Freddy Bradburn
Co-writer of the 2004 Mountain Stage New Song Festival for Best Song and a finalist in the 2004 Rocky Mountain Performing Songwriter Competition with his 13 year old musical partner, Chelsea Richardson, Freddy Bradburn as been writing song in a variety of contexts for about 15 years.
With their winning song, “Cartoonland,” which won in the Best Song category as well as the Grand Prize Winner, it gained them a performance spot on the critically acclaimed international radio program Mountain Stage. Of the winning song, Dan Keen, one of the judges and membership executive at ASCAP called the song and performance “emotionally chilling.” Acclaimed songwriter, Darrell Scott, (Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt) called the song and performance, “well-written... killer juxtaposition.” One early review of the new CD from Freddy and Chelsea, Shining Alone states, “Poignant in it’s depth and scope, Freddy Bradburn has found a provocative way to communicate the often complex world of today’s child with both empathy and wisdom. Chelsea Richardson’s voice beautifully complements the songs that no adult could ever deliver with such a disturbing yet delightful juxtaposition” (Rick Rock, Tribes Hill News).
Freddy has also had his songs covered by well known writer/performers, David Wilcox (“Barbie: The Untold Story) and Cosy Sheridan (“The Tooth Fairy Got Shot) and a has a solo CD entitled Night of the Falling Angels. As an educator, Freddy has been part of several grants (Disney Learning Grant, 21st Century Learning Grant) that has allowed him to teach songwriting in the elementary schools (that is where he met Chelsea) and has produced three CD’s that are collaborations with children writing songs based in their curriculums. He has been a keynote speaker, and an instructor in Storytelling and Southern Culture as well as Songwriting. He has taught workshops at the North Carolina Community Colleges Instructors Conference and has been asked to teach at the 2005 Duke Writers’ Workshop. Freddy has written a range of songs from children’s songs about Monarch Butterflies to sophisticated songs that range from the poignant to the comically bizarre. Veterans songwriter, Cosy Sheridan says of Freddy, “Freddy writes songs like no one else in the world. His songs are little movies with great special effects. He is insightful, touching and hilarious. He is also warped. Wonderfully warped.”
Freddy also plays with his good friend, and songwriter, Lisa Stevens.
Freddy teaches at McDowell Technical Community College and lives with his wife, and son in Marion, N.C..