Johnny Brandon
Encyclopedia
Johnny Brandon is an English
singer
and songwriter
, popular during the 1950s, who recorded
for a number of labels
. His perennial backing group was known as The Phantoms. His early hits
included "Tomorrow" and "Don't Worry". He also recorded a version
of "Slow Poke
"; re-titled as "Slow Coach"; and "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine".
Brandon later composed
several Off-Broadway
musicals
, such as Cindy
(1964) and Billy Noname
(1970). In 1979, he was jointly nominated for a Tony Award
for Best Original Score
, for his work on Eubie!
. Brandon is also known for his involvement in the musicals, Ain't Doin' Nothin' But Singin' My Song (1982) and Oh, Diahne! (1997).
Now in his eighties, he resides in the United States
. He released his first solo
album
, Then and Now, in 2005.
† Credited as Johnny Brandon with The Phantoms and The Norman Warren Music
‡ Credited as Johnny Brandon with The Phantoms
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, popular during the 1950s, who recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
for a number of labels
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. His perennial backing group was known as The Phantoms. His early hits
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
included "Tomorrow" and "Don't Worry". He also recorded a version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "Slow Poke
Slow Poke
"Slow Poke" is a popular song. It is credited to three writers: Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart, and Chilton Price. Actually Price wrote the song in 1951, as she thought the song described her friend, King, very well. King recorded the song and Stewart did the vocal...
"; re-titled as "Slow Coach"; and "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine".
Brandon later composed
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
several Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, such as Cindy
Cindy (musical)
Cindy is a musical with music and lyrics by Johnny Brandon, and a book by Joe Sauter and Mike Sawyer. It ran Off-Broadway at the Gate, Orpheum, and Cricket Theatres in 1964 and 1965. It is an adaption of the story of Cinderella...
(1964) and Billy Noname
Billy Noname
Billy Noname is an Off-Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Johnny Brandon and a book by William Wellington Mackey. It ran for 48 performances at the Truck and Warehouse Theater, from March 2, 1970 to April 12, 1970. Lucia Victor directed, and the role of Billy Noname was played by Donny...
(1970). In 1979, he was jointly nominated for a Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Original Score
Tony Award for Best Original Score
The Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the composers and lyricists of the best original score written for a musical in that year. The score consists of music and lyrics...
, for his work on Eubie!
Eubie!
Eubie! is a revue featuring the music of Eubie Blake, with lyrics by Noble Sissle, Andy Razaf, Johnny Brandon, F.E. Miller, and Jim Europe.-Production:...
. Brandon is also known for his involvement in the musicals, Ain't Doin' Nothin' But Singin' My Song (1982) and Oh, Diahne! (1997).
Now in his eighties, he resides in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He released his first solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Then and Now, in 2005.
Chart single discography
- "Tomorrow" (1955) (PolygonPolygon RecordsPolygon Records was one of the first British independent record labels.It was started in 1949 as the Polygon Record Company Ltd. by Alan A. Freeman and Leslie Clark, who was anxious to control distribution of his daughter Petula Clark's recordings...
) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#8 † - "Don't Worry" (1955) (Polygon) - UK #18 ‡
† Credited as Johnny Brandon with The Phantoms and The Norman Warren Music
‡ Credited as Johnny Brandon with The Phantoms