User:Mdonohue1965/Bryan Hill

Bryan Hill (born August 17th, 1969) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, currently with the central Texas based band Mad Edison. Brian was born and raised in rural Pilot Mountain, North Carolina; the town that is believed to have served as the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry RFD and in the television movie Return to Mayberry.

Early Life

Brian was born to Billy and Hilda Hill (nee Gunderhofsenhosen) in a small cabin on the outskirts of Pilot Mountain on a typically warm August afternoon. His father is said to have remarked upon seeing his first born "My God Hildy, look at all that hair!" It is reported that his mother immediately took up drinking after delivering the baby, a habit she gave up, not coincidentally, upon Bryan's moving away from home. Eventually, Bryan was to have several siblings, although when pressed none will formally acknowledge their relationship.

Education

Young Bryan was home schooled until he turned 12, at which time his parents discovered his penchant for rock and roll music and enrolled him in military school. He was sent to La Salle Military Academy in Oakdale, New York where he started his first band at the age of 13 called The Cadets. Much to his parents' surprise, Bryan earned honors at the academy, eventually becoming the youngest cadet not to graduate despite having earned sufficient credits by the middle of 10th grade.

Music Career

Bryan dropped out of school in 1984 and began busking in the subways of Manhattan and the outer boroughs of New York City. It was here that he discovered his true musical roots in the sounds and smells of Harlem and decided that Memphis was calling his name. He took a Grayhound bus with a little over $42 in his pocket and set out to seek employment at the famous Stax Recording Studio. Unbeknownst to Bryan, Stax had gone bankrupt several years previously and was in the middle of one of several management crises. Undeterred, Bryan met several musicians in Memphis and was soon quite well known. It was during the period known as "Bryan's Memphis Years" that he developed the now familiar "Elvis snarl" and "the Bryan Dance".

European Hiatus

Bryan moved to England in 1996 to further both his knowledge of early rock music and his influence on modern music. Upon arriving, he found board in a small room provided by a woman known to this day only as "G". There has been much speculation as to the real identity of "G", with several women proclaiming themselves the "true G". The only thing really known about "G" is that she threw Bryan out in a fit of rage after proclaiming him to be "most ungrateful". Urban legend says her only mention of him after she'd thrown him out was - "He'd take me last crust of bread, if I'd offered". She never spoke of him again.