Stephen Bray
Stephen Bray | |
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Birth name | Stephen Pate Bray |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, U.S | December 23, 1956
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Years active | 1979–present |
Labels | ZE, MCA Saturn Sounds Studios Soultone Records |
Stephen Pate Bray (born December 23, 1956) is an American songwriter, drummer, and record producer. He is best known for his collaborations with
Career
Bray began studying music through private instruction in Detroit, attended
Collaborations with Madonna
Bray dated Madonna before her fame when she was attending the
Madonna obtained a recording contract with Gotham Management, managed by Camille Barbone in 1981. Barbone put together a new band with session musicians although Madonna wanted Bray as her drummer.[4] Barbone knew they had been romantically involved and didn't want love affairs among band members.[4] The music she was producing with them was more rock oriented but Madonna had her eyes set on dance music.[5] She and Stephen Bray continued working on a parallel project, more club oriented.
After being signed to Sire Records in 1982, Madonna opted not to work with Bray for her debut album, but they continued collaborating with her second album Like a Virgin (1984). Together, they wrote and produced some of the biggest hit songs of the 1980s, including several of Madonna's biggest hits. The songs Bray and Madonna composed often followed a distinctive structure, many of which repeat the song's second verse and bridge before fading out with the chorus. Their partnership concluded with their work on Madonna's album Like a Prayer (1989).
The Breakfast Club
Following Madonna's rise to stardom, Bray rejoined Breakfast Club, and the quartet signed first with ZE Records and later with MCA.[2] The band's eponymous first album was released in early 1987, preceded by the Top 10 hit "Right on Track". Bray co-wrote most of the albums' songs with bandmate Dan Gilroy, and Bray produced several songs. The band's second album was not released, and Breakfast Club broke up shortly afterward.
The Color Purple
Bray made his Broadway debut in 2005 as composer and lyricist for the Broadway version of
Personal life
Bray lives in
Discography
Singles
Song | Artist |
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"Ain't No Big Deal" | Barracuda (original demo by Madonna) |
"Angel" | Madonna |
"Stay" | |
"Pretender" | |
"Over and Over" | |
"Into the Groove" | |
"Say It, Say It" | E.G. Daily
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"Baby Love" | Regina
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"True Blue" | Madonna |
"Jimmy, Jimmy" | |
"Where's the Party" | |
"Spotlight" | |
"Cross My Broken Heart" | The Jets |
"Sendin' All My Love" | |
"Each Time You Break My Heart" | Nick Kamen (feat. Madonna) |
"Right on Track" | Breakfast Club |
"Causing a Commotion" | Madonna |
"Can't Stop" | |
"Express Yourself" | |
" Keep It Together "
| |
"Baby Going Shake" | Royalty |
"Get Over" | Nick Scotti (original demo by Madonna) |
"Count the Days" | Kylie Minogue |
"Rhythm of Love" | |
"Little Black Book" | Gina G |
"That's Why" | The Party |
"Needin' Someone" | |
"Change on Me" |
Unreleased songs
Song | Artist |
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"One More Chance" | Madonna |
"Warning Signs" | |
"Desperately Seeking Susan" | |
"Working My Fingers to the Bone" | |
"Pipeline" | |
"Love Attack" | |
"First Is a Kiss" |
See also
Category:Songs written by Stephen Bray
References
- ^ a b Pennington, Juliet (November 16, 2017). "In the VIP Lounge with songwriter Stephen Bray". Boston Globe.
- ^ a b Graff, Gary (August 25, 1987). "Bray's Loyalty to Madonna Pays Off". Chicago Tribune.
- ISBN 978-0-313-33811-3.
- ^ a b c Christopher, Anderson (October 14, 1991). "Madonna Rising". New York Magazine: 45.
- ^ Anderson, Christopher (November 4, 1991). "The Faces Of Madonna". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ a b Azizian, Carol (May 17, 2008). "Broadway musical 'The Color Purple' heading to Fox Theatre in Detroit". Flint Journal. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
- ^ "Complete list of nominees for Tony Awards". USA Today. May 17, 2006. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
External links
- Stephen Bray at IMDb
- Pop Music and the New Musical – Working in the Theatre Seminar video at American Theatre Wing.org, September 2005