We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brad Mercer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brad, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I get this question asked of me many times. I come from a show business family. my mom and dad did a lot of musicals and motion pictures as well as some of the “Babes” pictures with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. I made my first television appearance on live TV when I was five years old by picking my nose on live TV in Los Angeles. From that point on, I was hooked! The real turning point was in 1964 when I saw The Beatles for the first time and thought, “That really looks like a fun job!” So, my parents bought me my first real guitar and off I went!

Brad, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in Glendale, CA, and raised in Los Angeles. I began my music career at the age of five. My family relocated to Lake Arrowhead in 1960. At age twelve I was writing and composing songs and in Junior High and High School took advantage of my focus on the Performing Arts in addition to my music. I organized my first rock band to become active in charity and school fundraising events. As you can see, my manager, Chip Miller is here with me so I’ll let him chime in here with his imput. Take it away, Chip!

He has honed his many talents, ultimately becoming a fine professional performer, singer/songwriter, recording artist and radio personality. Brad can play just about any instrument that is handed to him, and is best known for his magical work on the guitar and tenor banjo.

Over the years Brad has recorded, produced and engineered six albums, toured with his own show throughout the nation focusing on Nevada (Reno/Tahoe, Vegas), as an Impressionist/Comedian in the Comedy Circuit opening for the likes of Jay Leno, George Carlin and Jeff Foxworthy…, in the medias of radio and television doing voice-overs, commercials, host and MC work… and television theme songs including the NBC television series “Walking Tall”.
Topping it off with his own radio and television show in the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, California. You’re doing great, Chip! Thanks, man!

He wrote, produced and directed a comedy spoof on the popular tv series, “CSI: Miami” called “CSI: Alm Prings” which can be viewed on his website, CSIALMPRINGS.COM. He is the recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for Best Rock DJ of 2012 and again in 2015 along with the “Alan Freed Lifetime Achievement Award” given to him by the LA Music Awards in Hollywood. His current film, “Sushi Anyone?” has won an award for Best Film Short in the La Jolla Film Festival and was screened at the AMFM Film Festival for Arts, Music, Film and More November 13 – 16 2014 in the beautiful Mary Pickford Square in Cathedral City, CA.

He is now the creator and host of “Brad Mercer’s Bands ‘N Fans” syndicated radio show helping the unsigned and newly signed country and country/rock indie artists from all over the world get airplay in over 140 countries worldwide and heads up a three hour non-stop Classic Rock Show with The Brad Mercer Band.

Thanks, Chip. I want to also let everyone know that Chip Miller is not only my manager, but heads up Desert C.A.M. Studios, with offices in Burbank and Palm Desert, CA, Desert CAM Studios is an award-winning original Content Creator, Motion Picture, Television, Documentary, Commercial, and Music Video production and post-production company founded in 2008. Chip is an award-winning LA filmmaker, screenwriter, video producer and editor. Proud to have him as my manager.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I’ll tell you this. My passion and goal has always been to give my all on stage and try to make the people who come see me forget their problems for as long as I’m up there. To have the audience respond to me the way they do and walk away feeling good with a smile on their faces makes it all worth it for me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

All I can offer is to do what makes you happy. For me as a performer I can say this: It takes you 20 years to learn how to walk on stage! That, my friends, is a proven fact!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thebradmercerband.com
• Facebook: BradMercer
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx9vIYfpQFs
• Other: www.bradmercersbnf.com