JOHNNY BRANDON – THE FRANK SINATRA OF LONDON IN 1954 50 YEARS LATER RELEASES NEW CD IN LONDON AND THE US
Johnny Brandon – the Frank Sinatra of London in 1954, 50 years later releases comprehensive CD with five new tracks in London and the US entitled “Then & Now.”
Johnny Brandon began his career at the age of 9. He appeared at age 11 with the variety act “Buddy Brandon and the Berkeley Babes.” After which, he soon rose to become a child actor in the films” Somewhere in England” and “The Day Will Dawn,” among others. At 18, Johnny joined the British Army and became a popular disc jockey in Europe. This led to many recordings including “Tomorrow, “Don’t Worry,” and “Once Upon A Wintertime,” which became a chart-topper for Vera Lynn.
“Slow Coach” became Johnny’s first big hit. Johnny also had his own television variety show called “Dreamer’s Highway,” that was hailed as a meeting place for teenagers of all ages. Like Sinatra, Johnny went on to have numerous fans, most of which were dreamy eyed teenage girls, who formed fan clubs and gave him the moniker “The King of Zing.” In the U.S., he would top the Billboard charts with the smash hit “Rainbow Kisses.” Johnny has appeared with such luminaries as Eartha Kitt, Betty Garrett, and Billy Eckstine.
Brandon has received the Ivor Novello Award for his Columbia Pictures theme “Your Love is My Love” and his songs have been recorded by Sarah Vaughan, Bill Haley and The Comets, The Andrews Sisters, The Duponts, and many more. Mr. Brandon has also penned several critically acclaimed plays including “Cindy,” “Billy Noname,” and “Shim Sham,” to name a few.
Brandon, now eighty, on “Then & Now” re - releases some of his earlier work such as “ Slow Coach” “High as a Mountain,” “Anyone Can be a Millionaire,” “ Love and Kisses,” “ Tomorrow,” and many others. The new tracks on the CD are cool jazz tunes “Funky People,” “One Day at a Time,” and “If It’s Love Don’t Knock It,” this track taking on socio – political undertones while still hitting the groove. The new CD also features a gospel song entitled “One More Step”.
“Then & Now” is available in the UK from HMV (www.hmv.co.uk) and New Note / Pinnacle (Ph: 01322 616050). In the US, “Then & Now” can be purchased at Tower- HMV locations and at Footlight Records, 113 East 12th Street, New York, NY or contact www.footlight.com.
Johnny Brandon – the Frank Sinatra of London in 1954, 50 years later releases comprehensive CD with five new tracks in London and the US entitled “Then & Now.”
Johnny Brandon began his career at the age of 9. He appeared at age 11 with the variety act “Buddy Brandon and the Berkeley Babes.” After which, he soon rose to become a child actor in the films” Somewhere in England” and “The Day Will Dawn,” among others. At 18, Johnny joined the British Army and became a popular disc jockey in Europe. This led to many recordings including “Tomorrow, “Don’t Worry,” and “Once Upon A Wintertime,” which became a chart-topper for Vera Lynn.
“Slow Coach” became Johnny’s first big hit. Johnny also had his own television variety show called “Dreamer’s Highway,” that was hailed as a meeting place for teenagers of all ages. Like Sinatra, Johnny went on to have numerous fans, most of which were dreamy eyed teenage girls, who formed fan clubs and gave him the moniker “The King of Zing.” In the U.S., he would top the Billboard charts with the smash hit “Rainbow Kisses.” Johnny has appeared with such luminaries as Eartha Kitt, Betty Garrett, and Billy Eckstine.
Brandon has received the Ivor Novello Award for his Columbia Pictures theme “Your Love is My Love” and his songs have been recorded by Sarah Vaughan, Bill Haley and The Comets, The Andrews Sisters, The Duponts, and many more. Mr. Brandon has also penned several critically acclaimed plays including “Cindy,” “Billy Noname,” and “Shim Sham,” to name a few.
Brandon, now eighty, on “Then & Now” re - releases some of his earlier work such as “ Slow Coach” “High as a Mountain,” “Anyone Can be a Millionaire,” “ Love and Kisses,” “ Tomorrow,” and many others. The new tracks on the CD are cool jazz tunes “Funky People,” “One Day at a Time,” and “If It’s Love Don’t Knock It,” this track taking on socio – political undertones while still hitting the groove. The new CD also features a gospel song entitled “One More Step”.
“Then & Now” is available in the UK from HMV (www.hmv.co.uk) and New Note / Pinnacle (Ph: 01322 616050). In the US, “Then & Now” can be purchased at Tower- HMV locations and at Footlight Records, 113 East 12th Street, New York, NY or contact www.footlight.com.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
