Tony Bradan
Tony Bradan was a Canadian teacher, guitarist, and arranger.
Early life and career
Bradan was born of Balkan descent in Ladner, British Columbia. His father was born in Viš, Principality of Montenegro. His mother, Maria Filomena Bussanich, was born to Italian parents from Lussinpiccolo, Austria-Hungary. He studied guitar with Roy Barry and composition with Pasquale Fiore in Vancouver and harmony with John Weinzweig in Toronto. From 1937 to 1942, he was a member of Mart Kenney's Western Gentlemen. During World War II, he was musical director of the Army Show and arranger for the Canadian orchestra of the Allied Expeditionary Forces. After the war, he played in orchestras for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Toronto. Bradan married singer Judy Richards.Teaching method
A Learning Process For Playing The Guitar Book 1 and Guitar Fundamentals Books 2', 3', 4 ''and 5 are based on Bradan's handwritten manuscript. Print copies are in the collection of the Toronto Public Library.Tony also created an instructional book and accompanying 45 rpm record entitled Basic Guitar Lessons''.
Recordings
Bobby Gimby Plays Dixielandwith Mart Kenney and His Western Gentlemen
Les Foster and Five Fabulous Friends
Latin Lustre by Chicho Valle and His Orchestra
CBC Television's Summertime '58, The Tony Bradan Quintet
CBC Radio's The Sound of Guitars, Tony Bradan, various other
Guitariana by Giovanni Liberatore