Music Community Steps Up to Support Cory Branan After Storms
Singer, songwriter, and alternative country star Cory Branan and his family are letting folks know how thankful they are for all of the support from the music community after their home was virtually destroyed and many personal possessions damaged in a storm on August 9th in Memphis. Branan’s home that he shares with wife Rebecca and sons Clem and Admiral was crushed when three trees fell on it. One of the family’s cars was also damaged beyond repair.
Along with folks stepping up to help find the family a storage unit where they could put the few things not damaged in the storm, a Go Fund Me page was set up with a goal of $55,000 to help to get the family back on their feet. At the time of publication, $64,000 has been raised so far, with numerous fellow artists and members of the music community pitching in, including Tyler Childers who pledged $2,000.
“The gratitude we feel for how supported we are is ineffable, and the outpouring of kindness we have been shown by friends and neighbors and strangers across the country is life-altering,” Cory Branan’s wife Rebecca said in an update. “The imprint this will leave on Clemens is such a positive lesson on community and moving forward instead of ruing loss.”
Raised in Southhaven, Mississippi, Cory Branan moved back to Memphis after high school, and soon started a music career first inspired by John Prine before moving more into rock and alternative country styles. He released his debut album The Hell You Say in 2002, and the next year appeared on The David Letterman Show.
After releasing another album in 2006 called 12 songs via MADJACK Records, Branan signed with Bloodshot Records in 2011, releasing the albums Mutt (2012) and The No-Hit Wonder (2014), with Saving Country Music saying about the latter, “If you’re gazing slunk shouldered at your Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson records as so loved that you’re tired of listening to them, The No-Hit Wonder may just be the project to point your nose toward next.”
Cory Branan sometimes uses his lack of commercial success and his lack of fitting into scenes as inspiration for his songs. Branan also released the albums Adios in 2017 and When I Go I Ghost in 2022.
“I’m so grateful for y’all’s love, and reaching out and the support, all across the board,” Branan said in a video to fans. A benefit show at the Hi-Tone in Memphis is being planned to help the other individuals in Branan’s neighborhood with cleanup and repairs from the storm.
August 16, 2023 @ 8:51 pm
I remember hearing Cory for the first time on a Music Fog video on YouTube a very long while back, when I was finding all sorts of inspiration in my early years of songwriting. Years later I got to play a show with him here in Gainesville. He’s an incredibly nice guy and a hell of a performer. I hated to see this happened, but I’m happy to see how much help he’s had.
August 17, 2023 @ 12:41 am
Have you heard Charles Weasley Godwin will be touring with Luke combs.
I think he’s just about to blow up Zach bryan style
August 17, 2023 @ 5:12 pm
If he catches on with the mainstream crowd then I’d say it’s a possibility. He’s not gaining a ton of traction with the ZB crowd despite the amount of appearances with large crowds this fall. Will be real interesting to see how the Combs crowd reacts. That’s a lot of big stadium shows booked.
August 17, 2023 @ 2:32 am
I have been a fan of his for 20 years. He is one of the best songwriters out there. Pocket of God, Wreck of the Sultana, The Corner, and on and on. So many outstanding tunes. I can only fault him for using too many synth stuff and 80’s era sounds in recent years and I believe that is what stands between him and a much higher level of success. Arrangements are so important to resonate with a good part of the community that reads this site.
He is a great dude and I hope that Tyler Childers doing the cover and this article and everything else gives him the bump he so completely deserves.
August 17, 2023 @ 5:14 am
had been listening to him since Adios and checked out the earlier work, been a fan but hadnt ever seen him play until he opened for American Aquarium in Oxford. it was just him and a butterscotch telecaster but he put on one hell of a show. Pocket of God is in regular rotation for me.
Those storms were big news in Memphis but had no idea his house was destroyed – will have to look into the neighborhood benefit show at the Hi-Tone
August 17, 2023 @ 7:55 am
Looks like Isbell and the Bouncing Souls contributed to this as well. Lovely to see.
August 17, 2023 @ 7:43 pm
Isbell sang back up on a lot of the most recent album and maybe even the one before too.
August 17, 2023 @ 10:47 am
Awesome people are stepping up. If/whenever him and Ben Nichols do another Bike Riders tour and it’s close to you…Go. it’s one of the best shows and always in smaller venues. The story swapping and music is great
August 17, 2023 @ 5:03 pm
Frickin trees. Those buggers falling scares the hell outta me.
August 17, 2023 @ 11:44 pm
I have 6 Douglas first in my front yard that are 80-100 feet tall. Fortunately storms up here normally come blowing them away from my house, but snow dropped a big enough branch last year that it broke lightbulbs in the fixture near where it hit. I’m super lucky but it is definitely something I think about. So glad to hear that nobody got hurt and he’s getting financial support!