Skeeter Brandon facts for kids

Skeeter Brandon (born April 22, 1948 – died March 20, 2008) was an amazing American musician. He was a talented blues keyboard player, singer, and songwriter. Even though he was blind, he shared his incredible musical gifts with the world.

Skeeter played in many different bands across the United States from 1966 to 1991. Later, he joined a band called Highway 61 in 1991. With them, he recorded four albums. He also started his own group, the Prime Rib Blues Band, in 1994. Some of his well-known songs include "Strollie Bun" and "Soap Opera Blues." Skeeter's music was inspired by a long tradition of African-American musicians who traveled and performed.

Early Life and Musical Journey

Calvin Thomas Brandon was born in Halifax, Virginia, in the United States. He was one of sixteen children in his family. Skeeter was blind from a young age, but that didn't stop him from loving music. He started singing in his local church when he was just six years old. By the age of nine, he was already playing the piano!

In 1954, he went to the Governor Morehead School for the blind in Raleigh, North Carolina. There, he learned to play the trumpet and the snare drum. As a teenager, he even led his own band. They played popular songs by artists like Sam & Dave and Otis Redding in towns like Raleigh and Goldsboro. Later in his life, Skeeter focused mostly on playing keyboards and singing. His talent led him to perform all over the world.

Growing as a Musician

By 1973, Skeeter Brandon was playing with the famous group the Chi-Lites. In the mid-1970s, he felt ready to perform and record music under his own name. He recorded a single called "I Kept on Smilin'." This song became very popular locally. Because of its success, a big record company called Atlantic Records re-released it in 1975.

After that, Skeeter toured with another singer named William Bell. He then returned home to Goldsboro. He often played in small clubs across North Carolina with another blind musician. Skeeter was known for walking through the audience while performing, showing how comfortable he was on stage. In the 1980s, he also recorded with gospel music groups like Slim & the Supreme Angels.

Bands and Later Career

In 1991, Skeeter Brandon became the leader of a new band called Skeeter Brandon & Highway 61. They toured along the East Coast of the United States. They released four albums together:

• Rockin' With the Blues (1993)
• Hi-Test Blues (1993)
• License to Thrill (1996)
• I'm a Man of My Word (1999)

Other musicians, like Mark Wenner and Ann Rabson, sometimes played on their albums. The band split up in 2001. After that, the Music Maker Relief Foundation helped Skeeter with his expenses and arranged more shows for him. In 2003, Skeeter released a solo album called It's Good To Go.

Skeeter Brandon passed away on March 20, 2008, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He was 59 years old. He had stopped performing only a few months before his death.

Discography