Friday, August 13, 2004

Thank God for country boys

Braun Family Reunion is this weekend in Challis


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The Braun family lives part way between the small hamlet of Stanley, where their annual Braun Brothers Reunion usually is held, and Challis where it?s scheduled this year, Satur-day, Aug. 14. The locale may have changed for the reunion?due to a double booking issue in Stanley?but the players, the vibe and the music have not.

Indeed, Idaho?s first family of musicians remains committed to their differing styles, their love of their home state and, most importantly, to each other.

Muzzie Braun is the patriarch of the family. His two bothers, Billy and Gary, play with him as the Original Braun Brothers, and their father was a working musician as well. Muzzie?s four sons play with him as Muzzie and The Boys, and they, in turn, front two bands: Willie and Cody in Reck-less Kelly, and Micky and Gary in Micky & the Motorcars.

Many folks in this area of Idaho remember fondly the gangly boys in tight Wranglers and boots playing alongside their dad for many years. (And, by the way, the boys?like any 20-something-year-old?are tired of hearing this.) The boys, who are now men, are a tight knit foursome, who live and work in Austin, Texas. Equally, it?s the uncommon bond Muzzie and his sons share and the success they?ve had with their roots-country bands that create the buzz surrounding the reunions each suc-ceeding year.

Not only the patriarch, Muzzie is also the manager, conductor, maestro and organizer of the reunion each year for nearly 20 years. His wife, Joanne, is not a performer but Muzzie contends the boys get much of their talent from her.

?I hope there?s a day when they say ?Dad, we?ll do it. You take a break,?? Muzzie laughs at the con-cept. ?At this point in time, as long as they?re not nationally known, they can still be here.?

But he admits the scheduling has not been easy with both bands con-stantly touring and now living in Austin.

Their upbringing was particularly well suited to being the musicians they have become. Out at their place in Clayton, there was no electricity for televisions or computer games. Instead, they grew up on the land, listening to their father and uncles play music for entertainment. And, of course, they had instruments placed in their grubby cowboy kid hands early on.

?It enabled them to have some-thing to do that they enjoyed. We could have been plumbers!? Muzzie roared with glee. ?Braun Brothers Rotorouters coming to a town near you!?

For the reunion concert this year, the Brauns also welcome back Suzy Markley and her band, as well as NazzJazz made up of Reckless Kelly drummer Jay Nazz and his father, Tom Nazziola, a professional musi-cian back east. Markley and her hus-band. Steve, of Boise, have played on and off for over 20 years with the Brauns.

?It?ll be a blast to just sit and play with them,? he said.

Besides the day-long concert, there are lots of extra activities that the small town of Challis has been more than happy to support.

?We?re doing other things we?ve never done before because of the over whelming support,? Muzzie said. The local Sister Sororities are doing the food for the concessions and food at the concert. They?ll use the money for scholarships. The golf course is city owned and built with donations. ?They don?t get a lot of action,? he said. ?It?ll be a good thing for them.?

Tonight, at 8 p.m., there?s a street dance on Upper Main Street with live tunes being provided by Micky & the Motorcars. The American Legion is ?throwing a feed before the show,? Muzzie said. All the staging has been donated, Salmon River Electric do-nated the permanent transformer for the golf course and Challis electrician Glen Robinson wired a service box, he added. Because of the limited parking at the site, a free tractor-pulled shuttle will take people from town to the course.

The reunion begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. on the Golf Course?s Driving Range. Later there is a jam session planned out-doors at the Y-Inn. On Sunday, a pancake breakfast will be held to support Challis? sports teams. And on Monday Muzzie is putting together a golf scramble at 1 p.m.

Tickets for the Reunion are $15 adults, children 12 and under are $7. Blankets and low back chairs are strongly encouraged.

Challis is 60 miles northeast of Stanley on Highway 75.




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