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
David Archuleta and Life Beyond “American Idol”
To be fair, most of the incredible stars from the first run of the ABC reality television show American Idol had the talent needed to have a successful career in the music industry beyond their time on the show. One of those talented young contestants was world-renown...
The New Youth Album, “A Great Work,” Has Landed at #8 on the iTunes Christian Music Charts
Every year The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chooses a new youth theme, which is normally accompanied by a music album of songs that support the theme. For the year 2021, the theme is “A Great Work.” The theme is based on the scripture found...
Camille Nelson’s “Acoustic Christmas” Brings Hope and Joy for the Season
No doubt the year 2020 has been a challenging year for a great number of people on many different levels. There are many people who are feeling lonely and rejected, lost and confused, frightened and uncertain, desperately seeking to know if there is any hope left in...
Mat and Savanna Shaw Make Their Billboard Chart Debut with Their Debut Album “Picture This”
On Friday, 23 October 2020, the father-and-daughter viral duo from Kaysville, Utah, Mat and Savanna Shaw, released their debut studio album, Picture This. The success of the album has been phenomenal. An initial supply of 10,000 CDs were sold out on release day and a...
Latter-day Saint Musicians Spread Hope and Joy Throughout the World Through Music
One of the ways that Latter-day Saint musicians help to spread hope and joy to the world during the holiday season is through the release of their holiday music videos on Facebook and YouTube, as well as the release of their singles, EPs, and albums on the various...
Carson Ferris Uses Debut Single “I Will Fight” to Adress His Struggle with Performance Anxiety
Carson Ferris is a ten-year-old rising music artist who gets a lot of opportunities to sing and has his own YouTube channel. He also likes to go on bike rides, read, and do fun things with his family. He is a member of the One Voice Children’s Choir and Voices...