Bret Coats

Bio

"Growing up in Southern California with cool parents during the 70's and 80's was a place where a lot of music happened." Starting off on trumpet at age seven and bass in high school, Bret always found his way to perform. Before leaving California in 1990, Bret had several years of performing with featured Living Blues Artist the Legendary Soul Brothers of Bakersfield (Al Garret, Willie Adams & Robert Walker).

Bret relocated to Austin in 1990 and soon found himself playing seven nights a week with various blues and roots music bands Kill the Head, Storming Heaven, Parker Townsend, Part Time Lovers, Walter Higgs and the Shuffle Pigs, International blues artist Bobby Mack and Night Train and Local/Regional favorites The Holy Moellers from which the many Antone's associations and shows would occur.

Throughout the 90's, Bret toured the U.S. and Europe as well as becoming a regular player at the famed Antone's nightclub backing up countless artist and bands. Bret played with a lot of great people and on popular records but somewhere he needed to find his own voice and push himself.

By 2000, Bret had now established a modest music schedule in Seattle playing with the tasteful and well received Soul Miners Daughter & Mary Mc Page Band. Seattle changed Bret's musical flavors and expanded his taste. “This was a great period of learning other instruments and higher education."

Bret moved back to Texas in 2006 to be near his family playing with Texas Funk Tyrant Barfield and international Blues artist Alan Haynes all while raising his family and becoming a full time High School teacher. "Teaching High School is awesome and playing music is awesome, it is a nice mix of humanity."  

Currently, Bret is moving into his 6th year as a solo artist and has quickly established his presence as someone to watch. Upon his second release Music for the People, Bret found himself touring in Europe and the states in support of his release. His band 'The Roots Music Marathon' has evolved and consist of core members Brandon Custer (Big Beat) drums & Christopher Bell (The Bell Tower) on guitar. Bret also continues to have a healthy sideman life and is teaching High School as long as possible.

Music For The People,  Bret's second record was recorded and produced by the incredible Nick Jay at Century Recordings in Dripping Springs, Texas with an early 70's Neve board (tons of history) and a ton of vintage gear.

Click on the link to listen to more of Bret’s music featured in the library.