Thundercat (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thundercat
Thundercat in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Stephen Lee Bruner
Born	(1984-10-19) October 19, 1984 (age 40) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Funk progressive R&B soul electronica acid jazz psychedelia crossover thrash yacht rock astral jazz
Occupations	Musician, producer, songwriter, singer
Instruments	Bass guitar, vocals
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Brainfeeder
Associated acts	Erykah Badu Flying Lotus Kamasi Washington Kendrick Lamar Mac Miller Ronald Bruner Jr. Haim

Stephen Lee Bruner (born October 19, 1984) is a talented American musician. He is better known by his stage name, Thundercat. He is a singer, record producer, and songwriter from Los Angeles.

Thundercat mixes different music styles. These include funk, soul, progressive R&B, and jazz-fusion. He has released four solo albums. He is also known for working with producer Flying Lotus. In 2016, Thundercat won a Grammy Award for his work on the song "These Walls". In 2020, his album It Is What It Is won a Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album.

Growing Up and Early Music

Stephen Bruner grew up in Compton, California and other parts of Los Angeles. He comes from a family of musicians. His father, Ronald Bruner Sr., was a drummer. His mother, Pam, played the flute and percussion. His dad played drums for famous groups like The Temptations.

Bruner went to Locke High School. He played in the school's jazz band. His teacher, Reggie Andrews, helped him a lot. Andrews also helped him meet Kamasi Washington again. They had met as kids through their fathers. The two would sneak into jazz concerts together. They later got to play at the same places they once watched.

Thundercat's Music Journey

Bruner started playing the bass guitar when he was very young. He looked up to bass players like Stanley Clarke. By age 15, he had a small hit song in Germany. This was when he was part of a boy band called No Curfew.

Later, Thundercat played electric bass on Kamasi Washington's early albums. Singer Erykah Badu helped Thundercat find his unique stage style. Producer Flying Lotus encouraged him to start singing his own songs. In 2020, Rolling Stone magazine named him one of the greatest bass players ever.

Working with Other Artists

In 2004, Bruner teamed up with Kamasi Washington. They formed a group called The Young Jazz Giants. This group later joined other musicians to create the West Coast Get Down. They recorded many albums together.

Thundercat is also a session musician. This means he plays on other artists' recordings. He worked on albums for Erykah Badu and Flying Lotus. He also often worked with rapper Mac Miller. In 2018, Thundercat played bass for Mac Miller's Tiny Desk Concert.

In 2022, he worked with the virtual band Gorillaz. They released the song "Cracker Island". In 2024, he collaborated with the band Justice on their song "The End". This song was even played at the Summer Olympics 2024 closing ceremony in Paris.

Thundercat also appeared on the children's show Yo Gabba Gabba in 2024. He performed a song called "Orange Cat" while in costume.

Thundercat's Solo Albums

The Golden Age of Apocalypse and Apocalypse

Thundercat released his first solo album in 2011. It was called The Golden Age of Apocalypse. Flying Lotus helped produce it. The album was inspired by 1970s jazz fusion artists. His second album, Apocalypse, came out in 2013.

The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam

Thundercat performing at Stern Grove, San Francisco, 2021

In 2015, Thundercat released an EP (a shorter album) called The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam. This EP included songs honoring his friend Austin Peralta. Austin was a jazz pianist who passed away in 2012. The EP also featured famous musician Herbie Hancock. It was the first time his popular song "Them Changes" appeared.

In 2016, Thundercat played live with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He also performed with singers Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald.

It Is What It Is

In 2018, Thundercat shared a song called "King of the Hill." This was from his upcoming album, It Is What It Is. Other songs like "Black Qualls" and "Dragonball Durag" followed. The full album was released on April 3, 2020. Critics loved it. Thundercat dedicated the album to his friend Mac Miller.

Thundercat performing in front of his logo in 2018

In 2020, It Is What It Is won Best Progressive R&B Album at the Grammy Awards. In 2021, it also won the Libera Award for Best R&B Record.

In 2022, Thundercat made a special appearance in The Book of Boba Fett. He played a "Mod Artist" who helped a character get cybernetic parts. In April 2023, he released a new song called "No More Lies" with Kevin Parker (Tame Impala). After this, Thundercat announced his "In Yo Girl’s City Tour."

About Thundercat's Life

Thundercat has a teenage daughter named Sanaa. He was also a very close friend of rapper Mac Miller.

He is a big fan of anime and cartoons. He often wears outfits that show this. You might see him with a Pikachu backpack or cat-ear headbands. His stage name, Thundercat, comes from the 1985 cartoon series ThunderCats. This shows his love for cartoons. Bruner is also a Christian, and his faith often inspires his music.

Thundercat's Instruments

Thundercat usually plays his special Ibanez Custom Shop bass guitar. It has six strings and a hollow maple body. It also has special pickups and a MIDI program.

Discography

• The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011)
• Apocalypse (2013)
• It Is What It Is (2020)

Filmography

Awards and Nominations