’s New York so, u don’t say anything. He made us join his conversation with his table and was super nice and funny. A great talent! He is missed.

[@alanblake6105]

Wow! Hiram during this time was really killing it. Charlie Drayton and Will Lee too. What great musicians!!!

[@ZigbertD]

Great player, and I so clearly remember seeing the "Hiram wears shoes" bit. Inspired television...

[@wiltner]

The best live version of Funky Broadway I’ve ever heard. 😎💥

[@falcon9411]

Thanks for posting, Hiram was the Best !

[@jrpipik]

Love that Will is barefoot in that last clip. The band was great over the years, but that first incarnation was dangerous.

[@dongiller]

I’m glad you caught barefoot Will. Also, that first Viewer Mail was months before Hiram had actually broken his leg.

[@GregoryBoydmusic]

Oh do I agree with that were they incendiary or what!

[@johnnynbk]

He died the same day as my Dad, eleven years earlier. RIP.

[@andyengle]

I love hearing Hiram play! Such a distinct sound that has never been replicated. And, as a nice surprise, how about Sanborn joining the band on sax (11:42)!

[@Zipp43]

A-men! We love you Hiram!!

[@dspiffy]

There has never been a better band in television than the original Late Night band. The only band that came close was the Night Music band which also had Hiram.

[@modscientist9793]

Uhmmmm wow!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@bassfishingwiththeantichri2921]

I loved Hirams spirited playing. Like if Hendrix played sax. He deserved his own signature Fender Strat. RIP.

[@kurtcommon]

He had his own signature Cort.

[@fredfungalspore]

Died of cancer on his tongue I wonder if he was a smoker? I play Fall Down... one of my favorites of Hiram I didn't know he studied with Pat Metheny.... 🙏

[@sloburnjo]

Both Syd & Will are barefoot for Hiram's return.

[@henkkman]

Thanks for this, super funny! 😊 Incredible band!

[@d.adonis4547]

Hiram was the man!! I remember his appearances during the Eddie Murphy SNL skits: "James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub", "Tyrone Green: Kill The White People." Playing that infamous beat up Strat.

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Speaking of Eddie Murphy, you probably noticed the Buckwheat tee shirt he was wearing. Wonder if that was a tribute to EM’s SNL sketch?

[@mariomessina6389]

Yes the sunburst strat that had a rosewood fretboard aged to look like ebony and he had Gibson PAF's in the neck and bridge. That guitar was awesome and the tones he coaxed out of it were amazing !

[@moncorp1]

Alright Don! The episode where Dave asks 'what if Hiram wore shoes' always stuck in my head over the years. Thanks for posting these! Now just post the episode where Polly Draper tells her story of traveling in the Soviet Union and my life will be complete.

[@davidsthubbins176]

I liked the band so much better in the NBC days, when they were a four piece (or 5, including Sanborn).

[@georgemargaris]

14:43 Hiram is such a character!

[@ukesonparade534]

Wow. Thanks!

[@pyannaguy4361]

He was just Hiram when we all came & went in & out of a club in the the sticks in Maryland called the Rhapsody. Must've been something a bit magical about the place though; the house band for quite awhile was The Upsetters, who a guy named Otis Redding took on as his backup band. They died with him on that fatal flight. Roy Buchanan & Danny Gatton came outta Maryland as well. Hey, Didn't Roy Clark, also?

[@sloburnjo]

Right on!

[@BradTheProducer]

In the most roundabout way possible, MF DOOM led me here.

[@seanvine39]

Before John Scofield, there was Hiram.

[@pascaljeanne8002]

great player hiram lol !

[@pascaljeanne8002]

and will lee on bass !

[@jimbosteen2935]

I believe years ago I saw Hyrum bullock,

[@dongiller]

Hiram.

[@jimbosteen2935]

Guitar, jaco and Kennward Denard ,he played keys sang and right hand drums,this was in Pittsburgh somewhere.

[@GS-uy4xo]

@@jimbosteen2935 I was there - Graffiti - end of the show Jaco threw his bass blindly over his shoulder and Kenwood caught it ! After the show I hung around and talked with Hiram, super friendly as always; Jaco was still walking around dribbling a basketball … (Kenwood’s drum solo while playing left handed keys and scatting over Night in Tunisia was mind blowing!!).

[@erickziglar7967]

I think Hiram was later in the house band on Night Music hosted by david sanborn?

[@dongiller]

I taped them all when aired, and someone has uploaded nearly all of the Japanese-syndicated shows.

[@davidsthubbins176]

Sanborn's show was so good it had to be canceled. God forbid you put talented musicians playing live on television.

[@MrSean03839]

What was the story with Hiram leaving the show? I remember seeing a show where Dave was asking Paul where Hiram was and making a comment about "Is it a very high day for him"? I took Dave's comment to mean Hiram was partying or something. I don't remember seeing him after that.

[@dongiller]

See other thread here.

[@lisahardy9707]

Dave's first 3 shows on CBS are on you tube any chance of you posting 4th ? please pretty please all mighty Letterman curator

[@Soul74]

Was that Neil Jason subbing on bass on “Gimp”?

[@dongiller]

It was. I tagged him on the Facebook upload.

[@supergroovyderosa]

Neil Jason on Bass?

[@dongiller]

Yep, subbing for Will.

[@jamestejada3673]

Looks like Neil Jason from.the Brecker Bros Band in one of the clips.

[@dongiller]

He subbed for Will more times than any other bassist on the show.

[@SailorCallie]

0:12 OMG! Isn't that Leon Pendarvis from the SNL Band sitting in for Paul?

[@dongiller]

It is indeed. If you’re interested, a detailed history of the musicians on Dave’s Late Night - donzblog.home.blog/2022/04/17/the-musicians-on-late-night-with-david-letterman/

[@SailorCallie]

@@dongiller Thanks. 😁

[@mackdaddyg321]

This is a very sweet gesture. When and why did Hiram leave Late Night?

[@dongiller]

Spring 1984. Drug and punctuality issues.

[@mackdaddyg321]

@@dongiller Such a pity. He was good. I wonder whose decision it was to let him go.

[@dongiller]

Likely the producer’s. But it was also mutual. From what I understand, despite the steady gig, and, more importantly, the steady income, Hiram was growing restless. Steve Jordan was likewise getting bored. In one interview he talks about covering “Under My Thumb” when, weeks before, he was hanging out with the Stones. That got to him.

[@electropainted]

That first incarnation of the late night band made a big impression. Awesome chemistry that I don’t think was ever equaled

[@dongiller]

Well, Hiram, Will, and Steve were three-quarters of the 24th Street Band (1978-81), which performed both in NYC and Japan, where they were extremely popular. Cliff Carter was the keyboardist. Paul Shaffer was no stranger, either; he produced their second LP. (Three were released, all in Japan only.) So when Paul assembled his new LN band, all he did, as he’s repeatedly said so himself in countless interviews, was recruit an already-cohesive unit. (The band decided to end its existence in 1981, as it was getting far too much in the way of their respective studio commitments.)

[@jacobjames8782]

Don, do you know who's sitting in on bass during Gimp? I doubt the bearded gentleman is Will.

[@dongiller]

That’s Neil Jason. He frequently subbed for Will.

[@fibboobbif]

@@dongiller Neil Jason is/was a monster bassist as well as Will Lee. He played with Brecker Bros and 100 other top stars.

[@dongiller]

@@fibboobbif And a super nice guy as well.

[@fibboobbif]

@@dongiller yeah... we had some mailing contact years ago...

[@jimbosteen2935]

Wasn't that Steve jordan?

[@dongiller]

It was.

[@214jef]

Rickles kidded Hiram on an episode in ‘83 I believe.

[@bababooey5314]

This would not go over very well in todays world... Hiram took it in stride.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJPRZHyqot-KorM

[@moncorp1]

@@bababooey5314 ~ yet another reason why todays world sucks choad.

[@khunopie9159]

I always wish that Geddy Lee would have quit Rush to join the CBS Orchestra

[@yassaito...]

Does anyone have when he played eat or be eaten with iggy popppp

[@dongiller]

I uploaded it years ago, but it’s since been blocked.

[@yassaito...]

thats such a drag !! i hope they post it on the official acc

[@flatearthstuff2565]

this band never existed in my reality

[@deadheaders86]

Agreed-did Corrie Ten Boom write books in your realitty?