From 1966 to 1991, Brandon played in various bands across the United States. He joined Highway 61 in 1991, and recorded four albums in that ensemble until their break-up in 2001. In 1994 he formed the Prime Rib Blues Band.[2] Popular Skeeter Brandon songs include "Strollie Bun", "That's What Lovin You Has Done To Me", "Soap Opera Blues", and "The Last Goodby".[3] Brandon's lifetime in music reflected the influence of the African-American songster tradition.[4]
Biographyedit
Calvin Thomas Brandon was born the son of Ivory Royster and Mary Brandon, in Halifax, Virginia, United States.[1] One of sixteen children,[5] Brandon was blind since childhood but sang in his local church at the age of six and was playing the piano three years later. He was educated at the Governor Morehead School for the blind in Raleigh, North Carolina, which he first attended in 1954.[6][5] He learned to play both trumpet and snare drum, and had some success in his teenage years as the leader of his own band playing around in Raleigh and Goldsboro, North Carolina. They specialized in playing cover versions of popular tracks by artists including Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, and Wilson Pickett. He slowly eased the trumpet playing out of his performing repertoire and formed the Soul Stars Band, that were good enough to earn a residency at the Playboy Club in Goldsboro.[6][5] Brandon concentrated on playing the keyboards and singing for the rest of his life. At the Playboy Club, Brandon was noticed by Clarence Carter who, in 1970, employed Brandon in his backing band. This led to Brandon making appearances worldwide.[6] Brandon and Carter subsequently recorded together at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama.[5]
By 1973, Brandon had joined the backing band for the Chi-Lites.[6] By the middle of that decade, Brandon felt confident and experienced enough to both tour and record under his own name. This led to another recording session at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. The resulting single, "I Kept on Smilin'" b/w "24 Hour Love Man" was released by Hit Man Records,[7] and sold so well locally that Atlantic Records re-released it in 1975. Brandon then joined William Bell on tour before returning to his home in Goldsboro. He teamed up with another blind musician and played small clubs across North Carolina. Rarely restricted by his loss of vision, Brandon was known for walking through the audience mid-set.[5] In the 1980s, Brandon recorded with a couple of North Carolina gospel ensembles, Slim & the Supreme Angels and Willis Pittman & the Burden Lifters.[6]
in 1991, Brandon was recruited to lead a new outfit, Skeeter Brandon & Highway 61 (often abbreviated to HWY 61).[8] They toured along the East Coast, and released four albums; Rockin' With the Blues, Hi-Test Blues (both 1993), License to Thrill (1996), and I'm a Man of My Word (1999). Guests artists on Hi-Test Blues included Mark Wenner of the Nighthawks, Ann Rabson of Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women, and Bob Margolin.[6]Max Drake played lead guitar on License to Thrill and I'm a Man of My Word.[9] The band split up in 2001, and then the Music Maker Relief Foundation provided assistance to Brandon with his bills and arranged a number of shows for him.[4] Previously in 1994 Brandon had also formed the Prime Rib Blues Band.[2] Brandon's solo effort, It's Good To Go, was released in 2003 on Rock House Records.[10]
On March 20, 2008, Skeeter Brandon died at the age of 59 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States.[1] He had stopped performing in the Charlotte area just four months before his death.[6] Brandon left behind a wife, Vanessa Brandon, and four children.[11]
skeeter, brandon, april, 1948, march, 2008, american, blind, blues, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, birth, namecalvin, thomas, brandonborn, 1948, april, 1948halifax, virginia, united, statesdiedmarch, 2008, 2008, aged, chapel, hill, north, carolina, united, s. Skeeter Brandon April 22 1948 March 20 2008 1 was an American blind blues keyboardist singer and songwriter Skeeter BrandonBirth nameCalvin Thomas BrandonBorn 1948 04 22 April 22 1948Halifax Virginia United StatesDiedMarch 20 2008 2008 03 20 aged 59 Chapel Hill North Carolina United StatesGenresBluesOccupation s Keyboardist singer songwriterInstrument s Vocals keyboardsYears active1966 2007LabelsNew Moon Records Music Maker Rock House Records From 1966 to 1991 Brandon played in various bands across the United States He joined Highway 61 in 1991 and recorded four albums in that ensemble until their break up in 2001 In 1994 he formed the Prime Rib Blues Band 2 Popular Skeeter Brandon songs include Strollie Bun That s What Lovin You Has Done To Me Soap Opera Blues and The Last Goodby 3 Brandon s lifetime in music reflected the influence of the African American songster tradition 4 Biography editCalvin Thomas Brandon was born the son of Ivory Royster and Mary Brandon in Halifax Virginia United States 1 One of sixteen children 5 Brandon was blind since childhood but sang in his local church at the age of six and was playing the piano three years later He was educated at the Governor Morehead School for the blind in Raleigh North Carolina which he first attended in 1954 6 5 He learned to play both trumpet and snare drum and had some success in his teenage years as the leader of his own band playing around in Raleigh and Goldsboro North Carolina They specialized in playing cover versions of popular tracks by artists including Sam amp Dave Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett He slowly eased the trumpet playing out of his performing repertoire and formed the Soul Stars Band that were good enough to earn a residency at the Playboy Club in Goldsboro 6 5 Brandon concentrated on playing the keyboards and singing for the rest of his life At the Playboy Club Brandon was noticed by Clarence Carter who in 1970 employed Brandon in his backing band This led to Brandon making appearances worldwide 6 Brandon and Carter subsequently recorded together at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama 5 By 1973 Brandon had joined the backing band for the Chi Lites 6 By the middle of that decade Brandon felt confident and experienced enough to both tour and record under his own name This led to another recording session at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio The resulting single I Kept on Smilin b w 24 Hour Love Man was released by Hit Man Records 7 and sold so well locally that Atlantic Records re released it in 1975 Brandon then joined William Bell on tour before returning to his home in Goldsboro He teamed up with another blind musician and played small clubs across North Carolina Rarely restricted by his loss of vision Brandon was known for walking through the audience mid set 5 In the 1980s Brandon recorded with a couple of North Carolina gospel ensembles Slim amp the Supreme Angels and Willis Pittman amp the Burden Lifters 6 in 1991 Brandon was recruited to lead a new outfit Skeeter Brandon amp Highway 61 often abbreviated to HWY 61 8 They toured along the East Coast and released four albums Rockin With the Blues Hi Test Blues both 1993 License to Thrill 1996 and I m a Man of My Word 1999 Guests artists on Hi Test Blues included Mark Wenner of the Nighthawks Ann Rabson of Saffire The Uppity Blues Women and Bob Margolin 6 Max Drake played lead guitar on License to Thrill and I m a Man of My Word 9 The band split up in 2001 and then the Music Maker Relief Foundation provided assistance to Brandon with his bills and arranged a number of shows for him 4 Previously in 1994 Brandon had also formed the Prime Rib Blues Band 2 Brandon s solo effort It s Good To Go was released in 2003 on Rock House Records 10 On March 20 2008 Skeeter Brandon died at the age of 59 in Chapel Hill North Carolina United States 1 He had stopped performing in the Charlotte area just four months before his death 6 Brandon left behind a wife Vanessa Brandon and four children 11 Discography editYear Title Record label Accreditation 1993 Rockin With the Blues New Moon Records Skeeter Brandon amp Highway 61 1993 Hi Test Blues New Moon Records Skeeter Brandon amp Highway 61 1996 Licence to Thrill New Moon Records Skeeter Brandon amp Highway 61 1999 I m a Man of My Word New Moon Records Skeeter Brandon amp Highway 61 2003 It s Good To Go Rock House Records Skeeter Brandon 12 13 References edit a b c Bob L Eagle Eric S LeBlanc May 2013 Blues A Regional Experience ABC CLIO p 292 ISBN 978 0 313 34424 4 a b Edward Komara Peter Lee July 2004 The Blues Encyclopedia Routledge p 146 ISBN 978 1 135 95832 9 Skeeter Brandon amp Hwy 61 Discography at CD Universe Cduniverse com Retrieved 2017 07 17 a b Skeeter Brandon Music Maker Relief Foundation Musicmaker org Retrieved 2017 07 17 a b c d e Toenes Chris January 16 2008 Skeeter Brandon Spotlight Indy Week Retrieved 2017 07 17 a b c d e f g Richard Skelly Skeeter Brandon Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 2017 07 17 Non NC and National Label Releases Carolinasoul org Retrieved 5 August 2018 A Blues eZine Goodbye Skeeter Brandon STLBlues net Retrieved 2017 07 17 Max Drake Credits AllMusic com Retrieved 2021 06 22 Doug Mokaren Skeeter Brandon Rock House Records Rockhouserecords com Retrieved 2017 07 17 Goldsboro News Argus Obituaries CALVIN THOMAS BRANDON savannah newsargus com Retrieved 2023 03 17 Skeeter Brandon Album Discography AllMusic Retrieved 2017 07 17 Skeeter Brandon amp Hwy 61 Discography Discogs com Retrieved 2017 07 17 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Skeeter Brandon amp oldid 1204824079, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
