Cover photo © 2026 Angela Hagerman – Black Moon Media LLC
In 2017, as Brody Buster was waiting to perform at the International Blues Challenge, he was asked by an audience member if he was nervous. He laughed and stated, “not at all”. That seemed difficult to believe at first, because what young artist wouldn’t be nervous in such a situation? If that audience member had only known who he was, it would have been abundantly clear why Brody Buster was able to honestly say he was not at all nervous. The reason was that, as a child, Brody had already performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and had already shared the stage with such greats as Quincy Jones, Chaka Khan and Keb Mo. Since that extremely early career achievement, Brody made several changes in musical direction before leaving the spotlight. He then returned as a one-man band, winning the best harmonica player in the 2017 International Blues Challenge and placing second in the overall solo/duo category. The next year he played at the Big Blues Bender and seemed headed back to greatness. However, he then once again dropped out of the music scene, this time due to a severe drug addiction problem, a problem which was severe enough to alienate his colleagues in the music industry. Brody has now returned clean, sober, and sounding better than ever, and has regained the respect of those in the music industry. Recently he was nominated for a Blues Music Award for best emerging artist with his soul-baring new album “Redemption”. Blues Blast Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with this extraordinarily talented artist in Washington DC, where he was touring in support of Danielle Nicole.
Brody’s mother was a harmonica player as well, and performed with Kansas City Legend, Annetta “Cotton Candy” Washington, (who was a founding member of the Kansas City Blues Society). His music was also strongly influenced by Eugene Smiley, (co-founder of the BWB Show Band, with ‘BWB’ standing for Black and White musicians playing together.) His songwriting has been influenced by Billy “Beale” Woods, and his harmonica playing was most influenced by observing Lee Oskar.
“When I was only seven years old my mom gave me a harmonica, and I watched Lee Oskar a lot when I was little. A lot of my phrasing comes from watching Lee Oskar. ‘Cotton Candy’ was the first person to get me on stage, at age seven, in the blues tent. And Eugene Smiley taught me how to do pretty much everything. I played with him in the BWB Band, and I also learned a lot about singing and writing from Billy Woods. Then I started to play at the Grand Emporium. I would play there every Friday from 5pm until 8 pm. The guy who owned it started this festival and went on a cross-country trip to get bands nobody heard of to go along with the super big names. He offered to buy me and my mom a plane ticket and gave me a backstage pass and asked if I could sit in. The first one to let me sit in was Richie Havens. After that everybody let me sit in. When I was fourteen BB King said I was one of the greatest harmonica players of our time, despite my age. I don’t know why such a blues legend would help me out like that. He was the nicest guy in the world, and he set me up and I basically threw it away. I’m forever thankful to him.”
At age eleven, Brody was playing on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and at age twelve, he joined Quincy Jones and Chaka Khan onstage at the Montrose Jazz Festival in Switzerland for a version of Celie’s Blues. (You can see his amazing performance here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=427461444671633). However, it is a sad but well- recognized fact that that the experience of child stardom can often lead to significant mental health challenges as the child transitions into adulthood, putting them at a higher-than-normal risk for depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
“It’s hard to shake off the novelty aspect of it—a cute 11-year-old playing the blues. There is this extremely high bar that people expect you to hit. It’s almost impossible and it’s a lot of pressure. I was burnt out on it and stopped focusing on music. I was working in a pizza place and doing drugs. I had started smoking weed at the age of twelve and started drinking alcohol in high school. Around 19 or 20 I started dabbling in cocaine. But it was at age 28, when I got into meth that things took a really bad turn. It started with COVID, which led to some depression. I had just started my third big tour when it all shut down. Then my older brother killed himself. He was a saxophone player—as good as I am. He got extremely good at the saxophone but then stopped. He had tried to kill himself in the past. I don’t know what made him finally do it, but he shot himself in a Walmart parking lot. Then I went back to a bad relationship and things just spiraled out of control. Eventually one day I realized I was out of options. There was nothing left. I did not even have a family member I could turn to. I had to move out of Lawrence, KS to get away from everyone I knew who was using. I had to realize they weren’t really my friends. I moved to Kansas City. I didn’t do a treatment program or go to meetings. I just realized that I have way too much to lose at this point, so I can’t go back to using. I’m keeping myself busy, keeping myself motivated, and trying to have something to look forward to—a record, a tour, a new pair of shoes. I get myself a new pair of shoes every month for staying on track.”
In 2019, Brody had collaborated with blues icon, Kenny Neal, who produced Brody’s album, “Damn, I Spilled the Blues”. That would seem like a match made in heaven, and to most fans, it sounds like a really good release. However, it’s painful for Brody to hear it, knowing what potential could have been there if he had been in a more stable condition.
“Kenny Neal is super cool. I spent four days at his house, and it was a great experience. But I was on drugs the whole time. I can hear that I was not in a good place when I made that. I’m embarrassed about not making better use of that opportunity.”
Brody had the opportunity to play with so many wonderful musicians from such an early age, he was asked if there was anyone with whom he still hoped to play.
“I’d love to play with Eric Gales, and Kingfish—his stuff is great. I’d also like to re-play with Charlie Musselwhite. I met him as a little kid, but I didn’t appreciate how cool that was. I had no idea. It took me a little time to grow.”
Brody’s latest release, Redemption, reflects his resilience and true metamorphosis. Seven of the nine tracks are originals that chronicle his journey, (with good friend, Danielle Nicole, providing some backing vocals). “Born to Be Bad” doesn’t mince words in describing what his life was like. “When you’re born to be bad, the drugs come quick and the money comes too slow…It only took me 40 years. I finally learned how to just say no. When things got bad, I slept with shame and my best friend was sin…things got so bad the blues wouldn’t even let me in.” His song, “Can You Hear Me?” assures us that the change is a genuine one, while continuing the raw honesty of the lyrics: “It’s like I woke up from a long bad dream, I burned a lot of bridges and I have to make amends…I done turned the page, I learned living life too fast will only make you grow real slow. You’ve got to leave it all behind, you can’t live that life no more.” There is a very intriguing and well-made video that accompanies this song, depicting Brody digging a version of himself out of a grave.
“Like a lot of my favorite songs, that song just came to me in about five minutes. I was looking for a way to show that I was serious about what I wanted to do. I had to rebuild my name in Kansas City. I had even been kicked out of BB’s Lawnside BBQ. I had to go to open mics to prove myself all over again, and some musicians had to step in and vouch for me. Danielle is doing that for me with this tour, and she jumped on the record with me. At one point everyone had given up on me. This song is my way of saying, ‘hey—I f—ked up. I’m an idiot and I’m embarrassed. I’m sorry and I’m here to show you that I can do this.’ It’s resonated with all sorts of people. I was invited to play at Hope House for incoming addicts, and I played at their Healing House Festival. People who are just coming out of addiction message me and parents message me about their kids. And that video shows that I had to bring myself back from the dead, almost. I’m really proud of the album. The musicians that helped me do it—they are one hundred percent behind me, and I owe them a lot of favors. When you know you have a bunch of people behind you it feels good. And my partner, Tania, is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’ve known her forever—met her when I was only seventeen. She saw me trying to get sober and she offered to help. She’s always believed in me.”
The blues community is happy to welcome Brody back, and if you haven’t heard him recently, you haven’t heard him. Check out his wonderful new album and his live shows, and you’ll see why he is being inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame and is also nominated for a Blues Music Award. It’s no wonder that John Muller described him has having “extraordinary passion, and fiery, raw energy…but at the same time, radiating a unique charm and warmth!”
You can find out more about Brody Buster, see where he is touring and purchase his new album at https://brodybustermusic.com
