Tony Bradan (born October 6, 1913 - 1999) was a Canadian teacher, guitarist and arranger.

Early life and career

Bradan was born Antonio Alfredo Bradanovich in Ladner, British Columbia, to parents who had immigrated from the Balkans. He studied guitar with Roy Barry and composition with Pasquale Fiore in Vancouver and harmony with

John Weinzweig John Jacob Weinzweig, (March 11, 1913 – August 24, 2006) was a Canadian composer of classical music. Weinzweig was born in Toronto. He went to Harbord Collegiate Institute, and studied music at the university. In 1937, he left for the United St ...

in Toronto. From 1937 to 1942, he was a member of

Mart Kenney Herbert Martin Kenney Order of Canada, C.M. (March 7, 1910 – February 8, 2006) was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader of Mart Kenney and His Western Gentlemen. Musical career Kenney was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Mildred Agnes (M ...

's Western Gentlemen. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, 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 The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government. ...

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'' (Silvertone).

Recordings

''Bobby Gimby Plays Dixieland'' (various recordings) with

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 (Sept 11, 1958) CBC Radio's ''The Sound of Guitars'', Tony Bradan, various other (1963-1968) ''Guitariana'' by Giovanni Liberatore (arranger: Tony Bradan)

Students

Tony's students included George Arvola, Neville Barnes, Gary Benson,

Ed Bickert Edward Isaac Bickert, (November 29, 1932 – February 28, 2019) was a Canadian guitarist who played mainstream jazz and swing music. Bickert worked professionally from the mid-1950s to 2000, mainly in the Toronto area. His international reputat ...

, Larry Chown, Art DeVilliers, Bobby Edwards, Mike Francis, Kenny Gill, Warren Greig, Fergus Hambleton, Peter Harris, Andy Krehm, Ihor Kukurudza, Bill Lechow, John Liberatore,

Lorne Lofsky Lorne Lofsky (born May 10, 1954) is a Canadian jazz guitarist who was a member of the Oscar Peterson Quartet. Lofsky began playing rock music at school dances but later took an interest in jazz after hearing the album ''Kind of Blue'' by Miles D ...

, Michael Maguire, Danny Marks, Rob Martin,

Kim Mitchell Joseph Kim Mitchell (born July 10, 1952) is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before going on to a solo career. His 1984 single, " Go for Soda", was his only charted song on the US ''Billbo ...

, James Pett, Jeff Peacock, Rob Piltch, Whitney Smith, Richard Stewardson, Bruce Todd, Rainer Wiens, Barton Wigg and Dean Zimmerman.

References

* ''Mart Kenney and His Western Gentlemen'' by Mart Kenney (1981, Western Producer Prairie Books, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) * ''"The West, a nest, and you, dear" : a bio-discography of Mart Kenney and His Western Gentlemen'' by Ross Brethour * ''Canadian jazz discography, 1916–1980'' by Jack Litchfield

External links

* *Your Technical Queries Answered by Experts. Guitar by Tony Bradan. Full text of "Music World No. 6 Oct. 15 1957" {{DEFAULTSORT:Bradan, Tony Canadian jazz guitarists Canadian male guitarists 1913 births Year of death missing Canadian male jazz musicians