Tom Brantley

I was born and raised in Loudon, Tennessee but now make my home in Wartrace, Tennessee near the farm where my great-grandfather James R. Brantley raised a Tennessee stud colt named "Roan Allen" that would become a world famous stallion and sire of a new breed, the "Tennessee Walking Horse." Today the Brantley family still breed and raise these beautiful and gentle horses on the same land where it all began.

I love my home state of Tennessee for its beauty, history, natural resources, and southern heritage, but also for another of its great traditions, Appalachian Old Time and Bluegrass Music! I became a musician early in life. At age 6 I began playing the piano and played throughout my youth and teenage years, however, the impression made upon me by the music of Flatt and Scruggs, Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, and others would soon turn my attentions from the likes of Mozart and Bach to the high lonesome sound of Bluegrass Music.

I loved watching and listening to the bluegrass music of "Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys" on television as a youth, and later got into Ricky Skaggs' group "Boone Creek", "The Pinnacle Boys", and other fine Bluegrass bands at Buddy's BBQ in Knoxville, Tennessee. Soon after those days you could find me with a bow in my hand and a fiddle under my chin. I was converted! At the age of 19, I found myself turning my musical attention from my former interests, to learning the fiddle tunes of Kenny Baker and other great bluegrass fiddlers such as Chubby Wise, Paul Warren, Bobby Hicks, and Ricky Skaggs. I have to believe that my classical training made it easier for me to learn the fiddle.

Though 19 years old is by most standards not very old, most who play the fiddle well were raised up with it under their chin practically from birth or at least from a very young age. I'm a late bloomer, but better late than never! Anyway, the "experts" said that 19 years old was "too old" to learn the fiddle and other "experts" said that 19 years old was too young to get married. I didn't listen to any of these critics and I did both. I learned to play fiddle, and I married my high school sweetheart the prettiest girl I ever saw, Connie Arden on November 28, 1974. I was 19 and she was 18. Many of those "critics and experts" said we were crazy. Thirty plus years later, we're still crazy……….about each other! God blessed us with one child. On December 2, 1981, Daniel Austin Brantley came into the world. On December 2, 1991 he had another birthday when he asked Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior! Thank God! What a wonderful Savior Jesus is! What a wonderful blessing children are! Our life was good, we were happy, healthy, and best of all saved, however, what lay ahead of us was just plain unthinkable, and to say the least, we thought, unfair.

Daniel was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia in 1993 at age 11. After a hard fought battle with many setbacks lasting eleven years, Daniel went to be with the Lord on March 17, 2004. As I said, it is unthinkable and unfair for a mom and dad to bury a child, but many have. My parents did, my older brother Tim at age 10. Many of my friends have, many more will and it is undoubtedly the hardest thing a loving parent may have to do, but Daniel knew and Connie and I know that God never has or never will make a mistake!

Daniel's short life was an amazing display of how God can use our weaknesses in life to manifest His strength through His son Jesus Christ. Although Daniel was made weak by the disease, he loved his life and was glad for the affliction, just like the apostle Paul Christ's power was upon him. Many witnessed this throughout Daniel's life, but especially while he battled this disease. Jesus said in 2Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." God used our son, his child Daniel as an example of how a child of God should handle adversity! To God Be the Glory!

Through his illness Daniel touched the lives of many that he would have never touched had he been healthy and he rarely complained about his affliction. He just trusted and knew the Lord had everything under control. He believed God's Word that his sick, frail body would someday be made new and glorified just as Jesus' body was made new and glorified at His resurrection. Daniel looked forward to that day and his walk reflected it with all certainty, not with despair. As Dr. John Lukens of Vanderbilt said, "His life was a sermon to us all." It was!

Of course we all miss Daniel "Hammer Dan" Brantley, his smile, wit, soft voice, musical talent, ministry and everything else about him too numerous to fit on this page, but someday when this life is over, we will be together again! That is a guarantee from God's Word, and God cannot lie! Hallelujah! Connie and I look forward to that day and we hope you do too!

If you dread or are afraid and not sure about your destiny, I urge to get right with God today by accepting the pardon paid for by Jesus Christ. The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved," Acts 16:31. It also says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved," Romans 10:9. Don't put it off, do it today!

Last but not least, it is a great honor to be starting my 5th season with New Road. I earnestly ask for your prayers for my life and ministry and my prayer is that I will be forever in the divine will of God in all that I do and say and I pray that He will shower you all with His Peace, Love, and Grace!

In honor and memory of Daniel the Daniel Brantley Foundation has been established to help children and their families with financial woes due to the chronic effects of childhood cancer. For more information or to make a donation to the foundation write to: The Daniel Brantley Foundation, P.O. Box 250, Beech Grove, Tennessee 37018.

I realize this is more of a sermon than a bio, however, I felt led to share all this with you.

Tom Brantley

VIEW
Stuart Wyrick / Gary Kidwell / Doug Johnson / Mike Ramsey