Standing well over six feet tall, shaved head, and tattoos blazing, most people would assume that Brandon Jenkins is a hard rock act or at least a professional wrestler, but nothing could be farther from the truth. As part of the "Red Dirt" music scene in Oklahoma for more than a decade, he has honed his skills and made a name for himself as one of the premier performing songwriters around.

The road to success has not been easy for Jenkins; it has had several peaks, valleys, and a few sharp turns. Starting with his first record deal in 1994 with Alabama label Raney Records, things started out with a bang. The label sent him on the road in a silver eagle, raking in the money from playing big country dance halls. Beneath the success though, a storm was brewing. The country "hat act" the label had turned him into was not setting well with Brandon. His artistic freedom was non-existent and the constant traveling was beginning to take its toll.

In 1995 Brandon left the label and signed with manager R. C. Bradley (Dwight Yoakam, Jim Lauderdale). By spring, he had made the move to Nashville, but things there would not go well. "Everywhere I went they told me the same thing; that I had a great voice but I didn’t have the right look, or my song was too risqué.” This only reinforced his resolve to be his own man. After less than a year, he decided to go back to his base in Oklahoma. This time, he would follow his own artistic vision, transforming himself from a longhaired country "hat act" into a bald headed tattooed singer/songwriter.

Being true to himself has proved successful. Jenkins has built a large and loyal following of fans. He has shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Pat Green, David Allen Coe, Charlie Daniels, Cory Morrow, Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker, The Mavericks, Hal Ketchum, Steven Stills, BR-549, Jack Ingram, John Anderson and Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Information from the artist's site

Musicians

• Brandon Jenkins: guitar, lead vocals, vocals
• David Teegarden, Jr.: drums

Influences

Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, ZZ Top, Waylon Jennings, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Blue Mountain, Taj Mahall, Ryan Adams, Kenny Rogers, Leon Russell, Freddie King, Miles Davis

Albums

Favorited by these users:

Suporttxmusic, brooklyn_kid07, eguzzo, ibjoe, jlayers, paullywallydoodle, texlegend

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