Bradley Dean Birkedahl
Born: Tacoma Washington March 5th 1977
Guitar,Trumpet,Vocals


The first music I remember hearing was country. Hank Williams Sr and Jr, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash, Boxcar Willie, Conway Twitty, Glen Campbell and others alike were played on actual vinyl record usually early on weekend mornings. By the time Elvis Presley was thrown in the mix, my life was changed.

The sound of Elvis was unlike the “twang” I was used to. Although literally twenty three years before my time, it was brand new to me and I immediately started research. I found cassette tapes, records all in my dad’s collection. We had a couple cheap guitars around the house usually a Sears model. I started copying what I had heard and you can imagine what this sounded like without any training. Thanks to a next door neighbor who played guitar and piano I was taught a few chords and he (Rod Pearce) would also tune my guitar. The “E” chord was the only one I could remember so of course I ran home and would play a long to the records and you can guess what chord I played straight through every song. Needless to say it didn’t work for everything.

By the time I was in 5th grade I started playing trumpet in the school band. This was my first introduction to reading music witch helped me in the future for guitar. The next year for a Christmas present My Mom had Signed me up for guitar lessons at a local music store with Steve Woolsey who I still keep in contact with today. Eventually Joe would take guitar lessons with me and we’d learn at the same time. I use the word “learn” loosely, because you can only magine Joe and I in a room together trying to focus. Remember we were only about thirteen years old at the time. We did actually gain a knowledge for the instrument and music in general as we were taught some theory. Through time we started playing music together and decided to start a band where we would play acoustically in front of any one who would listen. This is where school friend Mike Moffitt would come into play and now we had a third guitar. Eventually Joe switched to Bass and Mike to drums and of course I was on guitar. Ladies and gentleman I’d like to introduce The Dempseys. The name comes from an eighth grade English teacher that the three of us had named Howard Dempsey who is well aware of what we’ve accomplished and doesn’t mind the use of his name. (You’re a good man Howard Dempsey).

During High school we would play at farmers markets, private functions and family parties. By 1995 Ron Perrone had joined the band bringing in a jazz and big band element. I can’t think of a better group of musicians to play with that are influenced by so many different styles. That is truly what keeps the music fresh. Around 1996 I started playing trumpet in the band witch made us a little more flexible in the song selection department and added more flash.

In the summer of 1996 We opened for Carl Perkins in Memphis. That was definitely the first highlight of my career as a musician. The following year we played with Perkins again and also the grand opening of a new club on Beale Street called Elvis Presley’s Memphis. By the beginning of 1998 We were asked to relocate to Memphis by the folks at Elvis Presley Enterprises and work as musicians there. This was a great opportunity to hone skills in front of a live audience and get to know fellow musicians in such a vast music town. Later we received the Key to the city of Tupelo located in Mississippi, (Birth place of Elvis Presley). I also was able to back up Elvis Via video technology With Joe and DJ Fontana (Elvis’ drummer from 1955-1967)in the summer of 2002 for Elvis the concert, commemorating 25 years of his passing. In the summer of 2004 We opened for The Stray Cats in Spain. That same summer I portrayed Scotty Moore , (Who played Guitar with Elvis from 1954-1968) in the Johnny Cash Biopic, “Walk the Line”. The Movie was released in November of 2005.

As far as guitar influences go, the variety of styles is wide. I love the sounds of Scotty Moore, Chet Atkins, Brian Setzer, Jerry Reed, James Burton, Danny Gatton, Johnny Hiland, Guthrie Trapp, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Dick Dale, Nokie Edwards (The Ventures) Brent Mason, Brad Paisley, Roland Janes, Joe Maphis, Don Rich, Paul Burlison and Cliff Gallop.

I enjoy rockabilly guitar as well as Chicken Pickin’ Styles. I try to incorporate both styles into my playing although you can usually here a plethora of styles in my playing, depending on what I’ve been listening to that week or that day.

Vocalist that I ’m inspired by are, Elvis, Roy Orbison, Johnny Burnette, Jerry lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Hank Williams.

I’d have to say that I’m lucky to have played with Ron and Joe for over ten years. It’s hard to find musicians that are on the same wave length and appreciate entertaining as much as them.. I would also like to thank all of you, The fans for coming to our shows weather sell out crowds or simply not. We would be nothing without you. Thanks!