Album Notes

PERFORMANCE CREDITS: Five of the selections on "Only Dreamers Understand" were performed and recorded “live” in the ‘solo’ format (vocals accompanied by acoustic guitar or piano). The remaining numbers were produced with Brandon’s multi-instrumental and vocal harmony capabilities, augmenting the production in a full band format. But in actuality, the album’s instrumental and vocal performances were all by Brandon -- other than drums (by ace session musician Tommy DiSabatino) on selections #2, 3, 4 & 11.

PRODUCTION CREDITS: Tracks #1, 6, 9, 10 & 12 recorded by Steve Gabler, of Perfection Recording, Uniontown, OH, who also mastered the entire final mix. All other tracks were recorded at Daniel Recording, Canton, OH, engineered by Dan Fleishour.

A native of the southwestern Virginia city of Roanoke, Brandon St. James' lifelong passion for music started early. By age seven, Brandon had begun piano lessons. Shortly thereafter, his family uprooted and resettled in northeast Ohio. But consolation soon came when the youngster finally found his first guitar was under the tree on Christmas morning.

Brandon played both guitar and piano for programs in elementary school and throughout his junior high years, in addition to playing trumpet in the school band.

While working full-time as a performing musician, Brandon has also been a music instructor, which he began doing since the age of 16. Starting with a few students in a music store, he was soon teaching between fifty and sixty lessons per week. For the next decade, he taught an estimated total of over 500 students, many who are professional musicians and teachers in their own right!

Beginning midway through his high school years, and continuing for the next decade, Brandon performed in many regional bands throughout northeastern Ohio. But, after all the years of playing with various bands, Brandon found his love for acoustic music overshadowing his original desire to try to be 'the next Eric Clapton'. So he began working as a solo act, performing with both acoustic guitar and on piano.

His calendar was soon filled with many long-running repeat engagements in many prominent northeast Ohio nightspots, including a five-year stint at Akron, Ohio's Quaker Square Hilton. Ironically, Brandon got to meet and play for his childhood idol, Eric Clapton who was a guest at the hotel while on tour. It was also from his gig at the Hilton that Brandon found himself playing a duet of "The Boxer" with the song's composer, Paul Simon. Other highlights included performing with the likes of Graham Nash, James Burton, The Moody Blues in his audience.

As a songwriter, Brandon St. James has been a Quarter Finalist in The American Song Festival, and received honorable mention in the Billboard Song Festival.

Although most of his original songs would more likely be considered "pop" or "contemporary folk", Brandon was invited to be a guest on "Country Today". The show was broadcast into an estimated 63 million homes, via The Nashville Network (TNN).

MAILING LIST:
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DIGITAL DOWNLOADS:
If you’d prefer to download the “Only Dreamers Understand” album – or even just a single selection – doing so can be accomplished by visiting the following site(s) …

AOL Music Now [http://aol.musicnow.com/az/album.jhtml?id=5600523]

BuyMusic.com [http://www.buy.com/retail/searchResults.aspx?querytype=6&searchquery=Brandon+St%2E+James&loc=18250&dclksa=1]

MP3 Tunes [http://www.mp3tunes.com/album_details.php?album_id=33806]

Sony Connect [http://musicstore.connect.com/album/500/000/000/000/010/583/292/500000000000010583292.html?SelectedID=500000000000010583292]

PassAlong Music Store [http://www.passalong.com/Music/AdvancedSearchResults.aspx?selSearchType=Artist&txtSearchKeyword=Brandon+St.+James]