Browning Bryant

John Baxter Browning Bryant (January 24, 1957) is a singer-songwriter whose greatest commercial popularity was before and during his early teens.

Known professionally as Browning Bryant, he is the only progeny of Maud and Ray Bryant, and a long-time resident of Pickens, South Carolina. He attained success singing folk-pop that was uncharacteristically mature and introspective for a pre-teen heartthrob. In 1969, the first of his several songs to generate international sales was "Games that Grown Up Children Play," leading to televised appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Kraft Music Hall (10 times), The Tonight Show (December 24, 1970), and a brief Las Vegas career. He was nominated "Best Boy Singer" in a reader poll by "16 Magazine", then a favorite with teenagers.

In 1974, Bryant's last commercial album was released. It was produced by famed New Orleans hit-maker Allen Toussaint and featured members of the legendary R&B group The Meters. Though he was 15 and then 16 years old when the album was recorded, his mellifluous vocals are remarkably mature. His three self-penned songs also belie his age, with one, "Cure My Blues", being covered by blues singer Ellen McIlwaine. (Allmusic calls her version "majestic.") Despite recording in a style drastically different than his earlier work, it turned out that Bryant was well-paired with Toussaint's trademark syncopated funk.

Since his early triumphs, Bryant has lived mostly in his home town, where he continues to write songs and record.

Discography

Commercial albums

;"Patches" (1969, DOT DLP 25968)
# Patches
# You Mean All the World to Me
# Hey Little Girl
# Running Bear
# Moods of Mary
# What is a Youth
# Tower of Strength
# Games that Grown Up Children Play
# It's a Beautiful Day
# Poppa Says (Dawn Holds Another Day)
# She Thinks I Still Care
# As Usual

;"One Time in a Million" (1970, RCA LSP 4356)
# One Time in a Million
# Yesterday
# Sweet Caroline
# Don't Wait Till Mornin' Comes
# Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
# For Once in My Life
# Happy Man
# Today
# What the World Needs Now
# Jean
# La la la (If I Had You)

; "Browning Bryant" (1974, Reprise MS 2191)
# You Might Say (Toussaint)
# Say You Will (Toussaint)
# Leave the Rest to Molly
# This is My Day (Toussaint)
# Cure My Blues (Bryant)
# Liverpool Fool (Toussaint)
# Blinded by Love (Toussaint)
# Cover Girl (Toussaint)
# Losing (Bryant)
# Performance (Toussaint)
# Home (Bryant)
* Produced by Allen Toussaint

Private recordings

; "Some Favorites of Mine"
# The Girl from Ipanema (DeMorales/Jobim)
# Suddenly (Diamond/Ocean)
# And I Love You So (McLean)
# The Christmas Song (Torme)
# The Summer Wind (Mercer/Mancini)
# The Nearness of You (Washington/Carmichael)
# Here's that Rainy Day (Burke/Huesen)
# Smile (Parsons/Turner/Chaplin)
* Recorded February 9, 1992 at Reflection Sound Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina
* Digitally remixed at Workhorse Studio, Easley, South Carolina

; "Frankandsince"
# "I Could Write a Book" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
# "Fly Me to the Moon" (Bart Howard)
# "I've Got a Crush on You (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
# "I've Got You Under My Skin" (Cole Porter)
# "It Had to be You" (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn)
# "Witchcraft" (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
# "Our Love is Here to Stay" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
# "But Not for Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
# "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" (Duke Ellington, Bob Russell)
* Recorded July 9, 1995 at Reflection Sound Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina
* Digitally remixed at Workhorse Studio, Easley, South Carolina

; "Merry Christmas From Browning Bryant"
# This Christmas
# The Christmas Song
# Silver Bells
# Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
# The Little Drummer Boy
# Mary's Little Boy Child
# Do You Hear What I Hear
# What Child is This
# The First Noel
# Away in a Manger
# Let it Snow
# Happy Holidays
* Produced, arranged, all vocals and instruments by Browning Bryant, except Wade Powell, rhythm guitar and Maud Bryant, harmony vocal on "Silver Bells".
* Recorded November 2003 at Workhorse Studio, Easley, South Carolina

Various artist compilations

* "Deep Ear" (1974, Warner Bros. PRO 591) "This is My Day" from the album "Browning Bryant".

ingles

* "Games that Grown Up Children Play / Hey Little Girl" (1969, Dot 17193)
* "She Thinks I Still Care / Poppa Says" (Dot 17236)
* "New Way to Live / Patches" (1969, Dot 17311)
* "Little Altar Boy / They Stood in Silent Prayer" (1969, Dot 17328)
* "One Time in a Million / Tina" (1970, RCA 9825)
* "Liverpool Fool / Cover Girl" (1974, Reprise REP 1201)

External links

* [http://browningbryant.pbwiki.com/ Browning Bryant (discography, lyrics, photos, articles)]
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/browningbryant/ Yahoo Group: Browning Bryant]
* [http://www.stuckinthe70s.com/images/160270boys.jpgTwo Beautiful Boys For You]