History of Brass to the Future

The story of Brass to the Future is a story of chance and circumstance. One wintry December night in 2007, Shrimp's girlfriend, Brittany, asked a handful of musicians to form together for a one-off New Year's Eve party at Pepper Hill Nursing Center in Williston, South Carolina. Brittany's mother needed some free, quality entertainment--and fast.

With only two weeks to prepare, the musicians set to work. Tyler quickly arranged many of the tunes that still make up the core of Brass to the Future's repertoire. Joey organized a series of practices, Tyler hunted down a few more arrangements (thanks to local brass ensemble the Aiken Brass), David got really excited, and Ricky started to loosen his lips for his "Auld Lang Syne" tuba solo. Shrimp pulled his trombone out of retirement for the first time in two years and the lineup was complete. Brass to the Future was formed.

After ringing in the New Year at 9 PM on December 31, 2007, the boys sped back to Aiken for an evening of Rock Band and M&Ms at Brittany's house. The seniors went to bed happy and Brass to the Future dreamed of bigger gigs and greater glory.

Despite a few scattered rehearsals here and there, chance and circumstance prevented the group from landing any performances. Distance and education played a role as well. Tyler was living in Knoxville, Tennessee, with the rest of the group split between Aiken and Columbia, South Carolina.

But in 2009 the pieces fell in place for a reunion. With all of the members back in South Carolina and within an hour of Columbia, Brass to the Future had a central meeting place and a passion to perform. Brass to the Future landed a spot in the 2009 Fantasy of Lights schedule and planned a triumphant return to their former glory.

2010 saw Brass to the Future reach new heights of local stardom. Featured in the Sumter, South Carolina press and increasingly in Columbia (including a short spot on the nightly news), BttF became beloved by young and old alike. The band's exposure was heightened further with the success of their "Bad Romance" video and a string of gigs at New Brookland Tavern. The group expanded their repertoire to include many of their most iconic songs, such "Hair Pieces," "Nordic Medley," "Ghostbusters," "Bad Romance," and "Talk Dirty To Me" (to name a few).

Brass to the Future is committed to establishing themselves as a world-class instrumental ensemble. With a collection of big personalities, original arrangements, and copious talents, Brass to the Future will no doubt take the musical world by storm.