Rick Braun

by Jason Ankeny
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, trumpeter Rick Braun first surfaced as a member of the jazz-fusion outfit Auracle, formed while he was a student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. After two LPs the group disbanded, and Braun turned to songwriting, scoring a hit with REO Speedwagons Here with Me; in time he directed his focus to contemporary jazz, issuing his solo debut Intimate Secrets in 1993. After touring with Sade, he returned in 1994 with Night Walk as well as the seasonal release Christmas Present. With 1995s Beat Street, Brauns popularity continued to snowball, with 1996s smash Body and Soul launching the NAC chart-topper Notorious. A two-time winner of the Gavin Reports smooth jazz artist of the year award, he returned in 1998 with South of Midnight. He also collaborated with Boney James on the 2000 release Shake It Up. Kisses in the Rain followed a year later.