Rising Stars: Meet Brandon Hudspeth of Lees Summit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Hudspeth.

Hi Brandon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first discovered the guitar from seeing Johnny Cash on Sesame Street at 5. My parents recognized the fire it lit, bought me a guitar, and signed me up for lessons. My father exposed me to the Blues, Rock n Roll, Country, and Jazz. I remember spending any money I might have earned doing chores on cassette tapes and guitar picks. By age 16, I had put a band together and played gigs at different college functions around northeast Oklahoma. When I got out of high school, I decided to move to Kansas City and give a go at being a full-time musician. I soon found myself in the middle of the Kansas City blues music scene. I started to get calls to play with many of the great musicians playing around town in 1999. I soon started my band called the Cobalt Project, which turned into Levee Town. We toured relentlessly, playing 250-plus shows annually throughout the US and Canada. In 2007 Levee Town represented Kansas City in Memphis for the International Blues Competition, where we finished in the top 10 bands in the world. We have opened up and backed up many world-class musicians over the years. In 2019 I recorded an album with Jaisson Taylor, “Hudspeth & Taylor,” which got nominated for a Blues Music Award and led to many opportunities and accolades. I have toured Eastern and central Europe twice. In 2022 the Levee Town Album Tryin’ to keep my head above water reached and maintained a 1 charting position on the Roots Music Report for a month and received a nomination for best Blues Rock Album of 2022 by Blues Blast Magazine.

You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
I remember in the beginning struggling to find like-minded musicians to play with. You are ready for a huge struggle if you are a musician. Trying to convince my parents that I wanted to play the guitar for a living was challenging, but they came around and were hugely supportive. I struggled to get into the clubs where I was booked because I was a minor. That was extremely frustrating and embarrassing at the time. Rejection bothered me much more when I was younger, but that is just part of art. Some people will like it, and some won’t. I had to grow a thicker skin. All and all, it’s been the best work I could ever have dreamed of, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with what you do?
I am a professional touring musician and guitar instructor. I specialize in blues and roots music, both acoustic and electric—my inability to sound like anyone else has set my style apart from others. I’m most proud that I’ve made music, my passion, the means of how I’ve made my living for my whole adult life.

What was you like growing up?
I was timid as a child. I had lots of friends, but I was the quiet one. Playing the guitar was a great way to connect with people growing up. Climbing mountain peaks and fishing for trout in Colorado has always been a close second to my love for music. I always dreamed while growing up that if the music business didn’t work out, I’d become some outdoor guide in the mountains.

Contact Info:

• Website: brandonhudspeth.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/leveeworker
• Facebook: facebook.com/brandon.hudspeth.5
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZwD0taiAr3w
• Other: leveetown.com

Image Credits
BlackMoonMediaLLC, Jim Mills, Aigars Lapsa