On the Passing of Sid Bulkin: Remembered for his whole-hearted dedication to the Baha'i Faith

A Baha'i is remembered. -gw

Leslie Bulkin and Kelly Bulkin with John Ford Coley

Sidney Bulkin, well known bebop, jazz drummer, music publisher and producer, formerly nicknamed’ Broadway Sid,’ voted one of the 10 top new star drummers in the New York Downbeat Awards. died of a heart attack in North Hollywood, CA March 1, 2008. He was 83.

Sid was born on August 3, 1924 in the Bronx, New York, the youngest of three children. His Father was an iron worker from Russia and mother, an immigrant from Poland. Sid started playing drums when he was 13 years old and was in the Army Air Force during World War II in England. After the war, he launched is musical career at Times Square Paramount Theater in NY working with all the stars: Billy Eckstine, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Rosemary Clooney, Vikki Carr, Judy Garland, Jane Russell, Benny Goodman, Terry Gibbs, Ralph Flanagan, Manny Harmon, Johnny Mandel, Maynard Ferguson, Quincy Jones, Johnny Williams, Don Elliot, Bob Florance, Pat Longo, and countless others. He produced the first All Star Band and Jazz Album at Birdland featuring Maynard Ferguson. Recently, he produced Pat Longo’s ‘Extreme Heat’ with his long time friend Vic Damone.

During the 50’s he recorded on Columbia records with Benny Goodman’s new sextet, on Mercury Record with Terry Gibbs, on Verve Records, on Jasmine records a Big Band " A Tribute to Glenn Miller" with Ralph Flanangan, Maynard Ferguson’s first All Star Album, on Savoy records, on Verve Records Cat on a Hot Fiddle, Jazztime with Terry Gibbs and the list goes on and on and on with Johnny Carsons Tonight show, The Steve Allen Show, Dinah Shore’s TV show.

In 1957, he and his wife embraced the teachings of the Baha’i Faith and opened their Burbank home weekly for 20 years with children’s classes, youth activities and adult discussions about the influence of the Baha’i faith on present day society.

Sidney will be remembered as a great drummer and creative producer who loved music more than life, for his dynamic personality and great sense of humor, and his whole-hearted dedication to the Baha’i Faith. Sid was one of a cadre of Baha’i artists in the entertainment industry along with Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Holiday and Vic Damone, he labored insistently to promote the ideal of love and unity of all mankind.

Sidney was a devoted father to his three children and a loving grandfather to his nine grandchildren. He is also survived by his older brother and sister.

http://carriecann.blogspot.com/2008/03/sticks-and-fedora.html