Browning Bryant


John Baxter Browning Bryant was an American singer-songwriter, whose greatest commercial popularity was before and during his early teens.

Background

Known professionally as Browning Bryant, he was the only child of Maud and Ray Bryant, and a long-time resident of Pickens, South Carolina. He attained success singing folk-pop that was uncharacteristically mature and introspective for a pre-teen heartthrob. In 1969, the first of his several songs to generate international sales was Games that Grown Up Children Play, leading to televised appearances on The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Kraft Music Hall, The Tonight Show, and a brief Las Vegas career. He was nominated "Best Boy Singer" in a reader poll by 16 Magazine, then a favorite with teenagers.
In 1974, Bryant's last commercial album was released. New Orleans hit-maker Allen Toussaint produced the album and wrote most of its songs. It featured backing by members of the R&B group The Meters. Though he was 15 and then 16 years old when the album was recorded, his mellifluous vocals are remarkably mature. His three self-penned songs also belied his age, with one, "Cure My Blues", being covered by blues singer Ellen McIlwaine. Despite recording in a style drastically different than his earlier work, it turned out that Bryant was well-paired with Toussaint's trademark syncopated funk.
In the 1970s Bryant briefly ventured into theater with the lead role in a musical road show production of Tom Sawyer.
After his career waned, Bryant graduated from Clemson University with a political science degree, and then worked for many years in management for the Belk department store chain. He continued to write songs and record privately.
Bryant died at home, survived by his parents.

Discography

Commercial albums

;Patches
  1. Patches
  2. You Mean All the World to Me
  3. Hey Little Girl
  4. Running Bear
  5. Moods of Mary
  6. What is a Youth
  7. Tower of Strength
  8. Games that Grown Up Children Play
  9. It's a Beautiful Day
  10. Poppa Says
  11. She Thinks I Still Care
  12. As Usual
;One Time in a Million
  1. One Time in a Million
  2. Yesterday
  3. Sweet Caroline
  4. Don't Wait Till Mornin' Comes
  5. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
  6. For Once in My Life
  7. Happy Man
  8. Today
  9. What the World Needs Now
  10. Jean
  11. La la la
; Browning Bryant
  1. You Might Say
  2. Say You Will
  3. Leave the Rest to Molly
  4. This is My Day
  5. Cure My Blues
  6. Liverpool Fool
  7. Blinded by Love
  8. Cover Girl
  9. Losing
  10. Performance
  11. Home
In 2013, "Browning Bryant" was remastered and rereleased as a cd with original art as mini-sleeve by WEA Japan. It is available as a digital download and through major streaming services.

Private recordings

; Some Favorites of Mine
  1. The Girl from Ipanema
  2. Suddenly
  3. And I Love You So
  4. The Christmas Song
  5. The Summer Wind
  6. The Nearness of You
  7. Here's that Rainy Day
  8. Smile
; Frankandsince
  1. "I Could Write a Book"
  2. "Fly Me to the Moon"
  3. "I've Got a Crush on You
  4. "I've Got You Under My Skin"
  5. "It Had to be You"
  6. "Witchcraft"
  7. "Our Love is Here to Stay"
  8. "But Not for Me"
  9. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"
  • Recorded July 9, 1995, at Reflection Sound Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Digitally remixed at Workhorse Studio, Easley, South Carolina
; Merry Christmas From Browning Bryant
  1. This Christmas
  2. The Christmas Song
  3. Silver Bells
  4. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
  5. The Little Drummer Boy
  6. Mary's Little Boy Child
  7. Do You Hear What I Hear
  8. What Child is This
  9. The First Noel
  10. Away in a Manger
  11. Let it Snow
  12. Happy Holidays
  • Produced, arranged, all vocals and instruments by Browning Bryant, except Wade Powell, rhythm guitar and Maud Bryant, harmony vocal on Silver Bells.
  • Recorded November 2003 at Workhorse Studio, Easley, South Carolina

Various artist compilation albums

Deep Ear ; "This is My Day" from the album Browning Bryant.

Singles

  • "Games that Grown Up Children Play" / "Hey Little Girl"
  • "She Thinks I Still Care" / "Poppa Says"
  • "New Way to Live" / "Patches"
  • "Little Altar Boy" / "They Stood in Silent Prayer"
  • "One Time in a Million" / "Tina"
  • "Liverpool Fool" / "Cover Girl"