"Folsom Prison Blues" from Kyle's new CD will play as you read this page
Kyle and Jerry Lee Lewis at Jerry's Birthday party
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"Folsom Prison Blues" from Kyle's new CD will play as you read this page |
Kyle and Jerry Lee Lewis at Jerry's Birthday party |
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KYLE
- A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN 21 year-old Kyle has been a professional musician since he left school. Kyle is from Forfar in Angus, Scotland. His parents are the well known Scottish entertainers, Joss Esplin and Sandra Wright, who first came to attention on Grampian TV's "Royal Clansmen Show". Kyle's Mum is a former World Champion Highland Dancer, his Dad, Joss, sings & plays guitar. Kyle's parents are well known Scottish recording artists who often tour America and Canada. Kyle has been playing piano and drums since junior school and played on one of his Dad's records when he was ten. Kyle also plays clarinet and guitar but his real love is the piano and in a remarkably short time he has built a huge reputation in the rock n'roll world as a boogie-woogie pianist with a great voice. When Kyle was just 15, he played in Knoxville, Tennessee and was spotted by the Jerry Lee Lewis band who thought his playing was quite sensational for someone so young.
17 YEAR OLD MUSICAL DIRECTOR When Kyle was 17, the musical director, for a three week tour of Canada by the "Breath Of Scotland" company, fell ill. At short notice Kyle took over as Musical Director for all the artists on the tour. When he was 16, Kyle released a "Great Balls of Fire"CD which has been acclaimed by the rock n'roll fraternity and he became friends with Jerry Lee, his family and band. In the last three years Kyle has appeared all over Scotland with his parents. He has also completed two separate, three week tours of Canada with the "Breath of Scotland Show" Kyle has appeared at shows in Knoxville & New York, visited the Lewis family in Memphis three times and played at Jerry's fan club conventions in the UK, Norway and Holland.
The year 2000 saw Kyle return to Canada with the "Breath Of Scotland", not only as Musical Director but also as a performer receiving many standing ovations. This culminated with his invitation to attend Jerry Lee Lewis's 65th birthday party in Memphis. Kyle returned to Memphis in 2001 & and was invited to play his arrangement of "What'd'I Say" at Jerry Lee Lewis's 66th Birthday Party. After Kyle's performance, BB Cunningham, (Jerry's bass player) said "Next to Jerry, you are the best pianist I have ever seen".
JAMES BURTON - the former Band Leader for Elvis Presley James Burton, who was the leader of Elvis's band, is another famous musician who likes Kyle. When Kyle played with him at the club James owns in Shreveport, Louisiana, Kyle was thrilled to be able to say - what Elvis used to say - "Pick it James".
KYLE FIRST TV APPEARANCE WAS IN 2001 In May, Kyle played at a Dominic Kirwan, after show party and the audience were fairly rocking when Kyle took the stage. Kyle has also recently appeared on ITV singing his own boogie-woogie arrangement of "Great Balls of Fire". Kyle recorded again in 2001 - this time playing all the instruments on an up-tempo, boogie-woogie version of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" plus a pure country arrangement of Sonny Throckmorton's composition, "She Sure Makes Leaving Look Easy" - a song that was played on radio all over Europe and in Australia. Click to see the feedback from DJ's & Radio stations This record did so well in July that Kyle has been invited to re-release it on a Special Country Edition of the Christmas "Hot Disc " that was sent to DJ's and radio stations all over Europe. 2001 ended with Kyle performing at many shows in rock n'roll, country and blues festivals in Norway & Holland & he appeared all over Scotland with his Mum and Dad. He entered and over-whelmingly won the final of the UK Resorts "Search For A Star" contest at Whitby.
Kyle playing in Norway with his friend, Norwegian star - Stephen Ackles
Kyle is pictured in Oslo with Larry Campbell, the leader of Bob Dylan's band. Kyle is very popular in Norway and frequently tours there. KYLE IN 2002 -BACK TO MEMPHIS TO RECORD The year 2002 began with Kyle returning to America to record a new CD with backing provided by top Memphis musicians. The 11-song CD shows Kyle at his best with everything from beautifully sung Country ballads to rockin' boogie-woogie. The CD was recorded in Memphis and in Scotland and the final mastering was done at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
The CD titled, "To Memphis 'n' Back" was released in August to coincide with his bill-topping appearances in "The Good Olde Days" at the Winter Gardens Pavilion Blackpool, after winning the final of "Jack Diamond's Discoveries" Talent Show.
Kyle latest CD has been universally acclaimed and has had great reviews from the UK and American press. In October Kyle returned to Holland where he topped the bill at the Rotterdam "Rock 'n' Roll Convention". He then made further return appearances at venues in Norway where a considerable fan-base is developing and following Kyle between shows.
In November 2002 Kyle was back in Blackpool for more shows including one where he followed comedian Jim Davidson & his friends - the "Roly Polys" - the famous dancers.
IN 2003 KYLE IS THE SUBJECT OF A TV DOCUMENTARY A six-person documentary team from Grampian TV spent several days interviewing Kyle at his home in Forfar & filming shows at Loch Tummell in Scotland & at Blackpool's Metropole Hotel. Kyle's extraordinary talent was the subject of a special edition of Grampian TV's "The People Show" which was broadcast on January 9th 2003. This program was broadcast again on TV in August 2003.
KYLE ON THE COVER OF "KEYBOARD PLAYER" MAGAZINE
In 2004 Kyle Esplin starred on 70 shows on different 26 cruises on the Cunard's QM2, QE2 and Cariona Click here to read all about Kyle's cruises |
Kyle Esplin and Jerry Lee Lewis pictured at Jerry's birthday party in Memphis Tenneessee
