Greg Brayton

Gratitude

Genres: Christian / Gospel

Price: $13.99

Songs and Samples

Gratitude
Lord, You Are My Healer
Decision
God Will Never Change
Honor Jesus
Where Was I
To Ninevah I'll Go
Give My Heart to Jesus
The Eyes of Jesus
God Will See Us Through
I Commit
I Need to Do Your Will
God's Been Good to Me
Receive It Praise God!

Some Nice Things People Have Said

I was listening to Greg make music thirty years ago when it was all about sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. I have recently connected with him through recovery. His Gratitude CD is a real testimony to his love for and trust in God, even in the face of adversity. Greg's musical talent and unwavering faith shine through on this uplifting CD.
- Jenny R.

For six years, I pastored at the Coldwater United Methodist Church, where Greg Brayton was one of the creators and leaders of worship music. For me, one of the greatest joys was the privilege of working with Greg. Greg's life and his struggles, his recovery, and his faith, are all guiding forces in his life – always inspiring and challenging me in my own faith walk, just by being himself. Since leaving the congregration, my soul really misses Greg's music. He has a gift from God and he uses it for God's work.
- Pastor Betty Smith
Grand Ledge, Michigan

Greg Brayton's CD, 'Gratitude,' expresses a lively, dynamic faith that's unafraid to sometimes question or even complain but always ready to trust and praise our God. . . I believe it will inspire, encourage and console many for years to come.
- William McCann

About Greg Brayton

Greg Brayton is not the type to let being blind cloud his vision. Brayton attributes much of his success to his parents (who had never met a blind person) and they raised him without treating him differently than sighted children.

His passion for music began when he was six years old and heard Del Shannon on the radio doing Run Away. Brayton wanted to be that guy on the radio. (Some of his other favorite artists were Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell.)

While attending the Michigan School For The Blind, Brayton broke his arm by going down the slide standing up. "The fact that they couldn't see me was beside the point; I did it as a matter of honor on a dare."

The next year, while taking guitar lessons, he found he couldn't play with his hand underneath the neck, so he would sneak away and transpose what the teacher taught him playing over the top of the neck. Now, forty years later, that's the way he continues to play. Brayton says, "I get away with what I can. It actually works quite well for me, because the music is more in my heart than in my fingers."

Brayton attended college for a year, majoring in composition at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Realizing right away that wasn't the kind of music he wanted to do and he formed a rock band called Blind Man's Bluff. For eight and one-half years the band stayed together, playing the bar circuit.

Looking back, Brayton recalls, "They were almost good enough to break through, but my drinking may have had something to do with not succeeding further than we did. Could it have had something with playing badly at the wrong time?"

His wife Sally stuck with him through it all and they raised two boys together. Early on, Brayton got very active in church, and became an evening drinker. He'd get Sally and the boys off to bed, then get his buzz, and spent a good number of Sundays playing music at their church with a hangover. Armed with excuses, Brayton continued to drink, and functioned making a living running the recording studio in their home.

Sally would say, "You have a gift and you don't even care. You'd rather be drunk!" He finally heard her six years ago, and got sober through the help of the twelve steps. "The things we've learned together, the things God has shown us, it's a book's worth, and then some."

Brayton was diagnosed with cancer after getting sober, and this CD, is a few musical pictures of that journey. "How true it is, that God uses the tough things in life, to show us how blessed we are with just His love, grace, and mercy! God has done miracles in our lives - - allowing me to find the twelve steps, and actually be of service to others in such a natural and honest way. Healing me, after one group of doctors said I had less than five years to live. The cancer is gone, so far so good, but whatever God's plan is, well, Sally and I, we just want to be part of it. Today, I don't need to know how it all turns out, I just sincerely believe that God is good, and I am blessed!"