Biography
2 February 1942, St. Matthews, South Carolina, USA. Although taking up guitar in childhood, between the ages of seven and 13 Ulmer’s primary musical activity was as a singer in a gospel group, the Southern Sons. In 1959 he moved to Pittsburgh, then to Detroit in 1967, and then eventually to New York in 1971, where he played in the house band at the famous bebop venue, Minton’s Playhouse, for nine months. In the 70s Ulmer worked or recorded with Art Blakey, ‘Big’ John Patton, Larry Young, Joe Henderson and Paul Bley. His big break came in 1974 when he began studying and playing with Ornette Coleman, and in 1977 became a member of Coleman’s controversial sextet that later became Prime Time. Ulmer also played with the Music Revelation Ensemble, whose members included David Murray, Amin Ali and Ronald Shannon Jackson, and Phalanx, with saxophonist George Adams, drummer Rashied Ali and bass player Sirone. Ulmer sings like...
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