Impact Detroit Magazine Impact Detroit Holiday Issue 2013 | Page 16

KERN BRANTLEY
! in Detroit, I played jazz at local clubs, while playing at a restaurants in Detroit suburbs with some top musiup

cians like, Kamau Kenyatta,Vassal Benford and Alexander Zonjic. One evening, Detroit Jazz star "Earl Klugh"
was having dinner with his manger. They heard me play and invited me to audition for Earl at Bakers Keyboard
Lounge in Detroit credited for being the first jazz club in America. I went on to tour with the Earl Klugh band
for about 2 years. I also played bass with Grover WashingtonJr., about 4 years. Lot of people do not know this,
but I also play keyboards and guitar. When you talk about music mentors Susan, one name comes to mind in
my early years and that is Thomas Whitfield. He taught me not only gospel music, but the music business and
publishing. Another influence is Grover Washington, Jr. He gave me a chance to play jazz and be featured.

!
Other

influencers are Vassal Benford and Michael J. Powell for teaching me how to make records. There is
Teddy Ril ^H