Bryan Loren facts for kids

Bryan Loren Hudson, born on May 5, 1966, is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. He is also known by his nickname, The Wiz. Bryan Loren helped create the popular 1990 song "Do the Bartman" for The Simpsons. He also released his own hit songs in 1984, like "Lollipop Luv" and "Do You Really Love Me?". These songs were popular on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Throughout his career, he has worked with famous artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Sting.

Bryan Loren's Early Life

Bryan Loren was born in 1966 on Long Island, New York. When he was young, his family moved to South Philadelphia. Bryan became interested in music at age five. He started by playing drums and soon learned many other instruments. He became so skilled that he could play all the instruments needed to record a full album! Bryan Loren remembers being inspired by the music scene in South Philly. He especially liked the "Sound of Philadelphia" and artists like Stevie Wonder.

Bryan Loren's Music Journey

Bryan Loren started his music career at a young age. He could compose music by age 12. By 15, he was a professional session artist, meaning he played instruments for other musicians' recordings. At 17, he signed his first record deal. When he got his solo recording contract, he started using the name Bryan Loren professionally. This became the name he used for all his music work.

Early Work as Bryan Hudson

Starting in 1981, Bryan Loren worked as a session musician at Alpha International Studios. There, he recorded with famous groups like Tavares and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. During this time, his contributions were credited under his birth name, Bryan Hudson.

Joining Fat Larry's Band

Bryan Loren joined Fat Larry's Band as his first group. He played synthesizers for them. He recorded on their albums Breakin' Out in 1982 and Straight from the Heart in 1983. It was during this time that he earned his nickname, "The Wiz," because of his amazing keyboard skills. The band's success led to a national tour, but Bryan was too young to go on the road with them. He was replaced for the tour, but he did record with Fat Larry's Band again in 1986 for their album, Nice.

Working with Cashmere

Bryan Loren was also a member of the band Cashmere. He wrote music for their 1983 album, Let the Music Turn You On. He also sang background vocals, showing his talent as a singer. The owner of Alpha International Studios noticed Bryan's potential. They offered him a solo recording contract with Philly World Records. Bryan signed the contract and began performing as Bryan Loren. This name stuck with him for the rest of his career.

Solo Career as Bryan Loren

In 1984, Bryan Loren released his first solo album, titled Bryan Loren, with Philly World Records. This album had two hit songs: "Lollipop Luv" and "Do You Really Love Me?". "Lollipop Luv" reached number 23 on Billboard's R&B chart. Bryan Loren performed all the music and vocals on this album himself. He also handled the production, mixing, and engineering. The album was re-released in 2012 by BBR Records.

In 1992, Bryan Loren released another solo album called Music from the New World with Arista Records. One song on this album, "To Satisfy You," featured Michael Jackson singing background vocals. Michael Jackson had heard the song during his Dangerous album sessions. He decided not to use it for his own album but agreed to sing backup for Bryan Loren's version. This song was later covered by Damion Hall and renamed "Satisfy You." Another song from the album, "Doesn't Mean That I Don't Love You," was a single. The album Music from the New World was mainly released in Japan.

Collaborations with Other Artists

Bryan Loren has worked with many top recording artists. In 1990, he helped create the song "Do the Bartman" from The Simpsons Sing the Blues. He produced the song, sang background vocals, and co-wrote it. Michael Jackson was a big fan of The Simpsons and wanted to help with the song. However, because of a contract with Sony Records, he chose not to be officially credited. "Do the Bartman" became a number one hit in several countries.

Bryan Loren worked with Michael Jackson again in 1991 on Jackson's album Dangerous. He played drums and other percussion instruments on that album. Bryan Loren continued to write songs for other performers, including "Feels So Good" for Whitney Houston. He also produced music with other well-known artists like Eric Benét, Barry White, and Sting.

Awards and Recognition

In 1990, Bryan Loren received the Sony Innovator's award in Sound. This award was mentioned in Ebony magazine. When presenting the award, musician George Benson praised Bryan Loren. He said, "Bryan's got the power of talent, his imagination will take him far."

Discography

Studio Albums

• Bryan Loren (1984)
• Music from the New World (1992)