I'd like to meet:
DJ Brandon (DJB) has been a musician since he was 7 years old. Starting out on drums and Singing at a early age Brandon had developed a pro playing style. Jamming along side some GREAT musicians, and blessed to have true Inspirational Figures & LEGEND “John Lee Hooker†STEPDAD "Archie Lee Hooker" DRUM Teacher "Rory Willis" etc. in his life, shaped and mold him to be the great musician he is today! A true Bluesman, living with the BLUES all his life!
Growing up in North Oakland APGAR 3800 was a challenge in itself! So he played baseball from Little League to High School Oakland Tech 95' knowing one day he'll make it to the Big Leagues! Instead his father passed away that same year at 18yrs old and his life had changed.
Brandon started spinning at parties while he was a student in early '95. Later that summer after high school he decided it was time to improve his skills. It was not a surprise that this skilled musician with his natural affinity for music mastered the techniques of mixing and created his own style without any instruction or guidance.
DJ Brandon at the time was just a new DJ hanging around the DJ Boothe waiting to be asked to spin, finally got his chance at 18 years old to spin at "Cables Reef" the Ghetto Club as the Kids would say. But one of the HOTTEST Gay Clubs around. Playing alongside "DJ Terry Hayes" "DJ Chris Johnson" and "DJ Edward R.I.P" inspired DJB to be the BEST!
"ClubRimshot" had just open it doors at "Bench and Bar" about a year later and DJ Brandon was asked by "Joe Hawkins" to spin for him. And later on Club Rumors & Club Playboiz SF. He played along side "David Harness and "Foxy Brown KMEL" at King St. Garage in San Francisco. Oakland Pride "ClubRimshot" Stage. Los Angeles was second home playing alongside "DJ Chris Johnson" were he played all the hottest spots and DC Maryland Home of "DJ Sedrick".
Bench and Bar had welcomed DJB around that same time as he helped Owner "Keith" with various nights and projects including "Couchielisous" Thursday night for the Ladies where he DJyed at for some time.
DJB is able to accomplish truly amazing mixes. He seemlessly mixes, scratches and manipulates music together to provide an enhanced entertainment experience for the clubs. As you see DJB has been doing this for a long time! He is talented enough to mix acapellas and instrumentals to create blends on the fly, as well as using creative ways to mix the most unexpected tracks together making the dance floor move. However, his biggest strength remains his ability to play the right track at any given moment. He knows how to control a crowd by simply playing the right song at the right time. His mixing style has also evolved over the 13 years!
Having said all this, the best way to find out what DJB is all about is to listen to him live at a club near you.
Besides spinning live at clubs, DJB is also very busy making music Opening shows with some of the greatest Musicians in the industry. Playing along side stepdad Archie Lee Hooker and the Coast to Coast Blues Band, Rich Kirch, Ron Perry and David Sobel, Brandon is showing his skills as a Vocalist and Drummer. He also is one of the Booking Agents and Tour Manager for Archie Lee Hooker & The Coast To Coast Blues Band.
DJB is also working with Bands within the R&B & Blues Music Community.
For Booking Please Contact Brandon Barlow Via Email [email protected] or Myspace Message to Brandon Barlow (DJB) or Archie Lee Hooker Myspace Page.
UNDERSTANDING THE BLUES
Many people like to listen to the blues, not many know where it came from or what it means. If they like the music, they should understand where it comes from, People don't realize the extent to which American culture is African-derived. People don't have the blues' anymore, we have too little to cry about now...or do we have to cry, be depress or be poor to sing the blues...I think not!
The Blues is music of poetic lyrics that capture the most overwhelming experiences and emotions and touches you emotionally. It's cultural, it's personal and its a feeling....its music to understand! Blues presented a strong reflection of the everyday life experiences of Delta blacks engaged in struggle. These songs, mostly in dialect, were songs of hope, frustrated love, broken homes, born out of work and sorrow, poverty, loneliness and dissatisfaction.
The blues will be here long after we all are gone. It is one of the most venerable forms of music that we have, There have literally been thousands of blues that have been written and recorded, and many more that have simply been played. When musicians get together, especially if they have not performed together, one of the first things they will do is play the blues.
The Blues will never DIE....just crappy music will! Today rap music is a form of contemporary blues that draws upon past blues’ themes and musicians, but old time Delta blues barely exists and is now mostly for new types of audiences.
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