Today we’d like to introduce you to Champian Fulton.
Hi Champian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I became a Jazz musician at an early age, performing alongside my father, Stephen Fulton, from age 12. I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and we worked all the time there, playing every weekend in Bricktown at the local Jazz club Maker’s. I had begun piano at age 3, but I quickly tried out the bass, the drums, and the trumpet. I loved the piano so much, so I stuck with that, and of course, I loved singing. I worked professionally through high school and then moved to NYC to attend college at SUNY-Purchase, getting a degree in Jazz piano performance. I began working in NYC while in school and became a full-time musician when I graduated at age 20. I was passionate about recording my music, and I have since recorded 15 albums with various groups, usually my working trio or quartet. Still, my first album was a big band album. I began touring in the US and then made my first European tour in 2011, returning yearly, sometimes as many as 6 or 7 times per year. I have now performed in over 25 countries. I was the Jazz vocalist & pianist of the year in the Hot House Awards in both 2017 and 2019. And in 2022, I was nominated for an Emmy Award as part of a TV special for NY1.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are always bumps in the road whenever you do something long enough. When you are a musician, you are a small business, which means you wear many hats. I’m responsible for learning the music, rehearsing my band, writing new material, maintaining my website and social media profiles, booking gigs, paying the band, planning the tours, and marketing! It’s a lot, but I truly love what I do. I love all the aspects, even driving the band around from one gig to the next. The pandemic was probably the most challenging time in my professional life, but we pivoted to live streaming early on and were successful in that arena. Performing online during my weekly series, “Live from Lockdown,” really gave me a purpose and brought much joy into my life while I was stuck at home.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a touring Jazz pianist and vocalist. I play swinging straight-ahead music in the style of my heroes Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Charlie Parker, and Dinah Washington. I have been a professional musician for over half my life, currently about 25 years. I love what I do and the opportunity to perform before an audience. I have performed in more than 25 countries and made 15 albums of my music with my ensembles.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the history of Jazz in St. Louis. A few years ago, I performed in the Carondelet area for the ribbon cutting of a mural of Clark Terry. I knew Clark very well, he was my father’s best friend, and subsequently, I grew up with him as a close family friend, almost a grandfather. He was so proud of being from St Louis, and I was glad to see him posthumously honored with such a beautiful mural in his hometown. As an Oklahoman, I feel much more connected to the musical legacy of St. Louis and Kansas City than I do to the musical heritage of New Orleans or New York. The rhythm and style created in the midwest are so important; I love to honor that and be a part of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.champian.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/champianfulton
- Facebook: facebook.com/champianfulton
- Twitter: twitter.com/champianfulton
- Youtube: youtube.com/champianfulton
