AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Rick Braun

Artist:Rick Braun
Song:Kisses In The Rain
Album:Kisses In The Rain





Smooth jazz trumpeter Rick Braun has been successful since the 90s when he recorded for Atlantic and then Warner Bros. He is still successful today recording for his own label. He was born July 6, 1955 in Allentown, PA. Braun's mom played piano. He played drums in high school. His high school music teacher suggested he try the trumpet. Braun's influences include Freddie Hubbard but he has acknowledged Herb Alpert as his biggest influence. While studying at the Eastman School of Music, he was in the jazz fusion band Auracle. They recorded a couple of albums in the late 70s for Chrysalis produced by Teo Macero. They were pretty good but they split up after two albums. Braun got into session work in the 80s with acts like REO Speedwagon, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole and others. He began to record as a leader in the early 90s with Mesa/Blue Moon with Atlantic Records distribution. He had success on the jazz charts. Blue Moon was taken over by Atlantic in 1998 and Braun was moved to Warner Bros. His first album for Warners was with popular sax player Boney James. Shake It Up is one of the best selling smooth jazz albums in history. The 2001 album Kisses In The Rain was his second of three albums for Warners. Smooth jazz guitarist Peter White makes a guest appearance on the song Kisses In The Rain. The song was written by David Woods who also plays keyboards and bass. Woods also worked with Boney James. The rest of the band is Peter White on acoustic guitar, Tony Maiden of Rufus on electric guitar, Fourplay's Harvey Mason Sr. on drums and Cuban percussionist Luis Conte. He has worked a lot with Poncho Sanchez. In 2005, Braun started his own label Artistry. His latest CD Around The Horn was released in February. He is also in the band BWB with sax player Kirk Whalum and guitarist Norman Brown. Braun is currently on tour. Not surprisingly, he does a lot of jazz festivals and smooth jazz cruises. Here's Rick Braun with Peter White performing Kisses In The Rain.