At the age of 13, Sullivan was welcomed into his father's band. "I always like to say I was thrown into the deep end of the pool because I was just a beginner and these guys were professional players," Sullivan said. Through the years, Sullivan's music and professional career has taken him around the world and allowed him to play among notable musicians and bands. Sullivan, who lived in Topeka for 25 years and served as executive director of the Topeka Performing Arts Center from 1988-1996, will be honored in July for his musical contributions to the state when he is inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.