Brett Raymond
Brett Raymond, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a professional composer, arranger, studio musician, and singer. He has worked with all four major television networks – ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox – as well as other varied clients such as ARTS Entertainment channel, Major League Baseball, Utah Jazz, FTD. He has also written and composed theme music for TV programs such as the theme for the “Today Show” on NBC, production music for TV stations, network promos, and the title theme for “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.
His solo albums which he began releasing in 1994 on the Deseret Book/Shadow Mountain label include Primarily for Grown-ups (1994), Primary for Christmas (1996), First Light-Scenes from the Restoration, Vol. 1(1997), A Case of Pop (1998), and Primary for Grown-Ups Again! (2001). His album “First Light-Scenes from the Restoration, Vol.1” won the Album of the Year award from the Faith-Centered Music Association.
Brett was born in 1958 in Dayton, Ohio, but grew up in Utah. His compassion for music began at an early age. He began taking piano lessons at the age of eight. Years later, after receiving a composition music grant from Brigham Young University (BYU), but spending little time on academics, he started his professional music career with the band “Souvenir” in 1982 and released two singles on Curb/MCA records.
In 1986, he moved to Tokyo, Japan where he worked as a composer and arranger for pop records, radio, and television commercials. While living in Japan, he got the opportunity to release his first solo album called Only Love on Sixty Records (distributed by Nippon Phonogram). The album was only released in Japan, but the name Brett Raymond soon became recognized by AOR/Westcoast Music lovers because of the high quality of his music which features his soft and gentle pop vocals. In 1993, he played synthesizer on “When You Look in My Eyes” for Jay Graydon’s album called “Airplay for The Planet.”
Brett lived and worked in Thousand Oaks, California for a few years before returning to his roots and settling down in a suburb north of Salt Lake City, Utah. In his short bio on his official website he writes:
I’ve worn a variety of ‘hats’ through the years, being on ‘both sides of the glass’ as they say. I’ve been the piano man at the piano bar atop the high-rise hotel. I’ve been the studio player playing for the artist, I’ve been the artist other musicians are recording for. I’ve produced artists, I’ve been produced as an artist. I’ve been an arranger, whether for a studio recording or for sheet music, I’ve had my pieces arranged. I’ve hired bands to back me up on live shows, I’ve been hired by artists to back them up on live shows. I’ve even been the studio engineer, pushing buttons. But the biggest single thing in this crazy business that has kept the bills paid and tummies full has been my work in production music. Everything from jingles (Velveeta Shells and Cheeze) to TV Themes (The Agatha Christie Hour) to promo work (“America’s Biggest Road Show”- College Football on ABC) The biggest of those gigs has been, and continues to be, the Today Show on NBC, which has used my ‘main studio theme’ for a number of years, and which I’m very grateful for.
He currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife Becky where he continues to work as a composer, producer, arranger, studio musician, and singer, writing and composing music for TV and film. He has said, “Because I appreciate great songwriting, my CD player is filled with music from songwriters like Billy Joel, Carole King, Cherie Call…”
Follow Brett Raymond
Recent Posts
Lyza and Evelyn Grace Bull Sing Two of Their Favorite Hymns about the Savior
Two Latter-day Saint sisters, 12-year-old Lyza Bull, and introducing her adorable 4-year-old sister, Evelyn Grace, released a music video on Lyza’s YouTube channel on 29 October 2017 for two of their favorite hymns about the Savior. The mashup produced and arranged by...
Claire and Dave Crosby Take Us On a “Magic Carpet Ride” to “A Whole New World”
In 1992, a quarter century ago, the Disney film Aladdin took us on a magic carpet ride to a whole new world. For this week’s “Video Find of the Week” we join 4-year-old Claire Crosby and her family in a whole new world – Disney World that is! Disney graciously flew...
The Orchestra at Temple Square Present Their Fall Concerts
The Orchestra at Temple Square, established in 1999 as a companion ensemble to the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir, will perform its annual fall concerts under the baton of Igor Gruppman on 27 and 28 October 2017. Classical disCDigest described Igor Gruppman as...
City of Enoch Shares Message of Savior’s Redeeming Love with Their Album “Sweet Redeemer”
City of Enoch, a contemporary Christian vocal trio based in Salt Lake City, Utah, received the inspiration for the name of their group from the story of the prophet Enoch and his people in the scriptures. In Genesis 5:24, we learn, “And Enoch walked with God: and he...
David Archuleta Believes Serving Two-Year Mission Was Best Decision of His Life
David James Archuleta, the 26-year-old world famous singer-songwriter, recently returned to the Philippines and performed a concert at the Kia Theater, Araneta Center, Quezon City on Friday, 20 October 2017. Also on that day, his long-awaited CD Postcards in the Sky...
For “Dancing with the Stars” Contestant Lindsey Stirling, Dreams Do Come True
The original version of the timeless classic song “When You Wish Upon a Star,” written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney’s 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio, was sung by Cliff Richards in the character of Jimmy Cricket. The song is heard in the opening...