Harry Brannon

Who was Harry Brannon?

.

Harry Brannon was an American popular singer born in Gloucester City, New Jersey. Brannon was characterized by his contemporaries as "having a voice sweeter than Bing Crosby's." In fact, in the late 1940s, Brannon was frequently introduced as "Frank Sinatra with a voice" at Andy's Log Cabin near Camden, New Jersey.

Brannon regularly introduced new pop songs in a live format over New York City radio on the WOR Mutual Broadcasting Company broadcast coast to coast. Early in November 1949, Brannon sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" over the airwaves for WOR, promoting the Gene Autry classic. By November 25, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" began its appearance on the music charts. Various popular artists had initially turned down the opportunity to promote the record, including Bing Crosby, due to its slow tempo. However, after hearing the faster and more upbeat Brannon rendition, Crosby sang his own rendition during his CBS Chesterfield radio show on December 14, 1949.

Brannon is known to have recorded at least two songs during his short career in music. Both were released in early 1948. One was titled "Orchids in the Snow", written by composer Edward A. Khoury,and the other was titled "I'm A Tumbleweed", written by Rusty Keefer.