A powerhouse rock quartet from Cleveland, the Sultans of Bing have been creating cosmic grooves together since 1997. With an emphasis on strong songwriting and structured opportunities for improvisation, the Sultans have long striven to bring high energy and positive vibrations to audiences of all stripes. Along the way the band has performed from Colorado to Ontario, headlining theaters and festivals, and supporting national and international acts.
Over the years, the Sultans of Bing have seen a number of excellent musicians pass through their ranks. At the core since the beginning has been bandleader/guitarist/vocalist Tim Askin, along with keyboardist/vocalist Steve Masek, whose incredible sonic palette and songwriting talents bring an irreplaceable asset to the Bing. The group was voted "Best Jam Band," and Masek, "Best Keyboardist," three years consecutively (2000, 2001, and 2002) in the Free Times Music Awards, sponsored by longstanding Northeast Ohio weekly, the Cleveland Free Times.
Rounding out the Sultans lineup are Bill McComb on bass, and T.Lane on drums. Joining the group in early 2000, T.Lane brings years of experience in the music business, proficient in playing many styles with great sensitivity, from reggae to rock to jazz to funk. Bill McComb, his partner in the groove, joined the group in 2001.
The group began touring regionally in 1998, and quickly became a fixture on the Ohio college circuit, performing in Columbus, Athens, Oxford, Kent, Akron, Bowling Green, Oberlin, Yellow Springs, Cincinnati, and all over Cleveland. In short order the Sultans became the de facto house band at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park. On July 23, 1998, the group gave a free concert in Voinovich Park, behind the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, which performance later became their first issued recording. Soon after, on January 29, 1999, the band headlined its first show at the Agora Theater, calling the event "The Concert For Peace."
In 2000, Sultans of Bing collaborated with songwriter Pat Sullivan in a project called "The Mook." Sullivan authored an album, "Augustine," and recorded it with Sultans of Bing in Dayton throughout 2000. Steve Sweney also appeared on several cuts, including "These Very Things," which tune remains a staple of the Sultans' live repertoire to this day.
In 2006, Gaslight Wilbur recorded "The Great Space" in Cleveland at Curtis E. Leonard Studios, featuring Tim Askin on lead guitar and a number of Sultans of Bing alumni including Paul Lewis, Jeff Harmon, and Chris Hanna. The tunes "Driver" and "Chris McCandles," staples of the Bing's current repertoire, come from this project.
A longstanding dream of the Sultans' came true on June 2, 2006, as legendary keyboardist Bernie Worrell joined the group onstage at Cleveland's Beachland Ballroom to perform "Fade" and "Speaking of Bernie" with the band. The band rounded out the year with performances at clubs and festivals in Ohio and Ontario, including a notable run of unique shows at the Sachsenheim Hall in Cleveland -- opening for the Sun Ra Arkestra on 9/22, Ekoostik Hookah on 12/29, and putting on a daylong, 25-band festival on 4/20.
Sultans of Bing celebrated their Tenth Anniversary in 2007 with a weeklong tour of Colorado in late February. Returning to Cleveland, the band hosted a gala Tenth Anniversary Concert on March 2, 2007, at the Cleveland Agora. Featuring a who's who of Sultans of Bing members and collaborators past and present -- including Curtis E. Leonard, Dana Clarke, Pat Sullivan, Greg Campolieti, Chris Hanna, Paul Lewis, Jeff Harmon, Cherylann Hawk, Davidione Pearl, The Right Honorable Michael Jacobs, and handsnapper/agitator Sam Phillips -- the concert also featured a surprise appearance by Phil Keaggy, Daniel Pecchio, and John Sferra -- the legendary rock band Glass Harp -- who performed "Can You See Me" with Masek and Askin, as well as treating the crowd to a spectacular rendition of their 1970 classic, "Never Is A Long Time." The next night, March 3, 2007, Sultans of Bing appeared with Ekoostik Hookah at the Newport in Columbus.
Good Friday -- April 6, 2007 -- in Columbus, Ohio, the Sultans performed an aftershow set at the storied venue Ruby Tuesday after Eric Clapton's barnburning hometown performance the last night of his world tour (most of which tour included Derek Trucks in EC's band).
The Sultans rounded out 2007 with performances at clubs and festivals around Ohio, including a memorable festival appearance on September 2 with Glass Harp and Col. Bruce Hampton at Nelson Ledges, where the Bing was joined onstage by the one and only Phil Keaggy. Glass Harp also brought Askin onstage during their headlining set for "Can You See Me."
Over the years, the Sultans of Bing have shared stages with national and international acts like Bernie Worrell & The WOO Warriors, Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, Buckethead, Derek Trucks Band, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, George Clinton, Merl Saunders & Melvin Seals, Leftover Salmon, the Big Wu, Maktub, Max Creek, Ekoostik Hookah, Umphrey's McGee, Tea Leaf Green, the Original Parliament, Glass Harp, the Sun Ra Arkestra (under the Direction of Marshall Allen), and the Headhunters (featuring George Porter Jr. on bass). The Sultans have also appeared on the side stage in concert with acts like Jethro Tull, Santana, The Dead, and the String Cheese Incident.
The Sultans have also performed with other acts over the years, while maintaining membership in the Bing. Masek joined River Junction in 2001, Peach Melba in 2002, and currently appears with the Freebyrds; Askin formed Colorado-based U.S. Steel and Lumber in 2004, and played lead for the John Mullins Band in 2004-05; Bill McComb has played with In Demand and S.O.U.L.; and T.Lane can be seen with acts like The Whiskey Island Ramblers, Drumplay, Kung Fusion, and more.
