Johnny Brandon (16 July 1925 – 26 July 2017) was an English singer and songwriter, popular during the 1950s, who recorded for a number of labels. His perennial backing group was known as The Phantoms. His early hits included "Tomorrow" and "Don't Worry". He also recorded versions of "
Slow Poke
"Slow Poke" is a 1951 popular song.
Background
"Slow Poke" is credited to three writers: Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart, and Chilton Price. Actually Price wrote the song in 1951, as she thought the song described her friend, King, very well. Kin ...
" (re-titled as "Slow Coach") and "
Painting the Clouds with Sunshine
"Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" is a popular music, popular song published in 1929 in music, 1929. The music was written by Joe Burke (composer), Joe Burke and the lyrics by Al Dubin for the 1929 musical film ''Gold Diggers of Broadway'' when ...
".
Brandon later composed several
Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
musicals, including ''
Cindy'' (1964) and ''
Billy Noname'' (1970). In 1979, he was jointly nominated for a
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...
for
Best Original Score for his work on ''
Eubie!''. Brandon is also known for his involvement in the musicals ''Ain't Doin' Nothin' But Singin' My Song'' (1982) and ''Oh, Diahne!'' (1997).
Brandon released his first
solo
Solo or SOLO may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Characters
* Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character
* Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity
* Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character
* Napoleon Solo, fr ...
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
, ''Then and Now'', in 2005 (albeit as a compilation of his old recordings combined with several that were new). He died on 26 July 2017, at the age of 92.
Chart single discography
*"Tomorrow" (1955) (
Polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure made up of line segments connected to form a closed polygonal chain.
The segments of a closed polygonal chain are called its '' edges'' or ''sides''. The points where two edges meet are the polygon ...
) -
UK number 8
†
*"Don't Worry" (1955) (Polygon) - UK number 18
‡
† Credited as Johnny Brandon with The Phantoms and The Norman Warren Music
‡ Credited as Johnny Brandon with The Phantoms
Selected filmography
* ''
Fun at St. Fanny's
''Fun at St. Fanny's'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Fred Emney, Cardew Robinson and Vera Day. The film revolves around the teachers and students at St Fanny's private school. It was based on Robinson's "Ca ...
'' (1956)
See also
*
Polygon Records discography
*
List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people: Bi-Bz
References
External links
*
*
The Villager article
1925 births
2017 deaths
British rock and roll musicians
English male songwriters
English pop singers
English LGBTQ singers
English LGBTQ songwriters
20th-century English male singers
20th-century English LGBTQ people
21st-century English LGBTQ people
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