Cindy Bullens w/ special guest Ralston Bowles

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Cindy Bullens arrived in Los Angeles in 1974 with little more than her songs, her guitar, and a burning desire to make music.  Cindy got her first real break when she crashed a studio party and met Elton John, who was impressed enough to hire Cindy as a backup singer on his US tour. Cindy sang with Elton on three major tours, as well as the multi-platinum album Blue Moves, and on his 1976 No. 1 Pop single “Don't Go Breakin' My Heart.”

In 1978, Cindy was nominated for a Grammy Award for her vocal performances on the Grease film soundtrack. The following year, she released her debut solo album Desire Wire (United Artists, 1979) and scored a breakthrough hit with her song “Survivor,” which earned Cindy a second Grammy Award nomination for best rock vocal performance.  Signed to Casablanca Records in 1980, Cindy released Steal The Night, a strong sophomore album.

In 1999, Artemis Records picked up her album Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth , written after her daughter Jessie's death, for national distribution.  The album received the AFIM (independent music) award for “Best Rock Album.”  One of the highlights of her 2000 tour was opening a series of California concerts at the personal request of headliner Emmylou Harris.

That same year, Cindy released Neverland. Co-produced by Cindy and Steve Earle's TwangTrust partner Ray Kennedy, Neverland brought Cindy back to the bare bones fun of her rock 'n roll roots.  Featuring guest appearances by Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, and John Hiatt, Neverland garnered Cindy several spots on various Top Ten lists after its release in the USA.

“When people ask me what I do, I say I'm a rock and roller,” Cindy notes.  “I've said that from the beginning, and I still say it today.  Many people consider me a singer-songwriter in the category of John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle, and I'm very proud to be in their company, but when you come to see me play live, playing the same Les Paul or Stratocaster I played 20 years ago, you will know I'm a rock-and-roller.”

Over the last few years, Cindy has toured in Europe and Australia.  In the summer of 2004, she gathered with an all-star band at Ray Kennedy's Room & Board Studio in Hermitage, Tennessee, to record her sixth solo album, Dream #29.  The album features Sir Elton John playing rollicking piano on the title track, a duet with roadhouse bluesman Delbert McClinton and a guest vocal by the World Champion Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. The CD also features some of the best musicians in the world: George Marinelli (Bonnie Raitt) on guitar, Dennis Burnside on keys, Ginger Cote (The Coming Grass) on drums, and Garry W. Tallent (E-Street Band) on bass, Dream #29 is an absorbing collection of rock & roll, balancing poignant and introspective songs with a down-and-dirty rock & roll attitude.

When you first see Ralston Bowles perform you know he has something important to say.  His commanding live performance plays a part in that but it' s the songs that stand out.  Ralston is a fixture in the Grand Rapids music scene. He takes time to encourage a number of the up-and-coming singer/songwriters in the West Michigan area by hosting open mic nights and house concerts. He has shared the stage with T-Bone Burnett, the Hot House Flowers, and Richard Buckner among many others.  His first CD, Carwreck Conversations, was produced by Marvin Etzioni.  This Fall he'll begin working on his next CD with Marvin producing.