Brad Blackwell

Bio of Brad Blackwell Named East Tennessee's Best Local Artist by the Knoxville News Sentinel in 2010, Brad Blackwell is emerging as one of the most gifted singer/songwriters on the independent music scene today. A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Brad moved to Knoxville at the age of 19 to attend the University of Tennessee and pursue his dream of being a singer/songwriter. Brad got his first guitar for Christmas at the age of seventeen. "I didn’t even ask for it… in fact, I was a little bummed out. I was hoping for an Xbox 360." says Blackwell, but he didn’t let it collect any dust. Brad learned quickly, teaching himself to play by picking up tips off of the internet and before too long was discovering his natural talent for writing songs. Brad teamed up with hit songwriter Jim Denton, who co-wrote the number one hit, "Rope the Moon" for John Michael Montgomery. The two co-produced Blackwell’s debut CD "Blue Sky" and collaborated on writing many of the songs on the CD. "Brad is a natural… the whole package and is destined to be a star", says Denton, who has also taken on the role of managing Brad's music career. The two have teamed up again for the writing and producing of Brad’s sophomore effort "Fresh." They both agree that this album has the potential to take Brad to the next level. "Brad has been building a loyal fan base in and around Knoxville while at the same time making frequent trips to Nashville and New York meeting with music industry execs and co-writing with hit songwriters," says Jim. "Whatever interest was gained from the first album, we are confident that this album is going to push him over the top. There has been a real growth in both his songwriting and performing since 'Blue Sky' released." Songs off "Blue Sky" such as: "She’s My Rainbow," "Before I Found You," and "I Blame You," have been receiving heavy airplay over the past year on some prominent radio stations in and around the Knoxville area. Songs off of "Fresh" such as the album’s title track "Fresh," and others like "I Do," "Don’t Go Away," and "Miracle," have already started seeing themselves in regular rotation. There is certainly a buzz surrounding this young man who is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee. "I fully believe the sky is the limit as to what I am capable of. I have a very clear vision of what I want and am going to approach that vision with the upmost intensity," says Brad. "We’ve been taking all of the mandatory steps to get to this point and I believe this next album is going to give us added depth and the push needed to start making some serious noise." The frequency of Brad’s local radio airplay is a testament to the radio-ready quality and writing style of Brad’s music. The altitude of his dreams and his focused determination are clear indicators that this young man will stop at nothing to attain them. He undoubtedly has a very bright future. Look for bigger and better things to come from Brad Blackwell in the near future!