Glad you’ve found me… I swear I’m not AI-generated.
In fact, I’m actually really into the whole human experience thing… which is why a major focus in my life is performing live music. (But hey, I like a good “Cat Saves Baby from Crocodile” video as much as the next guy…)
My musical journey has been a complete labor of love and I am thrilled where it has taken me. Here is my story along with a few other tidbits about me:
Musician
“Classic Lemonade” was my first ever recorded work. I was ten at the time.
I was convinced a catchy tune would bring in those customers… (I didn’t have the convenience of my looper pedal back then, so I had to keep rewinding the tape manually).
As I grew as a musician into my teen years, I discovered Gershwin, Ragtime, Oingo Boingo, Flea, and Primus.
In about that order and all contribute to my playing.
Today, I am concentrating solely on my live showcase. Technology has come a long way and I have adopted recording live segments and looping them. Creating different sequences within songs and layering. It’s a ton fun, but also confuses people when they hear me from far off… they think a full band is playing.
Being a one-man-band has its challenges, but it brings out the multi-instrumentalist in me. All on my lonesome I capture bass, percussion, rhythm guitar, and lead guitar; I even get into layering vocal harmonies.
Huge 80s fan… some of my favorite artists are Elvis Costello, Squeeze, They Might Be Giants, Violent Femmes, and The Cure. So my sets always have a good amount from my teenage years, but I am also drawn to the blues/soul of Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, and Bill Withers a bit before my time. The Beatles adored the R&B guys and I was raised by a Beatles nut… so I enjoy doing my version of them.
I studied Jazz at the University of Utah under a Grammy nominated professor — who was brilliant, however, what I remember most was his cringed-up expressions. But his love for music was evident (even when we were doing it wrong). During that time I worked my way to becoming an in-demand freelance bass player (SLC and LA area) as well as fronting bands as a singer.
After college, I started doing more with the acoustic guitar and realized I could play it like a bass. All the slapping and rhythm techniques I learned from Flea and Les Claypool mixed in with a few new jazz hero’s like Victor Wooten and Marcus Miller carried over in a unique way. I continue to expand on that today…
I honestly could talk music all day but here are some other tidbits about me…
Athlete
Water Polo was my life as a teenager. Even wrote a book about my experience.
I also was a starter on the high school basketball team for four years, a high school/collegiate swimmer, and a feared little league baseball pitcher.
But playing water polo was my passion and I had the most talent for it. I placed priority and time spent even before music because I realized my playing days were numbered. My high school career ended with me earning All-American honors along with setting several new CIF (state) records.
I was recruited by UC Irvine directly out of High School, but went to my local Jr. College in Huntington Beach who is an absolute monster of a water polo school. The Golden West Rustlers.
We won the state championship two years in a row and I was named State MVP my sophomore year. Glory days.
This got me a lot of offers from the big boys including UCLA as my biggest recruiter. I made the decision to serve a full-time LDS mission for two years and left that offer on the table.
On my return, UCLA was all filled up with goalies, so they encouraged me to join an extremely talented UC Irvine team who was in desperate need for a starting goalie. I almost did it… but I met a girl in Utah.
Jenny became the center of my song and we recently celebrated thirty years of marriage (2025). When asked why I didn’t finish playing, I quip: “I got married and joined a band instead”.
But I love the memories and miss playing. Today I swim ferociously, surf when I can, and lift weights pretty regularly. My body loves a good workout after enduring such a demanding sport.
Digital Marketer
I have been buying online media ads, studying SEO to improve search rankings for websites, and selling products (predominantly health/wellness) online since 2001. This introduced me to natural health practices/products and I’ve been a hippy ever since. (However, if my arm is hanging by a thread, please take me to the nearest MD office and not Whole Foods.)
Back then, I remember our major obstacle as marketers was helping prospects feel comfortable making online purchases — it was new to everyone. Yes, this was the time of the Dot-Com failures. (Google that young ones.) Brick and mortar companies had a lot to lose with consumers turning to making online purchases. Many chided me for embracing e-commerce, claiming the internet was just a fad. But they were grasping at straws; clamoring to hold onto their interests before the inevitable weeding out process took. (Think Blockbuster and every other company back then).
From retail, to travel, finance, etc., everybody endured a reshuffling of the deck. But no one industry was turned completely on its head like the music industry. Album sales of buying $18 CD’s in the mall came to an abrupt end. And it would soon get ugly with music copyright lawyers turning ambulance chaser.
I can remember almost the exact moment I went from aspiring musician, to making the decision to pivot and seek employment within digital marketing. OUCH! But the rules had been redefined and the middle-class musician, one I always sought to be, had taken the biggest hit.
It is even worse today, complete feast or famine… you are either a Tay Tay or a Nay Nay.
However, there is hope! I mean, I love it when an artist I like gets on their phone with just the guitar and voice. Sure, the sound could be better… but it’s that live interaction I love as a fan. And I believe independent artists are just tapping the surface on how digital media can bring their music into the households of new listeners. (Take the guy who just sings to animals for an example! What a great niche and he has a very soothing sound I enjoy, but mostly enjoy the animals reactions.)
Also, live music from concerts are setting records (even with the absurd ticket prices). This will continue to be a focus for me moving forward. Being a one-man-band does take some trial and error, but it has it’s advantages and my background in digital marketing does help.
So that’s me in a nutshell. I love music, sports, and good health practices.
I genuinely love meeting new people… so please if you have any questions, comments, or inquiries don’t hesitate to hit me up!
All love,
– Brandon
