by Kelly Rogge
Tim Bailey has always known that he wanted a career in music. After graduating from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2004, he went on to finish his education in California and has been actively working in the music industry ever since.
Now, the Kansas City, Kan., native is back in the Kansas City area for one night performing on Ariana Grande’s World Tour. The concert is scheduled tonight at the Independence Events Center, Independence, Mo.
“It’s really always been a dream for me, coming back home to perform,” he said. “I have definitely gotten to play at some big venues all over the world, but it is something really special coming back home and playing for the people who supported you.”
A musician from a young age, Bailey studied at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, Ky., for two years before graduating from Sumner Academy in 2002. He then studied music theory, music performance and music engineering at KCKCC, where he also performed with the KCKCC Jazz Band. In 2005, he graduated from the Los Angeles Music Academy.
Since then, he has had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Natalie Cole, Natasha Bedingfield, Tyrese Gibson, El DeBarge, Chris Brown and Lalah Hathaway. He has also appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Wendy Williams Show and the Ellen DeGeneres Show and spent some time touring with the play, “U Don’t Know Me- The Musical.”
“I thought that I would go into more of the music production, engineering field,” he said. “I love being in the studio, but there is something about being on stage and getting that energy from the crowd. I have a love for those live performances.”
Bailey first teamed up with Grande during her first headlining tour, “The Listening Sessions,” in 2013. “The Honeymoon Tour,” Grande’s second tour in support of her album “My Everything,” kicks off tonight at the Independence Events Center. Bailey plays the electronic bass and the key bass, which emulates the low, deep sound of an upright bass or bass guitar on a keyboard. The tour has stops all over the United States include New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle as well as world-wide stops in Canada, France, Spain, England and Germany, among others.
Grande rose to fame in 2009 when she landed a role on the Nickelodeon series “Victorious.” She can also be heard on the show’s soundtrack. Her own spinoff series, “Sam and Cat,” followed. Her musical career includes two albums and numerous awards including New Artist of the Year at the 2013 American Music Awards and Best Pop Video at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. She has also had two Grammy nominations.
“I really enjoy her fan base,” Bailey said of playing with Ariana Grande. “The energy from her fans is amazing. The music is also great. She has some great songs and great arrangements. She is a true talent.”
Bailey said looking back on his time at KCKCC, he believes the music theory classes he took have been a big benefit as he has moved forward in his career.
“Those classes have really helped me out in everything I have done musically,” he said. “I took the music classes in high school, but all of the mechanics on how music works, I learned at KCKCC. I also developed a greater appreciation of jazz music as well as performing.”
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor for KCKCC.