Musician hopes to turn lifelong hobby into career By Alice Mohl Staff Writer

At an age when many 3-year-olds can barely blow hard enough to make bubbles, Bryant Young was putting air through a trumpet. Young, who has lived in Harvey and now lives and performs on Chicago’s South Side, said he hopes he can turn his lifelong fancy into a full-time music career.
Young said he grew up in a home filled with music and was encouraged by his father, who played the saxophone.
“There was always music in the house,” Young said. “The stereo was very significant to life in our household.”
Young said he took trumpet and singing lessons as a boy, and by age 5 he was making up
rhymes and songs in his head.
Young, who describes himself as “visually challenged” said that playing in groups as a young student was difficult because he couldn't see the notes on the page easily. He said the challenge taught him to memorize the music quickly to keep up with the rest of the group.
In high school, Young said he was often writing music during class.
“ I’m supposed to be taking notes, and I’m writing lyrics,” he said.
Young said he hasn’t picked up his trumpet in years, but he has been singing and recording his music in recent years.
“ I just feel that singing is more my instrument,” he said.
Young has performed at local festivals and plans to play at coffeehouses in the near future.
Though Young’s childhood musical tastes were influenced by Motown and rhythm-and- blues styles, Young said he became interested in reggae in the 1980s, and found its “feel good” style attractive.
“ For me, it was a perfect music for my personality,” he said.
Young said the bright colors and costumes he wears for performances of his reggae music were things he already liked, and he spent three years growing his own shoulder-length dreadlocks to complete the look.
Young said his dance style on stage is still influenced by performers from the 1970s that Young watched growing up.
“ I was inspired to [dance] by the classic Motown groups,” he said. “I like to be energetic on stage.”
Young said he became disillusioned with rhythm and blues in the 1980s when performers began relying on synthesized music more heavily than live musicians, and he said rap music is too negative to fit into his style.
But the upbeat, staccato rhyming of what Young calls “Jamaican rap” is prevalent on his cassette, called “Come Feel My Vibe.”
Young compared the style to children’s rhymes sung during games.
“ It’s very akin to jump rope songs, but you’re doing it very fast,” he said. “It’s not exactly singing and not exactly rapping.”
Young said all the music accompanying his voice on the cassette were produced himself, using pre-recorded music and a drum box, but he said he hopes to be accompanied by live musicians as his career progresses.
“ I would much rather have some real musicians, but it gets expensive,” he said
Young said he is currently promoting his tape for use as a backdrop to commercials or animated films.
“ You have to show that you’re marketable,” Young said. “It really matters not so much that you have this great talent.”
Young’s goal is to record a CD that sells a million copies or clears $1 million after expenses. He said that would allow him to quit his hospital job and work at music full time.
So far, Young said he has convinced a South Side African apparel shop to sell his cassettes, and he has a performance planned at the Taste of South Shore Aug. 27.
Young also sings with a gospel choir near his home at 95th and Halsted streets.
When Young lived in Harvey, he said his penchant for learning about history and his talent for singing came together when he composed a song for Harvey’s 100th anniversary.
Young said he lived in Harvey from 1989 to ’95.
‘ In addition to music, I’m a history buff,” he said. “I did research and found Harvey was going to be a hundred years old in 1991.”
Young wrote a song for the town that was used in a video to promote Harvey to businesses, and recorded a Spanish and English version on tape for the town’s centennial.
Young recited some of the lyrics, which he still remembers off the top of his head:
“ Harvey has so much to offer; Just pay a visit and you will see;
A place to raise your sons and daughters;
Harvey is the place to be.”
Young said his bright clothing, African jewelry and upbeat musical sound are all part of his personality.
“ I’m a positive person,” he said.