Don Smythe
Country / Country Trad. / Singer Songwriter
Collaboration Show collaboration results
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Mr Leon Brady
Drum TechnicianLeon A. Brady Leon A. Brady has dedicated his life to the youth of Kansas City. As a public school and private educator, a business owner, professional percussionist, counselor, church leader and civic leader he has touched the lives of many people. His students can be found all over the world performing professionally in many diversified areas of music. Former students such as Rosalyn Story, Marquita Meeks and Linda Smith are now members of the Houston and Atlanta Symphonies. Vernard Johnson is a gospel saxophonist and John Cushon is the percussionist with Oleta Adams. Norman Brown and Craige Lindesay are recording artists. The McFadden Brothers, Reginald Watkins, Winfred Manning, William Perkins, Alonzo (Scooter) Powell, Andre Hampton, Lester (Duck) Warner, Horace Washington, Kenneth Heath, Johnny Foster, James Sharp and many others are professional musicians. Many former students are now educators and countless other former students attribute their success in their chosen field to what they learned in Leon Brady’s classes. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Brady enlisted in the newly formed US Air Force after high school in 1949, and volunteered for the band having never played a musical instrument. After attending the Lackland and Langley Air Force Schools of Music, Mr. Brady performed in bands and combos with several top musicians that later became nationally known artists such as John McHolic, Frank Hitner and John Williams. After the service, Mr. Brady attended Tennessee State University, in Nashville. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957 and Master of Science Degree in 1961. While in college, he again performed with several musicians who later became nationally known artists, such as Hank Crawford, Jimmy Cleveland, Ray Charles and Les Spann. Mr. Brady performed nights and weekends in and around the Nashville area with several top musicians. In 1957, Leon Brady was awarded his first public school teaching position at Carver High School in Crestview, Florida. Mr. Brady was responsible for all bands and choirs from grades 1 to 12. It was here that he began to realize his love for teaching and the impact that teachers can have on their students. In 1959, eager to become involved in the jazz scene in Kansas City, Mr. Brady accepted a position as band and orchestra director at Dunbar Elementary and Northeast Junior High in Kansas City, Kansas. While at Northeast, he started the first junior high marching band in the area. Under his direction, the band recorded a record, again being a first for the KC area. In 1966, Leon Brady became the instrumental music instructor at Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas. During the 10 years that he taught at Sumner, he and his students enjoyed many unique accomplishments. He brought international recording artists, such as Stan Kenton, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Grover Washington, Cannonball Adderly, and Marilyn Maye to Sumner to perform with students. The Sumner band was the first high school band to participate in the Sugar Bowl, in New Orleans, LA. The band was also the Mineral Bowl winner for 7 years and received many first division ratings in marching festivals throughout the area. The band also performed half-time shows for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Sumner Orchestra, under Mr. Brady’s direction, was one of the first high school orchestras to perform for the Kansas Music Educator’s Convention. The Sumner Stage Band earned many honors from 1966 to 1976. The stage band was a 6-year winner (1968-1974) of the KC Jazz Festival, 3-year winner of the Wichita Jazz Festival, and the 1972 winner of the International Jazz Festival in Paris, France. The Sumner stage band was the first high school stage band to perform with the KC Philharmonic, and in 1970, was one of the first high school bands to participate in the instrumental reading session at Jenkins Music Company. Sumner was the guest stage band at the National Association of Jazz Educator’s Convention, and guest stage band at the President’s Council in Washington, D.C. In 1972, the Sumner stage band recorded the album, Sumner in Paris. In 1969, Leon Brady opened Progressive Music Studio on Quindaro in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1976, he moved the Music Studio to 947 Minnesota Avenue, KCK where it became part of Brady & Sons Music Company. While operating the music store, he continued his dedication to music education in Kansas City. Throughout the years, he was involved in many different areas of education. He directed the All Star Stage Band for 700 college and high school students at the KC Stage Band Festival. He organized and directed the All Women’s Jazz Band to perform at the Women’s Jazz Festival. He was a clinician and judge for several events, and taught special music programs for Kiddie Kollege Nursery School, Turner House and nursing homes. As an accomplished professional musician, he uses his performing talents to educate students in music history, African-American History and Jazz. As a member of the KC Jazz Quintet with George Salisbury, Milt Abel, Carmel Jones, Herman Bell and later Frank Smith and Tony Swisher, he traveled to many schools throughout the area demonstrating various musical styles. Throughout the years, he has performed with many internationally known artists such as Clark Terry, Dakota Staton, George Duke, John Parks, Grover Washington, Lou Donaldson, Blue Mitchell, Eddie “Clean Head” Vinson, Charles Kenard, Ray Charles and Reginald Buckner just to name a few. He was a tympanist with the KC Civic Symphony and the Medical Arts Symphony. He performed for 2 years at the Colony Steakhouse with Marilyn Maye, and for 9 years with the “Dixieland 7” at the Levee in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2000, Mr. Brady closed his music store to focus more attention on his 20 private students. He composes for and directs 4 drum set ensembles, teaching not only percussion techniques, but lessons in life. His classes teach respect and responsibility, and give students the confidence to strive for excellence. Current students range in age from 4 to 18 and perform throughout the community. In the fall of 2001, Leon Brady founded Kansas City Youth Jazz, a community youth jazz education program,. Kansas City Youth Jazz was designed to pass on Kansas City’s rich jazz heritage to our youth and to supplement declining school music programs. In 2011, KCYJ has grown to include 4 jazz bands and 3 combos. Over 200 students will participate in Youth Jazz programs in the 2010-2011 school year from over 75 schools throughout metropolitan Kansas City. Mr. Brady serves as Musical Director of Youth Jazz programs. Mr. Brady performs with the Jazz Machine, a group of professional musicians who are also instructors with the Youth Jazz Program, including Chris Burnett, Jason Goudeau, Stan Kessler, Clarence Smith and Greg Richter. The Jazz Machine gives clinics and performances at schools and summer camps. Mr. Brady has earned several awards throughout his years in Kansas City. Some of the more recent awards include: KCK Human Relations Award, Most Distinguished Alumni Award-Sumner High School (1993), KC Jazz Heritage Award (1992), Sons of Thunder Award-First AME Church (1994), 100 Most Influential African-Americans (1995), KC Area Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Small Business (1996), Who’s Who of Executives & Professionals (1996-97), Certificate of Recognition-Sumner High School Alumni (2002), KC Young Audiences Lighton Prize for excellence as a teaching artist (2002), Living Legend Award-First Baptist Church for significant community contributions (2004), Honorary Membership in the UMKC Friends of Jazz for significant contributions to jazz education (2006), the Coda Lifetime Achievement Award (May 20, 2006) and the Pinnacle Award for Excellence in the Arts from the Johnson County (Kansas) Library Association (October 2007), Grand Marshal of the Juneteenth Celebration Parade and the Central Avenue Parade both in Kansas City Kansas and received the Pitch Newspaper’s award for “Best Teacher” (2009). He was selected as one of The Kansas City Globe’s top 25 Lifetime Influential African Americans and received the “Prestige Award” from Johnson County NAACP for outstanding service to the community in 2010. He is an Elder Statesman of Kansas City Jazz and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. He has 3 children; Leon III (Trey) and Michael of Chicago, IL, and Sherri and granddaughter Lauren Messer of Whittier, CA. Leon Brady has touched the lives of many people. Former students drop by the studio to thank him, to tell him what a difference he has made in their lives. Many students now bring their children to him to teach or to counsel. Many students are now teachers themselves, continuing the legacy that he has begun. Mr. Brady now challenges all students to give back to their community, to help the next generation of youth in the greater Kansas City area.
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tonnie nichols
VocalistI am the daughter of Ernestine Dillard ,she sang the God Bless a America at the falling of the Bombing of Oklahoma city. My husband is Boris Nichols whom i adore. I was very much feeling like giving up when i was homeless with 4 children from my own mistakes . I remember that the inspiration of this album was when i tried to find the relationships of other to help me but God let me know to draw nearer to get get understanding, wisdom and insight about me and my weak desires. "Draw me Nearer" was all i could ask . Thank You God for all you have done for me!! I am the daughter of Ernestine Dillard, famed Oklahoma gospel singer. The opportunities have been abundant in Tonnie’s music career. She has traveled around the world in ministry through song and nursing. When she travels to an area for ministry, she likes to learn the local language and sing inspirational songs so she can connect with them and truly instill a message of hope and especially God’s love.I would dream of the day my mom would be notice by more of the world and financial increase from poverty. I feels that the connection you have with the listener is the opportunity to inspire them and somehow relate her passion for love of our fellow man. In the many years that she has performed, Ihas learned from one our most esteemed gospel performers, her mother. I asked her how she has managed to develop such a unique style and not be a carbon copy of Dillard, but to still share the same warmth and heartfelt dedication that makes each of the ladies performance so special. I hsve learned that no two people are the same and to be able to be honest in your performance, it has to come from your heart. I credits Ernestine Dillard for creating her standard of excellence and values each moment with her. My career work in nursing has been for many years. The power of compassion is healing, whether it is in nursing or singing. If you care, they will know, and in singing it is the same. If you care about what you’re singing they can receive the message of inspiration. She has met many big name performers traveling with her mother, including Stevie Wonder and Andre Crouch. She met them during the Trumpet Awards in Atlanta. It is the true human quality, the essence of God’s love for one another that bonds us, not how big our music career may be or how many people are in the audience. It is about that connection that is heart to heart with the listener that inspires her. I also is a producer for the Leon Rollerson show. She is working with her husband at John 3:16 family and children services, and the chapel services in tulsa oklahoma for 5 years.
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Thomas Alexander
A&R Lyricist Songwriter VocalistThomas Alexander Original member of Freeway guested with Big Shot 2015 Play It Forward Thomas Alexander aka Bob Alexander began his career playing with The Patchwork Quilt in 1968 to being in Edmonton's first Funk band The Key, rocking with Southbound Freeway, and more recently his solo works. Thomas talked about what it was like playing in Edmonton in the 1970's and 1980's and his favourite live gig and the musicians he worked with when he CO-HOSTED CJSR'S THE SHOEBOX AS PART OF LEGENDS OF THE EDMONTON MUSIC SCENE SERIES! Thomas Alexander was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in a taxi cab outside the St. Boniface Hospital. He was supposed to be named Robert Thomas Alexander. However, his birth certificate only had Thomas Alexander. He used his first name Robert (Bob) during his career. In 1955, at the age of six, he moved with his parents to Edmonton. Thomas was inspired by such musical legends as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Billy Eckstine, and Ella Fitzgerald. His father, a music lover, named Thomas’s brother after Duke Ellington. With music in his blood, Thomas started singing with the band The Patchwork Quilt at the age of 19 in 1968. The Patchwork Quilt eventually became The Key. The Key, with its brass section, rivalled the popular Brass Drops band in which LeVero Carter played and also the popular horn band Privilege. The Key was the first funk group in Edmonton and played all over Alberta, drawing from a repertoire that included the music of other funk groups like Sly and the Family Stone, The Buddy Miles Express, Cold Blood, and Tower of Power. Unfortunately, the size of the band made travelling difficult, and the group eventually fell into financial difficulties and broke up. Several of The Key’s band members joined the rock band The Southbound Freeway and Thomas would also join the band when he replaced the prior lead singer. The group toured Canada and the United States. They eventually recorded an album in San Francisco and, in 1973, released the single 'Right Now Good Vibrations', produced by Mavis McCauley Vaugeois and Wes Dakus. Thomas played with Southbound Freeway from 1971 to 1973 and also in 1975. Richard Osepchuk who played in Southbound Freeway with Thomas Said that “Bob Alexander was a treat to play with”. Thomas Alexander left The Southbound Freeway to grow as a musician. He joined Red Deer's Gaetz Avenue Dance Band, which played in both Calgary and Regina. For five and a half years. Thomas stopped playing with bands and, instead, performed on television and radio; wrote jingles for commercials, including one for MacDonald’s; and worked on learning different styles of music. The next band he joined was Force Major from about to 1979 to 1981, based out of Seattle, Washington. Force Major opened for such bands as Kool and the Gang, The Bar-Kays, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Platters and The God Father of Soul, James Brown (James Brown wrote the autograph for Thomas read, from Soul Brother Number One to Soul Brother Number Two). A show band, the members of Force Major didn't record and, instead, toured Eastern Canada and throughout the States concerts and dance clubs Club Etcetera in New York for a while. From 1981 to 1984 he played in The Blades with Dwayne Osepchuk, Thomas and Dwayne both from The Freeway. Thomas is a very fine songwriter and has written many songs including 'Right Now Good Vibrations' which he Co-Wrote with Dwayne Osepchuk. They also wrote 17 others songs together including songs for their group The Blades like 'Do It Right' "Weekend Goin Strong" in 1984. Thomas left the music scene and gradually got back into music, singing some Jazz on television and for the Miss Edmonton Beauty Pageant and making it to the cover of TV Times. He was then invited to go to Japan, where he was named by the Japanese “The Canadian Bluebird” because his tenor voice was thought to be as beautiful as a song birds. In Japan, Thomas became part of a Las Vegas-style rhythm and blues show. He released seven CDs there, all under his pen name, Rejie. Also, it was while in Japan that Thomas's wife Paulette gave birth to their son Asia. The Alexanders eventually moved back to Canada. In 1994, Thomas took his country-rock singing talent to the Canadian Country Vocal Star Search contest, where he won a recording contract Thomas has also sung in Mo' Magic a Motown Tribute with Irene Cara of Flashdance and Fame, Florence Larue - lead vocalist of the 5th Dimension and with Freda Payne of the song "Band of Gold" fame. He also starred .in the world premiere of Music of the Millennium, which featured the music of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. One of his all-time favourite musical events was when he played the lead role of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar opposite Alfie Zapacosta who played Jesus at the Mayfield Dinner Theater, Liz Nicols of The Edmonton Journal said of Thomas Alexander's role "Makes Judas Soul Man #1 in an exciting performance". Thomas Alexander continues to perform his music in Edmonton, but he has increasingly turned to playing and writing Religious Christian, R&B, Jazz, Funk, and Pop music. In 2005, he sang George Blondheim’s anthem for Alberta, Alberta Strong and Free, during the centennial celebrations on 1 September. In January 2005, at the request of her family, he sang at the memorial service for Lois Hole. Thomas also sang at the Memorial service for Dwayne Osepchuk where he sang with a passion for his Soul Bandmate! Thomas Alexander also sang on the DVD Called Wild Rose Country which was about the Diverse Culture in Alberta. His family's roots go back to the first Black pioneers that settled in Alberta and because of that he was asked to sing the song" Blue Alberta Blue" produced by Legendary Edmonton musician Gerry Dere, which was written by a descendant of the first Black Pioneers. It should be noted that Thomas also a Legend, has worked with another Legend of The Edmonton Music Scene Tommy Banks fronting The Tommy Banks Big Band. Thomas Alexander is continuing his career with new material in 2015. He has an amazing musical range singing Jazz, R&B, Country, Pop, Dance, Reggae and Gospel. Thomas Alexander AKA Thomas Alexander is also known as "The Voice" which is a perfect moniker for Mr Alexander. THANK YOU! to PETE the ROCKER and CJSR THE SHOEBOX for permission in using this interview. Sincerely, please let me know what the schedule will be.
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