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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > September > 05
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Singer-songwriter shows heart on, off his record
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The inside cover of “The Musical Theatre Album,” Atlanta singer-songwriter Barry Brandon’s debut recording, contains the line, “There is no future, there is no past, I live this moment as my last,” a lyric from “Rent.”
There’s a good reason for the quote.
“I’m not supposed to be here,” explains the 25-year-old Dunwoody resident. Because of a congenital heart ailment, the Florida native has endured seven open-heart surgeries, the first when he was just 48 hours old.
“And they were all experimental surgeries,” Brandon says, laughing. “The surgeons never knew exactly what they were going to do when they went in. Everyone is amazed that I’m still here.”
So when Brandon stood on a candlelit stage late last month, welcoming more than 100 family and friends to his album release performance at Actor’s Express, it was a remarkable achievement for someone who has spent much of his life in hospitals.
For “Musical Theatre” with accompanist Luke Myers, Brandon selected a wide range of pieces from Broadway shows and films. “Every one of the songs has a special meaning to my life,” he says.
Down to the opening track, “Times Like This,” which is dedicated to Brandon’s dog.
Proceeds from sales of the disc will go to HART, a charitable nonprofit organization started by Brandon to raise funds to help uninsured families with cardiac-related medical bills.
“It’s for families like mine — who have loved ones in the hospital for extended periods of time — so they can be together,” he explains.
At his Aug. 24 show, when Brandon dedicated the evening’s final selection, “Never Never Land,” to his mother sitting in the front row, tears flowed in the audience. The song, a childhood wish to fly away with Peter Pan, reflected Brandon’s desire as a kid to lead a normal life outside of an ICU unit.
“The Musical Theatre Album” is available at Outwrite Books in Midtown or at www.myspace.com/barrybrandonsmusic.
Brandon is set to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at the 14th Street Starbucks.
Pottery goes glam
Pottery-making can be an unglamorous craft, but at Saturday’s grand opening of the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia the potters were treated like celebrities. Many in the enthusiastic crowd of several hundred attending the dedication at the Sautee Nacoochee Center, four miles east of Helen, were seeking autographs of anyone connected to the museum. That included its architect, Robert Cain, and museum exhibit designer, Dale Brubaker, both of Atlanta.
“I was overwhelmed. I stood there for 45 minutes signing,” said potter Lynn Craven Tolbert, 59, of Cleveland. “It didn’t make me feel like a rock star, but it was such an honor to be asked.”
The potters and museum organizers were signing hand fans and masks printed with a scary image of a rock-toothed face jug by the late Lanier Meaders, Georgia’s best known folk potter, as well as copies of museum curator John Burrison’s book “Brothers in Clay: The Story of Georgia Folk Pottery.”
Ribbon-cutting duties were shared by a couple that symbolizes the past and future of the tradition: Meaders’ widow, Betty Jean Meaders, and Eli Hewell, 8, the youngest potter represented in the collection.
Brad keeping tabs on Big Easy
As if New Orleans needed anything else to deal with, paparazzi magnets Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are threatening to be frequent visitors to observe the city’s progress.
They were in New Orleans last week, though only Pitt appeared at a news conference to announce the winner of the design competition he started in April to rebuild hurricane-ravaged neighborhoods using environmentally friendly designs and construction.
Preproduction for his next movie is to begin in November, and Pitt said he would be in New Orleans for much of January and February for filming. Around that time, he said he also hoped to break ground on the first phase of the neighborhood redevelopment project slated for the devastated Ninth Ward.
The winning plan was submitted by Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen of Workshop APD in New York. It includes designs for six single-family housing units, 12 multifamily units, a community center and play area.
Pitt headed the jury of architects, city residents and others who decided on the top designs that use energy-saving materials such as metal roofing and recycled textiles.
Pitt initially contributed $100,000 to help underwrite the contest. It was announced Thursday that he contributed another $100,000 to help cover prize money.
Celebrity birthdays
Comedian-actor Bob Newhart is 77. Actor William Devane is 67. Actress Raquel Welch is 66. Drummer Buddy Miles is 60. Singer Loudon Wainwright III is 60. Cartoonist Cathy Guisewite (“Cathy”) is 56. Actor Michael Keaton is 55. Actress Rose McGowan is 32.
Contributing: Howard Pousner and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749, fax 404-526-5509, or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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