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If youre ever blessed enough to meet Don Bryant, I dont imagine youll ever feel as much friendliness pour out of one simple handshake. When he sings, youll feel your soul effortlessly lifted to heaven by a voice pouring out the spirit of God out with the force of a perfect storm. When he performs, theres a Stadium packing energy that surges through him like European voltage, and yet intimate enough to make you feel like youre standing right there in his living room. And thats just the beginning of what Don Bryants all about.
Born in Memphis Tennessee on April 2, 1942, Don grew up in a normal middle class neighborhood filled with friends, love, religion and adventure and of course singing on the street corners... His father Edward Bryant ran a clothing store while his mother Margie Bryant did domestic work and raised he and his nine brothers and sisters. Edward also had his own gospel group called The Four Stars Of Harmony, one of the first black gospel groups to broadcast on the radio in Memphis. In between his job at the clothing store and broadcasting every Sunday evening, Edward would take Don out on the road to do gospel dates, and at the age of five, in a small church known as Carnegie, Young Don Bryant discovered his voice through the old spiritual; Sweet Little Jesus Boy.
The Four Stars of Harmony L-R Edward Bryant,Ruffin, "Pott T", Dempsy
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By the spring of '57, Don Bryant and the group he had called The Four Kings had captured the attention of Hi Records' producing legend Willie Mitchell all it took was one audition to know Don was an instant hit as he drove Willie's audience into a dancing frenzy with covers of Rufus Thomas, James Brown, The Five Royals, "Hank Ballard and the Midnighters and Garnett Mimms.
Soon Don was building a reputation for one of the hottest singers and entertainers around and from 1964 to 1968, his voice ignited the wax with an inferno of Soul, singing on a string of blistering Hi Records singles while he and Willie Mitchell packed houses and shook up audiences across the country, combining Mitchells powerhouse arrangements with the Dons electrifying performances.
Around that same period, Don Bryant had also gained a keen sense for writing, and once Mitchell discovered those talents, he expanded Don position at Hi Records to staff writer and head of A&R, penning songs for O.V. Wright, Otis Clay, Soul Children member Norman West and of course his future wife Ann Peebles
Don Bryant's amazing talent as a writer has constantly proven itself in his staggering catalog of penned and co-penned hits including Ann Peebles Grammy Nominated classic titled, I Cant Stand The Rain. Just that song alone has been featured in at least three blockbuster movies and covered by over twenty-five artist including Tina Turner, Humble Pie and Booker T and the MGs. By 1971, Don was beginning to turn a great deal more of his focus on writing rather than being The Artist, penning classics like A Love Vibration, 99 Pounds, and Fill This World With Love.
After Hi Records sold in 1979, Don continued to work in various studios by singing on a succession of demos and commercials, but Don was also starting to feel a major change-taking place within him. Over the years Don recalls, Id tried the fame, the traveling, the shows, the money, the glory, it was all there for me but there was something else I needed, something much greater.
So I did some serious thinking on it and I came to the conclusion that studying The Word of God was the only thing I hadnt tried. And so it wasnt long before an older, more wiser Brother Bryant found himself back in Carnegie where hed long since discovered his gift, devoting more and more time to The Word of God along with his musical ministry. In 1987 Don started his own label called By Faith Records and penned enough Gospel Lyrics to record a six-song testimonial titled, What Do You Think About Jesus.
Don returned to his self-built studio in 89 to record a second album titled; Im Gonna Praise Him. Though neither albums were commercially released, it was unmistakably evident now that Dons voice was as much his own as it was a direct link to Gods, as he masterfully praised his way through all eight of its brilliantly written tracks.
Even though Don has kept himself strongly committed to his Gospel Ministry for the past twenty years, his songs over the past forty are still heard through every possible form of media imaginable. From music beds for hit shows like Beverly Hills 90120, to Blockbuster movies like The Commitments and even late night shows like David Letterman.
In 2000, Don Bryant teamed up with long time keyboardist/producer for Ann Peebles, Paul Brown to produce his greatest achievement yet titled, "Its All In The Word".
This album not only highlights Dons anointed talent as a gospel songwriter but also presents the remarkable abilities of his voice through fifteen tracks of awesome, powerful testimony. From the passionate soul stirring melody lines of Rest Well, to the Mountain moving, Holy Ghost driven adlibs on Hes Alright, it is apparent that God has seasoned every note on this recording with sanctified soul-drenched spirit.
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When you listen to all the classic singles that Willie Mitchell released on Don Bryant, its evident that he was born to Love singing. But to hear the voice of Don Bryant now is to began comprehending the changes he's been through from the days of singing at the Flamingo Club with Willie Mitchell, to the coming into The Word Of God, and ultimately to the mountain Dons climbed to make it where he is today. And if you are ever blessed enough to hear the voice of Don Bryant, be ready for a true spiritual awakening.
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We love your music and hope to come back to Memphis soon! We're going to the Ponderosa Stomp in 2009. Will you be performing there? All the best to you from a cold and misty Amsterdam!
Greetings Don Bryant....Thank You For Adding Me to Your Circle Of Friends...Wishing You A Wonderful Week Filled With Joys...God Bless You...Peace And Blessings.....
Hi Don, You're the greatest, my friend! I have to come by here often to hear one of my favorite songs, "Souldier"! Thanks, so much, and my prayers are with you and Ann and Paul, always! God bless and with warm regards, Chocky Kay
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