KALW is local public radio from the San Francisco Bay Area. Tune into 91.7FM or find some of KALW's fine programming here, from shows like our nightly newsmagazine Crosscurrents. And check out the sounds from special projects like Audiograph, which is out to capture the sonic signature of the Bay Area. 

Curtis Braly was born into a family that shared a mutual passion for music—no matter the genre, no matter the locale.  From the church pew to the front porch and the backseat of the family SUV, Curtis embraces the hymns, rhythms, and tunes that surrounded him. Spending his childhood in Humble, TX. Noteworthy by name alone,  a distinguishingly small suburb where neighbors were friends and the community shared a common thread in its respect for, and a kinship with, the citizens and men and women of service.  It’s the small town’s character and Lone Star State pride that built Curtis Braly.
 
As an eight-year-old, Curtis enjoyed the exhilaration of the spotlight; he won first place in a talent contest where he sang "Old Time Rock-n-Roll.”  Music became his first true love and the experience set young Curtis’ passion in motion toward a “Risky Business.”  Throughout high school, Curtis became an active participant in theatre and three different choir classes where he learned to perform a variety of genres.
 
During his sophomore year, Curtis started his own band and won a national talent contest; the prize was a trip to Nashville, Tennessee.  The visit to Music City solidified his directive.  Concentrating his energies and furthering his education to make his dream a reality, Curtis landed a job at The New 93Q Country Radio station in Houston where he became Sr. Promotions Manager. Working behind the scenes in country radio, Curtis learned first hand the importance of the relationship between artist and radio, and the diligence required to “make it” in the music business.
 
Three years later, Curtis took an entirely different direction—from the heart of country music to a street beat.  He segued to study Criminal Justice & Crime Scene Investigation and after graduation, he attended the police academy.
 
Early in Curtis’ performing career, he opened for acts such as Daryl Singletary and Johnny Rodriguez.  A fellow 93Q staffer introduced Curtis “as a talented artist in the making” to a longtime friend and award-winning songwriter and publisher, Randy Boudreaux.  Curtis and Boudreaux recorded a two-song demo, and just a few short years later, Music City became Curtis’ second home with sights focused and on target to launch his full-time career in the country music business.
 
Introducing his influences as Reba, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks and Clay Walker, to name a few, Curtis draws from these performers’ abilities to capture an audience—to bring music to life as a must-hear storyteller.  He “delivers” with believable emotion and a charging energy to make a story unfold right before your ears.  He travels the stage in each high-energy performance to offer something different than the night before.  His 2016 & 2017 summer show schedule included a number of performances on tour with Tanya Tucker and he recently shared the stage with the country icon, Dolly Parton.  While Curtis is devoted to his country music roots, his music caters to the new generation of contemporary country music fans and listeners who have a hankering for pop, jazz, and rock.
 
Curtis recently recorded his third CD, with Kent Wells producing.  The project, titled YOU MATTER, is both personal and loaded with “BAM!”.
 
The 10-song CD features tracks (such as “Love You Down,” “Hate Me,” and “Simple’s Not Easy”) that touch on love, loneliness, fear, break-ups, and beer.  A “labor of love,” the compilation is a reflection of personal and artistic evolution and was created with a purposeful intent to inspire.  
 
YOU MATTER delivers and hits all the right notes to take Curtis Braly and his listeners to new heights.

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