Skeeter Brandon

Skeeter Brandon (April 22, 1948 – March 20, 2008)[1] was an American blind blues keyboardist, singer and songwriter.

Skeeter Brandon
Birth nameCalvin Thomas Brandon
Born(1948-04-22)April 22, 1948
Halifax, Virginia, United States
DiedMarch 20, 2008(2008-03-20) (aged 59)
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Keyboardist, singer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, keyboards
Years active1966–2007
LabelsNew Moon Records, Music Maker, Rock House Records
Associated actsHighway 61, Prime Rib Blues Band

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

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 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] 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.[9]

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]

Discography
YearTitleRecord labelAccreditation
1993Rockin' With the BluesNew Moon RecordsSkeeter Brandon & Highway 61
1993Hi-Test BluesNew Moon RecordsSkeeter Brandon & Highway 61
1996Licence to ThrillNew Moon RecordsSkeeter Brandon & Highway 61
1999I'm a Man of My WordNew Moon RecordsSkeeter Brandon & Highway 61
2003It's Good To GoRock House RecordsSkeeter Brandon

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References
  1. Bob L. Eagle; Eric S. LeBlanc (May 2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-313-34424-4.
  2. Edward Komara; Peter Lee (July 2004). The Blues Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-135-95832-9.
  3. "Skeeter Brandon & Hwy 61 Discography at CD Universe". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  4. "Skeeter Brandon - Music Maker Relief Foundation". Musicmaker.org. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  5. Toenes, Chris. "Skeeter Brandon | Spotlight". Indy Week. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  6. Richard Skelly. "Skeeter Brandon | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  7. "Non-NC and National Label Releases". Carolinasoul.org. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  8. "A Blues eZine - Goodbye, Skeeter Brandon". STLBlues.net. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  9. Doug Mokaren. "Skeeter Brandon-Rock House Records". Rockhouserecords.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  10. "Skeeter Brandon | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  11. "Skeeter Brandon & Hwy 61 Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
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