- 2005 Male Vocalist - (CGC
Choice Awards)
- 2006 Male Vocalist -
(Agape Fest/Fan Awards)
- 2006 Duet of the Year -
(Agape Fest/Fan Awards)
- 2006 Entertainer of the
Year -(Agape Fest/Fan Awards)
- 2006 Outstanding
Achievement in Christian Country Music (Agape Fest/Fan Awards)
- 2006 Male Vocalist - (CCMA/ICM)
- 2006 Male Vocalist – (CGC
Choice Awards)
- 2007 Male Vocalist -
Inspirational Country Music Association
He has also turned out an
impressive list of number one hits:
- No Turning Back (Mar.
2004) (Apr. 2004)
- Till’ You Start Walking
(Jan. 2005) (Feb. 2005)
- Hook, Line & Sinker
(Jul. 2005) (Aug. 2005) (Nov. 2005)
- Somebody’s Gotta Pray
(Apr. 2006) (May 2006)
- I Believe In Angels
(Sept. 2006) (Oct. 2006) (Jan. 2007)
And if that weren't
enough, his latest album was nominated for Album of the Year.
Alan Jackson edged him out for that honor.
Click here to visit website and view music videos.
Click here to go to CMT Loaded to view 2007 Inspirational
Country Music Awards (Click music tab, scroll to bottom of
list and choose ICMA icon.)
Tommy with Michelle at the ICM Awards show
Photo Special to Arab Today
Brandt, who is from Sebring, FL, didn't start
out to sing gospel music. In fact, he spent the first ten
years of his career trying to break into country music by
playing in nightclubs and bars. But the prayers of his
mother combined with guidance from a "preachers daughter"
helped to turn his life around.
His first dates with
Michelle, his future wife, were Bible studies. Then one
night in 1997 he and Michelle went to an Ivan Parker concert.
During the concert he accepted Christ and from that experience
he knew what he was to do with his life. Having
established the direction for his life, he still had to figure
out how to go about answering the call so he took a year off to,
"figure out what to do and how to do it," Brandt said. It
was during this time that he began to write Christian songs.
Then in February 1998 his mother's prayers were answered when he
began to sing play and sign Christian music. Today his
performances are part of Tommy Brandt Ministries.
When people ask, “What in
the world is Tommy Brandt doing singing Christian music?” His
answer is, "the Lord is my Strength and my Song..." (Psalm 118:
14). “My desire is that you will see Jesus in me and all
that I do…”
Although he had already
recorded an album with the country band New South, moving
to recording and performing Christian country music was
completely different Brandt admits. "I had to approach it from
completely different avenues and channels, but God opened
doors." "I had worked for years trying to break into
country music but when I turned my life over to God he opened
doors that I only dreamed about."
Today, Brandt does about
200 concerts per year and travels about 60,000 miles in the
custom bus along with his wife and children. Brandt says
that he has performed for audiences as little as 15 and as many
as 40,000. No matter the size of the audience he tries to
give each venue his best performance. He is currently
booked solid through May.
In addition to TV and
radio he plays rodeos, churches and fairs. He has shared
the stage with artists such as Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Andy
Griggs, Alabama (his music idols while growing up) Josh Turner
and many more. He has appeared on every major gospel
network.
Brandt records in
Nashville and is promoted by HMG (Higgins Music Group) of
Nashville. Michelle handles the bookings. With three
albums already to his credit, he is planning an acoustic
Christmas album for this year.
Brandt didn't start out
to perform in Arab. As a matter of fact he hadn't planned
to come to Arab at all. He was finishing a concert in
Gulfport, MS when he was searching the internet for a new Tahoe
to tow along with his bus. During the search he happened
onto the Clayton Chevrolet site. He found a vehicle that
matched his search and placed a call to the dealership,
eventually working with Clayton sales representative Grant
Humphries.
Tommy Brandt (center) shows off a Clayton
Chevrolet tag and is flanked by Brian Clayton (left) and Grant
Humphries (right).
Photo special to Arab Today
Clayton had two vehicles
that were of interest and he jokingly told Grant that he would
stop by if he could find a few concerts in the area.
In addition to the concert on the Clayton dealership
grounds, he was scheduled to perform at the Celebrate
Recovery banquet in Guntersville Thursday night and at the
Cowboy Church of Marshall County in Boaz Friday evening.
From Boaz, he heads to Kentwood, LA and the Chesbrough Baptist
Church.
This may not be his last
visit to Arab. One of the Tahoe's that he wanted to check
out was sold just before he arrived and the other turned out not
to fit his needs. Humphries is searching for another
Tahoe.
Brandt and Michelle have
two children, Amanda, age 17, and Tommy Brandt II, age 6.
When not traveling they still call Sebring, FL home.
For additional
information and photos visit:
www.tommybrandt.org
