Nick Bruno , well known producer and musician was among those honored on October 30, 2000 by being inducted in to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of the legendary Kingsmen. The Kingsmen made history with their song, "Excuses," produced for them by Nick Bruno, which maintained its number one chart position for 19 months. Nick Bruno was a member of the Kingsmen, as well as being the producer of their most popular and highest selling albums. Mr. Bruno is shown with his award.

 

Nick Bruno, a recent inductee in to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame is shown with two other honorees, Richard Sterban and Joe Bonsall, members of the Oak Ridge Boys. The Oak Ridge Boys, along with Mr. Bruno, were inducted in to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony conducted on October 30, 2000. Mr. Bruno was one of the founding members of the Keystone Quartet, where Mr. Bonsall and Mr. Sterban had their beginnings in Gospel Music. The three friends have also worked together as members of the Stamps Quartet during its tenure as back up musicians for Elvis Presley.

He doesn't tell this to everyone but he was there the night Graceland almost burned down. He is an unsung hero to many in Southern Gospel Music. Mark Trammell of Gold City and his wife, LaResa, love him so much they named their son Nicholas in his honor. They used words like, "incredible musician, steady Christian, amazing talent" to describe him. He's been nominated for a Dove Award and Squire Parsons credits him with being one of the reasons his solo career took off. He's the producer responsible for giving the world of Southern Gospel Music such hits as "Love Was In The Room" by the Booth Brothers, "Excuses" and "Shake Hands With A Poor Boy", by the Kingsmen, "Beulah Land' by Squire Parsons, and "I Found The Lily In the Valley " by Quinton Mills to name just a few. Eldridge Fox of the Kingsmen says, "He is an exceptional talent, an exceptional young man."

Nice Guys Finish First

Mention Nick Bruno's name in a room full of Gospel Music artists and the general consensus will be, "He's just a nice guy. A talented, nice guy who doesn't push himself first." Nick is a "southern" boy, having grown up in Staten Island, New York, the most southern part of that northern state. His grandfather and his father were both pastors, so Nick spent his childhood in and around church. His love for the Lord and his love for music grew as he did, and while all his friends were bopping to the beat of the Four Seasons and the Beatles, he was loving the Blackwood Brothers and the Couriers.

Naturally, his heart always leaned toward ministry and it was with ministry in mind that he set off for Bible College in the early 1960s. It was there as a teenaged member of the Keystone Quartet that his life in the industry began.

The Keystone Quartet of 1967
(Clockwise from top): Joe Bonsal, Ron Kelly, Nick Bruno and Richard Sterban.

Nick and another member of that group, Richard Sterban (now one of the Oak Ridge Boys) became members of the Eastmen Quartet, and then re-organized the Keystone Quartet hiring Joe Bonsal (of the Oak Ridge Boys) and Dave Will (of the Imperials) to their first full time singing jobs. Nick's talent as a piano player and arranger brought him invitations from many groups. He's been a member of the Rebels, with Jim Hamill and Ron and Charles Booth, and he was a charter member of Coy Cook and the Senators, along with Dave Rowland (later known as the "Dave" of "Dave and Sugar"), Calvin Runion and the late Mac Evans.

Near the beginning of the 1970's, Nick was the pianist for Coy Cook and the Senators: (L-R) Coy Cook, Calvin Runion, Dave Rowland and Mack Evans. Nick is down front.

His amazing talent did not escape the eye of JD Sumner who called Nick in the early 1970s to join the Stamps Quartet. JD immediately recognized Nick's abilities, and encouraged him to get involved with producing and arranging vocals for the Stamps. It was here that Nick realized that he loved being in the studio just as much as he loved performing.

A Producer Is Born

Long before any major artist is born in to the world of Gospel Music, there is a producer behind the scenes, finding the right music, arranging it so that the talent of the artist is showcased. A good producer is hard to find, but a producer who considers his role as part of God's plan to advance His kingdom is a rare gift from God indeed.

His success with and for the Stamps was very noticeable in the industry, and in 1972 he received an invitation to join the Kingsmen and he accepted their offer. Almost immediately, they put him to work as their very own producer.

Nick says, "Being around such great singers as Jim Hamill, Johnny Parrick (more recently known as Jay Parrick's dad), Squire Parsons, Eldridge Fox and Ray Dean Reese made me realize that there was a real ministry in producing an album for these men. Long after the concert ends, a well produced album can continue to minister to people for years to come in homes and on the radio." Nick adds, "I began to see the ministry in producing, not just the technical end of it."

Eldridge Fox's immediate response, when asked about Nick Bruno was, "He produced and arranged the biggest selling album we've ever had. He arranged it, he wrote it. What does that tell you about his talent as a producer? He's one of the finest musicians in the industry today." Squire Parsons adds, "The brilliance and sensitivity of Nick Bruno was one of the key factors in the launching of my solo career."

By 1973, Nick was a part of the Ton Of Fun, the Kingsmen. (Clockwise from bottom left):Gary Dillard, Johnny Parrick, Jim Hamill, Eldridge Fox, Ray Dean Reese, Nick and Jim McCauley.

Branson and Back

Nick's abilities as a producer and arranger are well known in Gospel circles but recently news of his talent was the talk of Branson, MO. For a while, Nick worked in Branson as music director for some of the largest theaters in town. He worked with such greats as Christy Lane, Anita Bryant, Ferlin Husky, the Texans, and many great Grand Ole Opry Stars. He says, "I spent five years working with many great secular artists. At the time it was not clear to me why the Lord allowed me to do this, but now I realize that I had much to learn about music and the music industry." It wasn't long before he missed the ministry of producing for Gospel groups, and he and his wife, Cece, returned to Nashville, TN, where they now reside.

Editor's Note: Marie Armenia is a freelance writer and Gospel songwriter who resides in Franklin, TN.

"Nick Bruno is someone you can trust the heart of your music to, and know that the souls of the listeners will feel the Spirit."

...Marie Armenia