Brian Culbertson - Together Tonight

12 January 1973, Decatur, Illinois, USA. Encouraged by his father, Jim Culbertson, a music teacher and trumpet player, Brian began his formal musical education at an early age. At eight he studied piano, then drums, followed by trombone and finally, four years after beginning his studies, the bass. His first musical listening was to contemporary big bands and small jazz groups, alongside which he absorbed the music of bands like Blood, Sweat And Tears and Earth, Wind And Fire. While still at junior high school, Culbertson began composing his own music as an alternative to the standard classical recital works. He earned numerous DownBeat student awards, individual and group. His questing nature drew him into the creation of music using synthesizers and, through the use of computers, MIDI sequencing. This use of computers and synthesizers, allied to his multi-instrumental skills, allowed him to develop apart from the general trend of his contemporaries. After graduation, he continued his studies in the music program at DePaul University, Chicago. It was here that he first encountered musicians of equal calibre and started playing in a band. Nevertheless, when the opportunity to record arose he fell back on his own resources for his 1994 debut Long Night Out. Remarkably, for a single-handed, 'home made' debut, the album made the Top 5 in the Adult Contemporary charts, remaining there for 10 weeks. Subsequently, however, he chose to share the stage with others, including Gerald Albright. Culbertson's follow-up albums were also well received and throughout the late 90s, he became a significant name in the smooth jazz charts with Somethin' Bout Love being especially successful as were the album's spin-off singles, 'Do You Really Love Me?' and 'Back In The Day'. In addition to making his own albums, Culbertson has also been active as a record producer with albums by Bob Mamet and Steve Cole to his credit.