WILLIE BRADLEY- is a graduate of South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC where he earned a BS Degree in Music Education and Performance. Over the course of his career, Willie has played with jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Max Roach, Betty Carter and Nat Adderley. Willie came from the funk band Big Bertha and eventually formed the Willie Bradley Trio. Bradley and two other members: Cornell Young (drums) and Ted Ash (keyboards) went on to form Essential Elements and produce a successful, upscale event the first Saturday of every month in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville, NC.

Bradley had originally met Ted years earlier when the two were part of another group called The Package Band. Cornell had played in numerous rock groups. Collectively, the trio has opened for or played with various smooth jazz and blues artists such as Fourplay, Eric Darius, Pamela Williams, Terry Cummings, Mike Phillips, Joey Sommerville, Junior Wells, Bobby Blue Bland, Gordon James, Marcus Anderson and Ryan Kilgore.

Now, Willie Bradley adds to his musical timeline, a burgeoning solo career and is working on a new album, Another Day & Time. The set, which includes ten lively horn tracks, is being co-written by Bradley and keyboardist Nicholas Cole, who also handles production on the album.

 

 

Willie Bradley is the consummate smooth jazz performer with an energy level that surpasses any performance imaginable. Willie's trumpet playing is on point from note to note and with a style that will have you rocking and begging for more. Willie is one mean trumpet playing machine!!

 

Richard F. Blackwell