Kim was born and raised in New York City, where he attended the High School for the Performing Arts and prepared for a career as a classical trumpeter.

Soon, Kim joined Stevie Wonder's Wonder Love, which opened opportunities to perform and record with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, The Temptations, and Smokey Robinson.

As music director and arranger, Kim and The Vine Street Horns took center stage performing at all the major European jazz festivals, with Tony Bennett as vocalist and Quincy Jones as guest conductor.

The year 1998 saw another Phil Collins Big Band tour, resulting in a live CD entitled A Hot Night in Paris.

Kim has continued to tour throughout the world with Johnny Hallyday and Phil Collins,[1] and has also acted as horn section leader and arranger for the 2005–2009 seasons of American Idol as well as for America's Got Talent and Celebrity Duets.