A year ago, we were proud to introduce SoulTrackers to talented singer and songwriter, Phillip Brandon. A true anachronism in the modern music era, Phillip is an artist who intentionally blurs the lines between soul, jazz and pop, channelling great artists from Sammy Davis, Jr. to Gregory Porter. Phillip’s respect for the classics comes naturally, as his mother Brenda was a former member of Ray Charles’ Raelettes. The song we featured, “Come On,” spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Smooth Jazz charts.
Phillip’s debut album, The Story Begins, has been a pleasantly surprising chart hit, as the world discovers this up-and-coming star. And they’ll continue to turn their heads with his newest single, a song and video that again demonstrate that Phillip uses his talent to not only entertain, but to deliver a message.
“Chocolate Child,” a song co-written with legendary songwriter and producer Preston Glass, is both timely and timeless, delivering a view of youth that happily counters the negative narratives pushed by much of modern media. Phillip tells us, “This song is very special to me not only because it was my father’s favorite song, but also because it speaks to the greatness and unlimited potential of our youth from a decidedly personal perspective.”
It is a song that again reminds us of the endless possibilities of the young, who are not statistics or political talking points, but are gifts from God who should be encouraged and celebrated — and we thank Phillip for the reminder.
We are extremely proud to present “Chocolate Child” as our Song of the Month for August. Check it out below and welcome Phillip Brandon back to SoulTracks.
Phillip Brandon – “Chocolate Child”