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
Face to Face Event with LDS Musical Artists Scheduled for 11 October 2017
The Face to Face events sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is popular especially among the youth of the Church. Each episode presents an audience with well-known Mormon personalities, including famous Mormon entertainers, as well as, General...
American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic’s Inspirational Music Video Delivers Powerful Message About Repairing Broken Lives
Often, we find that the path that leads to happiness in life includes affliction, trials, and suffering—physically, mentally, and even spiritually. There are times in each of our lives when we feel as though we have really made a mess of our lives. We long for a...
LDS Teen Touches Hearts in her Second America’s Got Talent Performance
LDS 13-year-old Evie Clair’s latest performance on America’s Got Talent was deeply touching once again. She chose to sing “I Try” by Macy Gray, and her delivery of the song struck an emotional chord with each of the judges. She missed maybe one or two notes, but they...
The Gardiner Sisters Release Catchy Mashup of ‘No Promises’ and ‘Attention’
The Gardiner Sisters are known for their tight harmonies and smooth voices, and their latest video feature a mash-up of Demi Lovato's "No Promises" and Charlie Puth's "Attention" is no different. With a simple accompaniment and focus on the vocal talents of the...
How Evie Clair Remains True to the Faith Despite Her Fame
Evie Clair, the 13-year-old Latter-day Saint youth who is a contestant on this season’s America’s Got Talent program, caused quite the social media storm (in a positive way), after her outstanding performance of Arms by Christina Perri. The song was dedicated to her...
Jaeden Vaifanua Writes Special Song, “What Family Means to Me,” for 2017 Mutual Album
The central core of the foundation of any society is the home. President Thomas S. Monson has taught us, “Actually, a home is much more than a house. A house is built of lumber, brick, and stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. A house can be a home,...