Bradley Matthew

Bradley Matthew was born October 2, 1979 and grew up in a small town in southwest Missouri. He was raised listening to Southern Gospel and Country music and was heavily influenced by greats from both industries like Merle Haggard, Keith Whitley, Vern Gosden, Jonathan Wilburn, and Jason Crabb. Like many artists, he got his start singing in church and although his dad is a Baptist preacher, Bradley didn’t start singing at an early age. Even though his younger sisters started at the ages of eight and nine, they performed as a duet for several years until Bradley joined them in 1998 to form the southern gospel trio The Praters. As the group’s baritone, Bradley and his sisters traveled all across America singing at churches and festivals, averaging 200 dates per year. In 2004, The Praters pulled off of the road and quit traveling full-time.

Those that have traveled singing know it’s hard to quit once you’ve gotten use to the smell of diesel and the sound of the miles passing beneath the bus tires. However, the bills wouldn’t pay themselves, so to make ends meet, Bradley got his Class A CDL and worked a stint with the highway department and hauled milk for a dairy. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t formally on stage, he kept honing his craft, working hard to develop his style and increase his vocal range. It didn’t take long for his work to pay off and for him to realize he wouldn’t be happy unless he was performing full time again. With the encouragement of his friends, family, and loyal fans, Bradley quit his job in the Summer of 2010 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Common Man, combines the realities of everyday life and working hard with the Christian values and hope of the American spirit. Having experienced both, this album offers a picture of who Bradley Matthew is.

When he’s not on stage or in the studio, you’ll find Bradley in his stand hunting deer and turkey. While he enjoys rifle hunting, bow hunting has become his favorite and the hunting season ends with a freezer full of wild turkey and his special homemade deer jerky. He married his beautiful wife Courtney in 2003 and she joins him in the woods with her pink bow and rifle – a true backwoods Barbie in every way!