Brenda Freed is a singer/songwriter with a total of 10 studio recorded releases: 1 tape and 3 Brenda Freed CD's, 3 CD's with her group Texas Hot Flash, 1 Vocal Instructional 2 CD set, 1 Harmony Vocal Instructional 2 CD set and 1 CD with Him & Her (soon to be two in 2016). Since arriving in Texas by bicycle (guitar in tow) in 1991 when she ended a 9,000 mile trip at the Kerrville Folk Festival, she has played throughout the Texas Hill Country and toured the Midwest, CA, England and Ireland. Other than the occasional solo showcase, Brenda performs mostly with her husband, Michael D'Eath, as Him & Her. An experienced backup vocalist, Brenda has sung harmony on many recordings of other musicians. Her primary vocal influences are Eva Cassidy and Bonnie Raitt.
Michael D'Eath grew up in England singing in boys choirs. He moved to Texas as a teenager to pursue a career in high technology. In the 1990's Michael chose harmonica as his primary instrument and has been playing diatonic and chromatic harmonicas since. He is an accomplished player in several musical styles which works well with the versatility of Brenda's voice and songwriting. Michael has shared the stage with many other performers including Sara Hickman, John Inmon, Karen Abrahams and George Ensle; to name a few. Michael is also a sought-after recording session player. His primary influences are Stevie Wonder, John Mayall and Norton Buffalo.
Brenda and Michael met at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1999 and the two were married in 2000. In 2001, Brenda formed Texas Hot Flash (THF), which included Michael, and won a 2005 Austin Music Award. THF self-released three CD's, performed throughout Central Texas and Southern California, and opened for the Charlie Daniels Band at the 2005 Firefly Festival in Indiana. In 2006, Him & Her emerged from THF as a duo that has performed in Austin, the Texas Hill Country, the Mid-West and in England.
Him & Her released their debut CD during the 2013 Kerrville Folk Festival. Produced by Brenda, Him & Her On Solid Ground is musically rich with arrangements that explore the depth of the duo's musical collaboration. Caressing each note with their individual styles, Him & Her have a wonderful musical chemistry that creates a unique blend for the beautiful melodies of their acoustic jazzy, bluesy, folksy original songs and carefully chosen covers.
Him & Her came full circle in 2015 when they performed at the Kerrville Folk Festival where Brenda has taught the voice workshop for several years. They also toured the Midwest playing in Iowa and Arkansas. While in Iowa, Him & Her participated in the Folk Alliance Regional Midwest Conference (FARM) where Brenda taught Effortless Singing and Effortless Harmony Singing.
Him & Her In the Groove, the duo's second CD, will be released in January of 2016 and is a collection of 10 groovy, bluesy, jazzy tunes; five written or co-written by Brenda, four by one of her co-writers JB Braden, and one by Scottish singer songwriter Fraser Nimmo, who Brenda met while touring England in the 90's. Him & Her will spend 2016 performing as the Him & Her duo and the Him & Her Band to promote Him & Her In the Groove, and is sure to become a household name in the Texas Hill Country.
As well as teaching voice, piano and guitar out of her studio in Blanco, TX, Brenda Freed teaches Effortless Singing and Effortless Harmony Singing at festivals and conferences including SWRFA 2009-2015; FARM 2014,2015; Folk Alliance International 2014,2015; Kerrville Folk Festival 2010-2015; Hillside Festival, Guelph, Ontario, 2015. Details about her teaching can be found under Effortless Music Instruction on her website, Facebook Page, Reverbnation and Youtube sites.
Michael D'Eath has been studying harmonica for 15 years and has been active in organizing and participating the harmonica workshop at the Kerrville Folk Festival since 2005. He has been teaching harmonica casually but is now seeking opportunities to teach harmonica at festivals.
Him & Her is a complete package for festivals offering instructional workshops. Him & Her is seeking opportunities to play on festival stages and Brenda is available to teach Effortless Singing and/or Effortless Harmony Singing Workshops, and Michael is available to teach diatonic harmonica and the use of the chromatic harmonica in several styles of music.
