Quinn Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Quinn Sullivan is an American
child prodigy
from New Bedford
, Massachusetts
who plays the guitar
. He released his debut album Cyclone in 2011.
as well as Stan Belmarce. The first original song he wrote with Chris Waters was titled "Sing, Dance, Clap Your Hands". Sullivan first gained national media
attention at age six when he appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show
. He garnered more attention when Buddy Guy
asked him to come on stage and play during a performance at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, Massachusetts
in 2007.
Quinn has since performed on stage with Guy as well as with B.B. King and has played in venues such as the Beacon Theatre in New York City
, the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, and Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago
. In 2008, Sullivan appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
and was featured on NBC's
The Today Show in July 2009. In 2009, Sullivan opened for Buddy Guy on his East Coast tour during the summer, played his own set at the popular summer music festival Lollapalooza
, as well as the Austin City Limits Festival in October. . In 2011, he appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show.
Sullivan made a guest appearance on Buddy Guy
's Grammy-nominated
album
Skin Deep
, released in 2008. His solo can be heard on the track “Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes”. His single, "Summer of Love", was released in 2009.
Performing on the Legends stage isn't all Trucks and Quinn have in common. Quinn - like Trucks and along with Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph and Eric Clapton - was asked to appear on Guy's GRAMMY(r)-nominated CD Skin Deep, released in 2008. Quinn can be heard showing off his guitar skills in a solo on the track "Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes".
Quinn has recently been working in the studio recording new material with producer/songwriter Tom Hambridge
(Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Winter). Tom Hambridge
has talked about Quinn's professionalism in the studio. "I completely forgot how young he was." He continues, "We've recorded some amazing songs. I cannot wait for the world to be turned on to this kid... he's going to be a big star."
The journey continues for Quinn this summer, when he goes on tour in cities around the country.
When Quinn isn't playing the guitar with music legends or hanging out with celebrities, he's practicing his drumming skills, playing baseball with friends and watching scary movies. He's also got dreams of "playing for people and meeting more of my heroes including Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Carlos Santana... and maybe someday meet Paul McCartney."
So what does the young artist think of his extraordinary talents?
"I definitely consider myself a regular kid," says Quinn. "Who can also play guitar."
guitars and amps including Fender Stratocasters, Bassmans and Twin Reverbs. Quinn also plays out of a Buddy Guy signature Chicago Blues Box Amp. Quinn's effects include an Ibanez Tube Screamer, a Buddy Guy signature Dunlop Wah Wah Pedal, and a Boss Tuner Pedal.
and many more.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
child prodigy
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
from New Bedford
New Bedford
-Places:*New Bedford, Illinois*New Bedford, Massachusetts, the most populous New Bedford**New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park*New Bedford, New Jersey *New Bedford, Ohio*New Bedford, Pennsylvania...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
who plays the guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. He released his debut album Cyclone in 2011.
Career
Sullivan began taking guitar lessons at age five. He has studied with Brian Cass of The Overclock Orchestra and the Toe Jam Puppet BandToe Jam Puppet Band
The Toe Jam Puppet Band is a children's entertainment group from New Bedford, Massachusetts. They perform throughout New England several times per week, including every Monday at Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford, and played 270 times in 2007 across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire,...
as well as Stan Belmarce. The first original song he wrote with Chris Waters was titled "Sing, Dance, Clap Your Hands". Sullivan first gained national media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
attention at age six when he appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
. He garnered more attention when Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
asked him to come on stage and play during a performance at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
in 2007.
Quinn has since performed on stage with Guy as well as with B.B. King and has played in venues such as the Beacon Theatre in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, and Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 2008, Sullivan appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
and was featured on NBC's
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
The Today Show in July 2009. In 2009, Sullivan opened for Buddy Guy on his East Coast tour during the summer, played his own set at the popular summer music festival Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, as well as the Austin City Limits Festival in October. . In 2011, he appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! show.
Sullivan made a guest appearance on Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
's Grammy-nominated
Nomination
Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to an office, or the bestowing of an honor or award.In the context of elections for public office, a candidate who has been selected by a political party is normally said to be the nominee of that party...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Skin Deep
Skin Deep (Buddy Guy album)
Skin Deep is a 2008 album by blues musician Buddy Guy.The albums features a number of collaborations including: Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, and Robert Randolph.-Background:...
, released in 2008. His solo can be heard on the track “Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes”. His single, "Summer of Love", was released in 2009.
Biography
"Ordinary" is not a word one would associate with 12-year-old guitarist Quinn Sullivan. The guitarist, singer, songwriter and recording artist from the Boston area already has a resume people much older than him would envy. He has been amazing people with his guitar playing since the young age of three and when Quinn was six, he caught the attention of the Ellen Degeneres Show and was flown out to Los Angeles to be a guest. Since then, Quinn has made an appearance on the Oprah show and has shared the stage with blues legends Buddy Guy and B.B. King and has played at such illustrious venues as The Beacon Theater in New York City, the Orpheum Theater in Boston and Guy's Chicago club Buddy Guy's Legends (where Derek Trucks made his first appearance at the age of 13).Performing on the Legends stage isn't all Trucks and Quinn have in common. Quinn - like Trucks and along with Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph and Eric Clapton - was asked to appear on Guy's GRAMMY(r)-nominated CD Skin Deep, released in 2008. Quinn can be heard showing off his guitar skills in a solo on the track "Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes".
Quinn has recently been working in the studio recording new material with producer/songwriter Tom Hambridge
Tom Hambridge
Thomas Jay Hambridge is a critically acclaimed American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received a Grammy Award, an ASCAP award, four Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame...
(Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Winter). Tom Hambridge
Tom Hambridge
Thomas Jay Hambridge is a critically acclaimed American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received a Grammy Award, an ASCAP award, four Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame...
has talked about Quinn's professionalism in the studio. "I completely forgot how young he was." He continues, "We've recorded some amazing songs. I cannot wait for the world to be turned on to this kid... he's going to be a big star."
The journey continues for Quinn this summer, when he goes on tour in cities around the country.
When Quinn isn't playing the guitar with music legends or hanging out with celebrities, he's practicing his drumming skills, playing baseball with friends and watching scary movies. He's also got dreams of "playing for people and meeting more of my heroes including Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Carlos Santana... and maybe someday meet Paul McCartney."
So what does the young artist think of his extraordinary talents?
"I definitely consider myself a regular kid," says Quinn. "Who can also play guitar."
Gear
Quinn plays FenderFender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
guitars and amps including Fender Stratocasters, Bassmans and Twin Reverbs. Quinn also plays out of a Buddy Guy signature Chicago Blues Box Amp. Quinn's effects include an Ibanez Tube Screamer, a Buddy Guy signature Dunlop Wah Wah Pedal, and a Boss Tuner Pedal.
Influences
There are so many Influences that Quinn has including Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, David Gilmore, Carlos Santana, Derek Trucks, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, Rain: a Tribute to the Beatles, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, The Beatles, Steve Winwood, Warren Hanes, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Susan Tedeschi, Duane Allman, Allman Brothers Band, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, Cream, The Who, BB King, Pink Floyd, Junior Wells, Led Zeppelin, The Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, Tom HambridgeTom Hambridge
Thomas Jay Hambridge is a critically acclaimed American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received a Grammy Award, an ASCAP award, four Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame...
and many more.