Legendary Kpop Singer: Kim Bum Soo

Kim Bum Soo (김범수) born January 26, 1979, is a South Korean R&B and soul singer famous for his smooth vocals and emotive ballads.

Kim decided begin to pursuing a music career at the age of 20, inspired and encouraged after singing with the local church choir throughout his youth. At Seoul Institute of the Arts, Joongbu University, he majored in music. Shortly after graduating, Kim attended an audition where he landed a recording contract with the label 'Team Entertainment.' Subsequently, his debut album was not released for another two years.

He gained a popularity after his 3rd album "Bogosipda" (보고싶다/I Miss You).This song became the theme song of Korean drama 천국의 계단 (Stairway to Heaven).Ealier another of Kim's songs, 'Promise', from the album of the same name, had also been used for the popular MBC drama, 'Watch and Watch Again' (1999). With "Bogosipda" Album, Kim Bum Soo became the first Korean artist to make a mark on the North American music charts, with his song 'Hello Goodbye Hello' ranked as the 51st spot on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2001.

By establishing Kim's staple image as a ballad singer. Critic and writer Catherine Chan recalls the feeling surrounding the song as a 'sentimental lovers' favorite,' describing how the song 'had all the ingredients - a tender voice, lovely melody and dreamy lyrics

Kim's 5th album, 'Remember Kim Bum Soo 5th & So Long...' was so titled as a reference to the fact that he released it right before he was about to start his two-year compulsory military service. This is in accordance with South Korean nationality law. Just prior to beginning his service, Kim had produced the song 오아시스 (Oasis), which was released as a track on this.

The song has a slightly more commercially American R&B feel than the bulk of his music, demonstrating the stylistic growth Kim has experienced over the years.
On Kim's 5th album, he also pays homage to those that have inspired and influenced him on the track 'Like'. Amongst those he names are Stevie Wonder, Eric Benet, Brian McKnight, Babyface, R Kelly, Mary J. Blige and Lenny Kravitz.

He has also incorporated covers of songs by some of these artists in his live concerts, noticeably Stevie Wonder's 'Lately' and R Kelly 'I Believe I Can Fly.'
This Album became special cause this is the only of his albums to be produced in the US, 'Remember Kim Bum Soo 5th & So Long...' also references Kim's connection to the Christian faith, with the gospel-inspired CCM track, 'The One In My Life'. The song clearly alludes to Kim's childhood church choir days, giving the 'goodbye-and-remember'-themed album a nostalgic sense of 'ending at the beginning.'

Kim continues to do performances in several countries within East Asia, but also in other parts of the world—notably in North America, where Korean pop culture (drama and music) has skyrocketed in popularity within the last decade. Past events have been held in Hawaii, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, as well as in parts of Canada.

  
After he completed his military service. His sixth album, released in 2008, was titled The Practical Usage of Sadness(슬픔활용법). While delivering several powerful ballads on this album, he also branched out into new genres, such as on the country tune "님아." And one year later he released his 7th Album " Solista Part 1" following "Solista Part 2" in 2011.

In this latest Album Kim Bu m Soo regained his popularity and some high profit due to the hits "Different (달라)" which it's lovely duet song by Girl's Generation leader's Kim Tae Yeon. "Different" by the way, was actually a digital single was released in early April 2011, and begin to reach number one in all Kpop Charts for couple weeks.