Today we’d like to introduce you to Brannen Temple.
Hi Brannen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Ok, so I’m originally from Austin, Tx. Yup. Born here. Not a goofy unicorn. I know countless souls just like myself – also born right here. But yes, since about 2010, we seem to be more scarce. Especially since home ownership became (nearly) unattainable in Austin proper.
Now, I’m gonna sound old. Austin has changed by an extreme amount. It used to only take simple drive times of 5-8 minutes to get where you needed to be. For me, that would be to family homes, church, community events or basic shopping, all mostly on the still segregated, safe and insulated east Austin side of IH 35. I’m speaking on the early to mid 70s.
Musically speaking, my humble beginnings were in school bands, Ebenezer Baptist Church and community projects at Rosewood Rec center or Huston-Tillotson University. And the ultimate….countless hours of practice in my parents garage in north east Austin – year round with no AC or heat!
But before drums entered the picture, I sat on the floor near the radio checking all AM/FM stations or in the living room spinning the family record collection on the console stereo with coins on the needle so the records wouldn’t skip. My dad had everything from Stax Records and Motown to James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, and deep soul and funk to Afro Cuban, classical and jazz records and more. My mother loved Ray Charles, and soul and gospel. Also, all my older sisters played instruments so we had a piano. I heard that, violin and flute all the time. Plus, a couple boyfriends of my sisters were often musicians so music was alive.
Austin’s east side community was vibrant with live music and events. I heard neighborhood bands all the time. My grandparents owned and pastored a church. Church of the Living God in Christ on the east side. The had no musicians. But every once in a while someone would tinkle on the horrendously out of tune piano. But really, it was my grandmothers dress shoes, stamping out the beat with her heal on the hollow hard wooden elevated floor. What a sound! To my ears, no other shoes in that small congregation seemed to have had that tone or that pulse!
But back to East Austin. Overall, multiple local Austin churches, Doris Miller Auditorium, Huston- Tillotson, Rosewood Park, Givens Park, etc… all had shows and events that featured vocalists, bands and musical groups. Not to mention nightclubs. Of coarse I was not old enough to enter. But there were always radio ads for shows featuring Bobby Blue Bland, Millie Jackson, B B King, Coco Taylor, Johnny Taylor and all the chitlin’ circuit soul acts of the day performing locally or in the surrounding areas like in Taylor, TX, or small Black event centers or colleges.
And 70s TV showcased actual known and talented acts. Variety shows, Soul Train, etc… Black vocalist, groups and artist like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Ike and Tina Turner, Lola Falona and later the O’Jays and Philly soul and so many others. Like most Black American families seeing ourselves on TV was so scarce so anything Black, we tuned in.
Once I was playing drums, I was into all pop but my heart was into heavy funk! Ohio Players, Parliament Funkadelic, Rick James, Gap Band, Roger Troutman and Zapp, The Time and Prince. Then enter rap music. Kurtis Blow, The Sugar Hill Gang, Run DMC, Fat Boys… my focus was always the bass and drums.
A little later, enter MTV, BET’s Video Soul and Friday Night Videos! By this point, I saw my truth. My path was set: to perform music with the likes of star talent at a professional level! Basically, be a part of what I’d absorbed my whole life.
At an early age I had a drive, discipline and a certain amount of chops and natural instincts. I just still needed experiences.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I feel I had such a blessed and privileged life and upbringing. I even had a next door neighbor with a drum kit set up in their garage and they’d let me tap around on that.
My first drum kit I saw was a small 4 piece drum kit with an orange sparkle finish, down front at our church. I was 3 or 4. The drums called me to them. In a serendipitous twist of events, when I reached age 10, the owner of the drum set married my sister and I was gifted that exact drum set! How about that for fate?
I always had mounds of encouragement from especially my parents and all my family. But add teachers and mentors and community advocates that always encouraged me and had my back. The more I played the more musicians recognized and began to utilize my talents. I learned quickly it’s not who you know – it’s who knows you!
Organically, one thing always led logically into the next. Absorbing jazz and classical and pop concepts, it was easy for me to advance and always become accepted and embraced by older musicians in all the genres. First gospel, soul, jazz, and later, various world music elements. I mean, I had to study and practice and self correct and build, but I seemed to have understanding on how to employ the best of what I saw others accomplish. Emulation is a good teacher.
I still do have so many advocates. I’ve learned gratitude, honor and humility along with preparedness goes a long way.
The biggest obstacles? Naivety. In 1990, once I left the insulated bubble of the Austin music scene, which was and is basically and ultimately encouraging and still not so competitive… well when I got to LA I learned the first day that it’s every “cat” for themselves. Or it appeared to be that way for me for the next several years. I’ve found some lasting associates but I also found out quickly that competition was fierce and cliques prevailed and yes, comments were caddie!
This cool country boy wasn’t totally ready for the big city. I got my feelings hurt. I got used. I got overlooked. I wasn’t used to smiles that came with knives in your back. But it was good for me to build what was necessary to understand my place mentally. Sort of deconstructing to reconstruct. And that’s a process that’s stayed with me and applied to all areas of my life so I am grateful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
People like for me to lead with me being a 3x Grammy Award Winner.
Thanks Jacob Sciba (sound engineer/ co-producer) and blues/pop/soul guitarist Gary Clark Jr. and my 11 or 14 song performance contributions on his album titled, ‘This Land.’
I am honored and proud of this.
I’m a human that expresses himself through drums as art. Rhythm to help crack the codes of this 3D matrix world we are relegated to for the time being. From the simple to the complex, life’s rhythms and patterns are part of the fabric of what makes this life what it is.
We have to choose our rhythmic source. Do we follow a drummer (life patterns) that keep us in a rut? Or do we follow the rhythms that connect us to our higher calling?
I am chosen to be a messenger of rhythmic love and energetic communication.
Since 1991, I’ve also led my own bands and produced and released one my own recordings under the band names Hot Buttered Rhythm (self titled and Blacksploitation), Blaze (self titled, Say What Now?, Aural Karate and Night Sangin’), Temple Underground (Live at Strange Brew and New Dawn) and lastly Black Red Black with band mates trumpeter Ephraim Owens and B3 organist Red Young mostly all on my own records labels.
I’d also like to share that I have had the privilege and honor of working with a superb list of musical artistic humans:
Sheena Easton, Chaka Khan, Nelly Furtado, Patrice Rushen, Jody Watley, Janet Jackson, Dixie Chicks, Lizz Wright, Eric Burdon and The Animals, Ruthie Foster, Taj Mahal, Chris Duarte, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Boz Scaggs, Gary Clark Jr., and many more. I’ve shared the stage with Dr. John, Nora Jones, Christian McBride, Meshell NDegeOcello, Delbert McClinton, Ben Harper and so many more valued musical story tellers.
In the last year I’ve been on tour with:
Ruthie Foster, Eric Johnson, BoomChank, Taj Mahal
Locally:
Tomas Ramirez, Mitch Watkins, Pam Hart, Tony Campise, Martin Banks, Stephen Bruton, Malford Milligan, Bob Schneider, Tina Marsh and Creative Opportunity Orchestra, The Bizness, Alejandro Escobedo, James Polk, Toby Anderson, Miss Lavelle White, MC Overlord, Marcia Ball, Lisa Tingle and so many more.
Currently locally you may see me with:
The Brannen and Red Show every Wednesday at 10:30pm at the Continental Club Gallery, Andrea Magee, Dave Scher, The Peterson Brothers, Casper Rawls, Paul Deemer, Brazilian Waxxx and more. Plus many studio records projects at Arlyn Studios, Wire and other local studios with the likes of The Texas Horns, Titty Bingo and many more.
I’m in education as well. I’ve thought adjunct at The University of Texas Butler School of Music in the Jazz Studies Department as their Drum Specialist. And currently I am on faculty at Huston-Tillotson University as their Jazz Studies adjunct Drum Professor.
Ultimately, I think I’m most proud of learning how to create a musical environment on stage so my band mates feel heard, supported and encouraged. I think the best compliment I’ve received to date has been that playing along side me has been musically rewarding. That’s respect.
That’s fine and cool. But, I understand I still have so much to learn and explore.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My parents, Brannen Sr. and Florence Temple. My sisters, cousins, my kids and my wife, Amanda. My brother-in-law Victor Holmes who gave me my first drum kit. Ebenezer Baptist Church and Deshon Boyd, TW Kincheon, Dr. Buela Agnes Curry Jones. My school music teachers Mr. Garcia, Mr. Walter Shaw, Mr. Kurt Moede, Mr. James Williamson, Mr. David Wilborn. My drum teachers Loren Hall, Sebastian Whitaker and Marvin “Smitty” Smith. Supporters and mentors: Derrick Edmondson, Marc St. Louis, Martin Banks, LD Williams, Hannibal Lokumbe, Roy Burns, Tommy Robertson (Tommy’s Drum Shop), Land Richards, Ann Steele…. I am missing so many. Sabian Cymbals, Vater Percussion, Aquarian Drumheads. I have endorsed these outstanding companies and their products since 1990. And there’s SoloBeat and BopWorks…Again, I am blessed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @btempdrum
- Facebook: Brannen Temple
- Youtube: @brannentemple6372
