299: Brandino on winning seven Grammys and being a jack of all trades

Kevin “Brandino” Brandon is a seven-time Grammy and three-time Emmy award winner.

He has performed with an incredible array of artists, including:

  • Aretha Franklin
  • OutKast (won Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album of the Year)
  • Justin Timberlake (won Grammy for Best R&B Song)
  • Mary J. Blige (won Grammy for Best R&B Album of the Year)

The list of artists he has worked with is incredible.

Brandino has achieved considerable success as a solo artist as well, and his recent album The Many Faces of Brandino 2 has received enthusiastic critical acclaim.

We dig into all sorts of topics today:

  • what it’s like playing with artists like Aretha Franklin, will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, and OutKast
  • the steps that go into applying for the Grammys
  • the rise of synth bass
  • being a five-string bass pioneer
  • building a studio and getting into record production

…and much more!

Links to Check Out:

Here’s a great video of Brandino’s Cello Bass by Eastman Music (using D’Addario Kaplans):

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By Jason

An active double bass performer and teacher, Jason teaches double bass at DePaul University and served on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Bassists for many years. Jason is the current President of the Illinois chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Jason has been a member of the Elgin Symphony since 2000 and has played with the Midsummer’s Music Festival in Door County for the past decade. He is a past member of the Milwaukee Ballet and IRIS Orchestra, and has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Grant Park Symphony, and numerous other professional ensembles.