Steve Bray and Madonna pre-stardom.In the Madonna world, what can one really say about Stephen Bray? He's so instrumental in the music and myth of Madonna. Everyone pretty much knows the story. Madonna and Stephen met years ago when she was at the University of Michigan and when she went to New York and needed a drummer, she called on him. Fast forward to The Demo Tape they made that got her signed to the legendary Sire Records and the rest is history. The greatest pop songs in history were composed and produced by Stephen Bray and Madonna. Period.
Fans call for Pat Leonard's return, I call upon Stephen - the way Madonna did when she went to New York. I dig the groovy stinky funk. Into the Groove, Express Yourself, Laugh To Keep From Crying, Ain't No Big Deal, Pretender, Angel, Over and Over, Stay, True Blue, Each Time You Break My Heart, Causing a Commotion - and many more before and in between - ending with the wonderful Keep It Together. Don't know what happened between them and don't care. Madonna, just bite it and bring him back. If it has to do with the brilliant Pre-Madonna that he released, that showcased your wonderful raw talent as a singer, songwriter and guitarist, thank him for it because it was the only cool thing released during those (at the time) dreadful Streisand years (1996/97) and adds to your brilliant musical legacy.
In 2005, Stephen did the music and lyrics with Brenda Russell and Allee Willis for the Broadway Musical of Alice Walker's The Color Purple produced by Oprah Winfrey. It opened on December 01, 2005 at The Broadway Theatre in New York.
Stephen was nominated for a Tony Award for his work on The Color Purple. Here's some footage of them talking about creating that musical score.
