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 | Whether you witness Jess Cullison at a personal appearance or hear his many commercials, you soon realize that his talent is almost larger than life. Standing 6 feet 3 inches with a rich bass voice, Jess commands attention everywhere he performs. The same attention is kept when you listen to his latest album,"Doin' It Right". In this album, as well as on stage, Jess weaves his musical style into various forms of music that range from Bob Wills' Western Swing to a style reminiscent of Dean Martin's Easy-Listening Ballads. |
| E-mail at: jess@tall-grass.com |
| Don't Let the Front Door Hit You The Closer I Get Who's He to You Is That You? | You Baby You Shana's Going Out Since You Came Into my Life For the Good Times |
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"Jess Cullison has played and sung with Western Swing greats Frankie McWhorter and Hank Thompson. It is quite obvious, when you listen to the wonderful Western Swing on this album, that Jess learned well. In this fine album of 12 tunes, at least half can truly be classified as Western Swing. The album was recorded in Nashville, that would account for the country leanings of the remaining tunes.
Jess opens the album with some great Western Swing on "Don't Let the Front Door Hit You" and continues the mood on "The Closer I Get" and "Who's He to You." Other Western Swing dandies are really swinging "Is That You," "You Baby You" and "A Little Bit Of Happiness."
A real treat is Jess' tribute to the great Ray Price. He does approximately five and one half minutes of Kris Kristofferson's "For The Good Times." The country tunes are "Silent Partners," "You Don't Know," "Since You Came Into My Life," the title tune, "Doin' It Right"and a rock-a-billy oriented, "Shana's Going Out."
Mike Gross, WVOF-FM, Fairfield, CT
"There have been many Western Swing CD releases recently and Jess Cullison's Doin' It Right is right up there with the best of them. Give it a listen, you'll be glad you did."
Jesse Austin Morris,The Western Swing Journal
"Western Swing and Country Music are alive and well. Jess Cullison's "Doin' It Right" is aptly titled. From the first note of the first song -- "Don't Let the Front Door Hit You" to the end of the final cut, "For the Good Times" -- this CD is the real thing. Accept no imitations!"
Jeannie J, The Nashville Newsletter
"It's not too often that a 6-foot-4 Country Music singer with a rich, bass voice attempts a solo career. Like Harold Reid of Statler Brothers fame, they usually end up singing with a group. There are those exceptions, however, and Jess Cullison is one of them. On his CD "Doin' It Right," Jess serves up a heaping helping of traditional Country and Western Swing which reminds me of Bob Wills, and Tennessee Ernie Ford. A must buy for the serious fan of Classic Country Music."
Cool LZ's Picks
"Jess Cullison grew up in Kansas and Oklahoma and has worked as a guitarist and bassist throughout the Midwest and Southwest. Today, he works from the production end, on recording projects with numerous Oklahoma singers. Jess has worked with sound equipment for many years and the thing about this CD that immediately jumps out at you is the great "sound." Jess also did a fine job with the song selection. I wasn't familiar with all of the composers, but musicians who are interested in finding some good new Western swing tunes would be well advised to give this album a listen, e.g. to "Is That You?"
Western Music Advocate
"Jess,
Just a note to let you know you're definitely doin' it right. There are so few new westernswing artists around today and I have difficulty finding the music of those who areestablished, with the exception of Bob Wills and Asleep At The Wheel of course. Have beenplaying your songs on my radio show, Stay A Little Longer, on SC Educational Radio. I andthe listeners thoroughly enjoy them. Reaction has been good. Hope you will continue withnew artists. My program has a very loyal following after five years on the air and it's the only station in SC and neighboring GA and NC where listeners can find Western Swing, Cowboy,and very Classic Country(30s, 40s, 50s.) Wish you the best in your efforts."
Larry Hall, Host, Stay A Little Longer, SC Educational Radio
Jess Cullison was born in Anthony, Kansas on July 21, 1941. In 1959 he made his first professional appearance at the Issac Walton League just outside Shepherdstown, West Virginia. It is rumored that this very same venue is where Patsy Cline began her singing career.
Jess attended college at Northwestern Oklahoma State University and helped with his mother's family farm. His mother became the Dean of Women at Northwestern in 1963 and Alva has been the family home since that time.
In 1965 he became the lead guitar player for LITTLE CAESAR and THE GLADIATORS, a well-known regional band. When the group decided to become an R&B band, Jess became a bass guitar player. LITTLE CAESAR and THE GLADIATORS traveled throughout the southwest and the Midwest and were quite successful for a number of years.
Jess transferred to Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1965 and was a guitarist with the University Stage Band directed by Dick Coy, a former Stan Kenton saxophonist. Jess graduated from Southwestern in1966 with a degree in Industrial Operations Management and a minor in music.
During the late 60's rock and roll music was undergoing an evolution which didn't appeal to Jess. Following college Jess played with THE ARISTOCRATS a regional group with a big band swing sound. He was also a member of the Air National Guard and in 1968 was called to active duty. The next two years he was stationed in Korea and Japan. He used his free time playing at various military installations in the orient.
Home after the war, Jess started CULLISON MANUFACTURING. It was a successful agricultural and oil field equipment company that took Jess away from the music scene for twelve years. In 1983, Jess decided to pick up his guitar and start to make music one more time. He has not been away from it since.
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