Jimmy BratcherHis passion for the raw but precise electric guitar sound began in the ’60s when he became captivated by Eric Clapton, his first six string hero. Bratcher developed an eclectic taste as a child, plucked from his extended musical family, which regularly hosted large jam sessions in his hometown of Kansas City. “I’m the owner of Hendrix’s Axis: Bold as Love and Johnny Cash’s In Folsom,” he testifies.
Bratcher followed Albert King, BB King, and more blues greats, and developed as a performer in a series of bands, but “due to a lack of professionalism and commitment, and substance abuse,” the bands never really took off, he explained. Drugs and alcohol also took a toll on Bratcher as he began to gain his footing as a musician in his early twenties. They destroyed his first marriage with Shirley. Still, he and Shirley were reunited, and when they decided to remarry, she took him to a chapel where the preacher declared that Bratcher would only officiate if he committed to believing in Jesus. Bratcher was called to the ministry after that experience, but the job required Bratcher to put his electric guitar on hold for 20 years.
In 1997, Bratcher’s son Jason gave him a Fender Telecaster as a gift. Bratcher created an inspirational blues shuffle song called “Can’t Get Over It,” which remains a part of his tracklist to this day. He started practicing again, but avoided learning other people’s phrases and instead developed his own brand of stark virtuosity, including using a pick and finger picking style, and developing a guitar sound that blended growling tones with articulate notes. Three years later, with his collection of original music growing, he transitioned from pastoral ministry to his current travel ministry. He hit the road with his electric guitar.
In 2001, Bratcher produced his debut album, Honey In the Rock, which combined the language of blues music with a spiritual message. “To this day I write in allegory,” Bratcher commented. “I tell stories, but there are messages behind the stories that I want people to resonate with, and the sound of the blues is so real and comfortable for people, it helps make that connection.” In 2003, one of Bracher’s A friend invited him to give a concert of sacred music based on electric blues at a church, and it became clear to Bratcher the excellence of the style. “I thought my friends were crazy and people would be upset, but they loved it,” recalls Bratcher. Today, performances in prisons, churches and bars are a regular part of The Electric Rev.’s performance schedule.
Inspired by the knowledge that his music could speak to a variety of audiences, Bratcher made up for lost time as a musician. He recorded twelve albums and two live DVDs, toured churches, clubs and prisons, alternating preaching and performing, both of which require interchangeable audience-engaging abilities.
On his thirteenth album, far enoughBratcher’s wish is to get back to his musical roots and work with some “familiar cats I call family.” These include longtime friend Eric Stark, his bandmates, his songwriting/music producer grandson Zayn Truxal, and “many others I’ll introduce later.”
Exclusively premiering today is the video for the new album, My Name Is a Sinner. The chants of the chorus grew louder as Bratcher tried to rid himself of the haunting and taunting demons. “My name is a sinner / I’m stuck in this hole. I’m a sinner / I have nowhere to go.”
