Brandon was born in Indiana, and grew up in Santa Ana, California with music-loving parents. He started playing the piano when he was five years old, the violin at eight, and the alto saxophone at ten. As a teenager, he began his career as a freelance musician and then moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to enjoy the vibrant local studio and club scene. In 1986, Brandon released his debut album The Other Side Of The Story. It demonstrated what would be the common thread linking his original recordings: a multifaceted approach to songwriting and high levels of interaction with his talented bandmates. A Coffehouse Christmas, Higher Ground, and Fields and Strings were the next two concept albums. They are all songs by Stevie Wonder. The beautiful compilation of standards was released on Paras Records in 1999. His sideman recording credits include Tower of Power and Earth Wind, which reflect his diverse influences.