Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise was an American band from Detroit, Michigan. The group was a collaboration between Robert Bradley, a blind street singer, and three rock musicians.
The band formed in 1994 when former members of the band Second Self met the blind street performer Robert Bradley. Bradley was born in Alabama, and gained musical experience by singing as a child at The Alabama School for the Blind. He had spent several years in Detroit by 1994, performing occasionally on the street, and playing on Saturdays in Detroit's Eastern Market,[1] when guitarist Michael Nehra, bassist Andrew Nehra, and drummer Jeff Fowlkes overheard Bradley through an open window while rehearsing for a new project. After listening to Bradley sing for an hour, they invited him up to Nehra's studio, The White Room, to record several acoustic songs, then asked him to become their vocalist.[2]
On September 17, 1996, RBBS released their 11-track debut. The result was marked as "an effective collaboration between a blind blues musician and a sympathetic Detroit rock trio."[3] The album was produced by Michael and Andrew Nehra, and engineered and mixed by Michael Nehra. A live EP followed in 1999, and a follow-up studio album, Time to Discover, in 2000. This album featured guitarist Michael Nehra, his brother Andrew as bassist, and guest vocals by Kid Rock. Allmusic reviewer Mark Morgenstein praised Time to Discover as "the first modern blues classic of the new millennium."[4] The album was produced by Michael and Andrew Nehra, and engineered and mixed by Michael Nehra. Their next album, 2002's New Ground, was noted as "earnest... exuding a hard-won optimism and working-man's head-down forbearance."[5] It peaked at #38 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. It was quickly followed by Still Lovin' You in 2003 also released on Vanguard Records and produced, engineered, and mixed by Cherokee Studios co-founder Bruce Robb.
The group's next release was What About That: New Year's Eve in Bloomington (2006), a two-disc live album documenting the singer's once-annual New Year's stops at the Bluebird nightclub in Bloomington, Indiana. Produced by filmmaker/photographer/journalist Wes Orshoski, it features 22 songs, including four acoustic tracks recorded at soundcheck, an acoustic version of "Once Upon a Time," then-new songs "New Orleans" and "What About the Man," and an a cappella rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". Five years after their previous studio record, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise released Out of the Wilderness in 2008. The songs "Love You in the Daytime," "Cryin’ My Eyes Out," and "Everybody Wanna Party" are featured in the motion picture Love N’ Dancing, starring Amy Smart and Billy Zane. Bruce Robb returned as producer, engineer, and mixer.
Post-breakupEdit
After the release of Out of the Wilderness, Robert Bradley moved back to Alabama, where he quit performing professionally, though he still sang and played in church services.[6] He ran a vending machine supply business until a back injury made the work too difficult to continue.[6] In 2016, he returned to Detroit and started busking again, which helped him reinvigorate his songwriting; as a result, he released a solo album, Down in the Bend, on Funky D Records in 2017.[6] Jeff Fowlkes joined Too Slim and the Taildraggers in the mid-2010s.[7] Mike and Andrew Nehra had founded audio equipment company Vintage King Engineering in 1993, and both continued their involvement with the company into the 2010s.[8]
Film and TV workEdit
Love N' Dancing (2009) - This romantic comedy starring Amy Smart and Billy Zane features six original new Robert Bradley songs, including Smart's grand finale dance number, "You're My Lady." The film and soundtrack were released in May 2009.
Playing for Change (2006) - Bradley appears as himself in this 2006 music documentary. The soundtrack was recorded live on the streets and in the subways of the three cities: Los Angeles, New Orleans and New York.
Lackawanna Blues (2005) - Bradley appears in this HBO movie starring S. Epatha Merkerson and Terrence Howard about Lackawanna, New York in 1956, at the dawn of integration. He performs on-screen, and has three songs featured on the soundtrack (including a duet with Macy Gray).
What About That: New Year's Eve in Bloomington (Kufala, 2006)
Out of the Wilderness (2008)
Compilation appearances
Believing in Detroit: A Tribute to Vladdy and Sergei (JFW, 1998) - a limited-edition compilation, original recording, featuring "Shake It Off"
KBCO Studio C Volume 12 Compilation Live In KBCO (KBCO, 2000) - recorded at a Boulder, Colorado radio studio, featuring "Baby", recorded live
KFOG Live from the Archives 8 (KFOG, 2001) - live, limited-edition compilation, featuring "Baby", recorded live in studio
Wish You a Merry Christmas (2001) - limited collector's edition, rare three-track CD single
Monitor This February/March 2002 (2002) - compilation featuring "Train"
It'll Come to You - The Songs of John Hiatt (Vanguard, 2003) - compilation featuring "It'll Come to You"
Relix Magazine Music Sampler July 2006 (Relix, 2006) - an import compilation featuring "Once Upon a Time"
Lackawanna Blues Soundtrack (HBO Films/Vanguard, 2004) - produced by Bruce Robb, featuring Robert Bradley's "Dark Road," "Something Inside Me," and "Down on Me", a duet with Macy Gray
ReferencesEdit
^"Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise Study Guide & Homework Help - eNotes.com". Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
^"Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise | New Music And Songs | MTV". Vh1.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
^Morgenstein, Mark (2000-03-21). "Time To Discover". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
^Unterberger, Richie (2002-02-05). "New Ground". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
^ abcRobert Bradley’s music is "born again" after return to Detroit. The News Herald, November 14, 2017.
^Review of Blood Moon. Chico News & Review, June 2, 2016.
^Audio expert Vintage King hosts 20th anniversary party. The Oakland Press, July 30, 2013.
External linksEdit
Allmusic's profile of RBBS
October 24, 2023
robert, bradley, blackwater, surprise, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve,. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Robert Bradley s Blackwater Surprise news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article s tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia See Wikipedia s guide to writing better articles for suggestions March 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Robert Bradley s Blackwater Surprise was an American band from Detroit Michigan The group was a collaboration between Robert Bradley a blind street singer and three rock musicians Robert Bradley s Blackwater SurpriseBackground informationOriginDetroit Michigan United StatesGenresSoul rock R amp B bluesYears active1994 2009 Contents 1 History 2 Post breakup 3 Film and TV work 4 Discography 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe band formed in 1994 when former members of the band Second Self met the blind street performer Robert Bradley Bradley was born in Alabama and gained musical experience by singing as a child at The Alabama School for the Blind He had spent several years in Detroit by 1994 performing occasionally on the street and playing on Saturdays in Detroit s Eastern Market 1 when guitarist Michael Nehra bassist Andrew Nehra and drummer Jeff Fowlkes overheard Bradley through an open window while rehearsing for a new project After listening to Bradley sing for an hour they invited him up to Nehra s studio The White Room to record several acoustic songs then asked him to become their vocalist 2 On September 17 1996 RBBS released their 11 track debut The result was marked as an effective collaboration between a blind blues musician and a sympathetic Detroit rock trio 3 The album was produced by Michael and Andrew Nehra and engineered and mixed by Michael Nehra A live EP followed in 1999 and a follow up studio album Time to Discover in 2000 This album featured guitarist Michael Nehra his brother Andrew as bassist and guest vocals by Kid Rock Allmusic reviewer Mark Morgenstein praised Time to Discover as the first modern blues classic of the new millennium 4 The album was produced by Michael and Andrew Nehra and engineered and mixed by Michael Nehra Their next album 2002 s New Ground was noted as earnest exuding a hard won optimism and working man s head down forbearance 5 It peaked at 38 on Billboard s Top Independent Albums chart It was quickly followed by Still Lovin You in 2003 also released on Vanguard Records and produced engineered and mixed by Cherokee Studios co founder Bruce Robb The group s next release was What About That New Year s Eve in Bloomington 2006 a two disc live album documenting the singer s once annual New Year s stops at the Bluebird nightclub in Bloomington Indiana Produced by filmmaker photographer journalist Wes Orshoski it features 22 songs including four acoustic tracks recorded at soundcheck an acoustic version of Once Upon a Time then new songs New Orleans and What About the Man and an a cappella rendition of Will the Circle Be Unbroken Five years after their previous studio record Robert Bradley s Blackwater Surprise released Out of the Wilderness in 2008 The songs Love You in the Daytime Cryin My Eyes Out and Everybody Wanna Party are featured in the motion picture Love N Dancing starring Amy Smart and Billy Zane Bruce Robb returned as producer engineer and mixer Post breakup EditAfter the release of Out of the Wilderness Robert Bradley moved back to Alabama where he quit performing professionally though he still sang and played in church services 6 He ran a vending machine supply business until a back injury made the work too difficult to continue 6 In 2016 he returned to Detroit and started busking again which helped him reinvigorate his songwriting as a result he released a solo album Down in the Bend on Funky D Records in 2017 6 Jeff Fowlkes joined Too Slim and the Taildraggers in the mid 2010s 7 Mike and Andrew Nehra had founded audio equipment company Vintage King Engineering in 1993 and both continued their involvement with the company into the 2010s 8 Film and TV work EditLove N Dancing 2009 This romantic comedy starring Amy Smart and Billy Zane features six original new Robert Bradley songs including Smart s grand finale dance number You re My Lady The film and soundtrack were released in May 2009 Playing for Change 2006 Bradley appears as himself in this 2006 music documentary The soundtrack was recorded live on the streets and in the subways of the three cities Los Angeles New Orleans and New York Lackawanna Blues 2005 Bradley appears in this HBO movie starring S Epatha Merkerson and Terrence Howard about Lackawanna New York in 1956 at the dawn of integration He performs on screen and has three songs featured on the soundtrack including a duet with Macy Gray Discography EditAlbumsBlackwater Surprise RCA 1996 Authorized Bootleg Live RCA 1997 limited edition CD featuring four live tracks Live RCA 1999 Time to Discover RCA 2000 New Ground Vanguard 2002 Still Lovin You Vanguard 2003 What About That New Year s Eve in Bloomington Kufala 2006 Out of the Wilderness 2008 Compilation appearancesBelieving in Detroit A Tribute to Vladdy and Sergei JFW 1998 a limited edition compilation original recording featuring Shake It Off KBCO Studio C Volume 12 Compilation Live In KBCO KBCO 2000 recorded at a Boulder Colorado radio studio featuring Baby recorded live KFOG Live from the Archives 8 KFOG 2001 live limited edition compilation featuring Baby recorded live in studio Wish You a Merry Christmas 2001 limited collector s edition rare three track CD single Monitor This February March 2002 2002 compilation featuring Train It ll Come to You The Songs of John Hiatt Vanguard 2003 compilation featuring It ll Come to You Relix Magazine Music Sampler July 2006 Relix 2006 an import compilation featuring Once Upon a Time Lackawanna Blues Soundtrack HBO Films Vanguard 2004 produced by Bruce Robb featuring Robert Bradley s Dark Road Something Inside Me and Down on Me a duet with Macy GrayReferences Edit Robert Bradley s Blackwater Surprise Study Guide amp Homework Help eNotes com Archived from the original on 9 October 2012 Retrieved 27 October 2020 Robert Bradley s Blackwater Surprise New Music And Songs MTV Vh1 com Retrieved 2014 06 29 Owens Thom 1996 09 17 Blackwater Surprise allmusic com Retrieved 2008 11 06 Morgenstein Mark 2000 03 21 Time To Discover allmusic com Retrieved 2008 11 06 Unterberger Richie 2002 02 05 New Ground allmusic com Retrieved 2008 11 06 a b c Robert Bradley s music is born again after return to Detroit The News Herald November 14 2017 Review of Blood Moon Chico News amp Review June 2 2016 Audio expert Vintage King hosts 20th anniversary party The Oakland Press July 30 2013 External links EditAllmusic s profile of RBBS Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Bradley 27s Blackwater Surprise amp oldid 1163429471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
