Mark Braun, the first inductee to the National Boogie Woogie Hall of Fame, is used to drawing a crowd with his world-class piano style, but on July 7 the renowned Mr. B will be “pied-piping” the crowd to Mott Community College with his piano fastened on back of his bicycle rickshaw (known as a pedicab).
Braun, the son of Flint’s Phil Braun and a sports enthusiast, will be literally pedaling his piano on a six-day tour of lower Michigan, starting at the home of his father and then biking to MCC’s Bear Bistro for a noon concert. The Bear Bistro will be featuring a heart-smart menu with a portion of proceeds donated to assist MCC athletes in need of financial support. The concert will be free to those that attend but donations will be accepted.
From Flint, Braun’s hometown, he is wheeling his custom-made cart to Lansing for several shows, and then on to Chelsea where he will perform a benefit concert for the Wild Swan Theatre. He will end up in Ann Arbor, his current home, just in time for the Ann Arbor Townie Party to celebrate his 30th year of performing for the Art Fair.
And of course, Mark Braun will be stopping all along the way to share his passionate approach to the music that makes his concerts an unforgettable experience.
“When I was 22 years old, I had this idea of combining my love of bicycling with my love of music and traveling all the way across the country,” Braun said. “Well, I am 52 years old this year and I didn’t do it. I figure now is the time. I’m going to get my feet wet and see if anyone takes an interest. If I can raise awareness for the arts and athletics, and help kids in both areas because of it, I’ll continue and maybe consider that longer trip across the country. What could be better than hauling a piano around and meeting people to the benefit of kids in need?”
Braun has contributed a wealth of new music by composing pieces which often stretch the boundaries of the traditional forms, adding an important new aspect to the lineage of this fabulous form of musical expression. He has recorded 7 albums as a leader, most of which are available on CD. He is considered one of the finest living players of classic blues and boogie piano. He has performed worldwide, giving audiences a rare chance to hear this once nearly forgotten form.
“We are thrilled that Mark has decided to kick off this unique tour at Mott Community College,” said Lennetta Coney, President of the Foundation for MCC. “He has long been a supporter of our school and we consider ourselves his biggest fans. We have worked well together in the past on behalf of MCC students, hoping to raise enough money to cover the cost of text books, coursework, if not an entire academic year for one or more individuals who otherwise would not be able to pursue a college education.” For more information on MCC’s concert, please call (810) 762-0425.
