Album Notes

The Bryson Group Bio

The songs of Jesse Bryson with a little help from his dad Wally Bryson, legendary guitarist of The Raspberries are featured on the debut collaboration of The Bryson Group's new CD entitled "Dry". Both musicians began playing at the age of twelve. The Bryson's have come together to record and co-produce "Dry" featuring sixteen songs written by Jesse (Wally co-wrote 2 of the songs) at Suma Recording Studio. Engineered and mastered by Paul Hamann, this unique father and son project has been a labor of love, trust, and mutual respect. Producer Jimmy Ienner said of the Dry CD, "The harmonies are so good, they're absurd. The world needs to hear this music". Jimmy loves Jesse's lead vocals, commenting, "Jesse's vocal quality is 'radio-friendly and believable'...a hard combination to get; you can't buy that and you can't teach it".

Wally's first regional hit, "It's Cold Outside" was recorded with Cleveland Ohio's The Choir for Roulette Records amid his initial success in popular bands, The Mods, Cyrus Erie, and POE. . As lead/rhythm guitarist, singer and songwriter in the world renowned The Raspberries, Wally recorded four albums with Capitol Records in the early 1970's with their song "Go All The Way" reaching #4 on Billboard's Hot 100 charts and earning the band a gold record. The band toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe including a critically acclaimed performance at Carnegie Hall. Wally's dynamic live performance at that venue is still being talked about by music business insiders and fans. Capitol has recently released a greatest hits CD and a Volumes 1 and 2 CD compilation series. Artists such as Bruce Springsteen , Courtney Love, & Gun 'N Roses, to name a few, have credited the Raspberries with influencing their musical aspirations. In the mid-70's he recorded an album on Motown's Prodigy label with his band, Tattoo. Wally later teamed with Dino Danelli and Gene Cornish of The Rascals to form the band Fotomaker, recording two albums for Atlantic Records, and toured with The New Rascals in the late '90's. He has performed as a guest musician, singer, and producer on many artists' CD's. He was Music Director for L.A. band Candy's debut album, and Music Director for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum's Topping Off Concert, assembling and rehearsing an all-star line up of musicians. The show featured popular Cleveland musicians and national artists Jerry Lee Lewis, Gilby Clarke, and Bobby Womack. Bryson has loaned the Rock Hall over 40 items, including his Flying V guitar, photographs, stage clothes and other memorabilia from his personal collection for their Home Town display soon after opening, and a current exhibit, Hang On Sloopy, on indefinite display..

Jesse , at seventeen, with his first band Qwasi Qwa , won top prize in the first annual Mountain Dew High School Rock-Off in 1997. The competition, sponsored by Mountain Dew and Belkin Productions was held at Cleveland's renowned Odeon Concert Club. The band played live at all the best venues regionally and recorded a debut live CD called "Shaking Hands with the Governor" receiving critical acclaim in the local press. Qwasi Qwa's talent and favorable press won them a showcase at the acclaimed SXSW international music competition in Austin, Texas in 2000. They were nominated for the Best Roots Rock Band competition sponsored by Scene Magazine and won first place for Best Pop Rock Band in the Cleveland Free Times. The band performed with national acts Wilco, Roger McGuinn, Edgar Winter, The Raspberries, Leona Naess, and Robert Bradley's Black Water Surprise. They also placed in the Lucky Strike Band to Band national competition. Bryson's songwriting, vocal, and musical talent showcase his versatility as a seasoned musician. He has recently recorded a CD with well-known Cleveland band Rosavelt, and has earned his performance legs playing solo, duo, and band gigs with many of Cleveland's top musicians.