Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise was formed in 1994 when former members of the band Second Self met a blind street performer by the name of Robert Bradley. Michael and Andrew Nehra developed and produced the project, delicately crafting the Motown-influenced roots. The first two recordings preserve a time of magical unity that will resonate with effusive soul.

Recorded at White Room Studios in Detroit, an international music epicenter, the sessions were delicately captured with vintage analog recording equipment to complement performances that recreated a lost era. The Nehras' intention in collaborating with Robert Bradley was to interpret the work of the veteran musician who had been singing in Detroit's Eastern Market for a couple of decades. They hoped to put at the center the raw intensity and soulfulness of Robert's voice, which captivated them when they encountered him singing outside of the White Room. They met on a day when Robert had been kicked out of Eastern Market. In the studio a week or so later the Nehras realized within minutes of turning on their amps and testing the waters that the initial idea to develop Robert with a production deal and musicians to complement him was insignificant. A pure, honest, marriage of ecstasy and experience that no one expected was obvious. From that moment forward, the group wrote and performed live, instantly garnishing a buzz in the local Detroit music scene.

String arranger Paul Riser and other Motown veterans participated in the recording of the tracks. Paul arranged some of the most legendary tracks during the Motown years. The sound of the music was truly an amazing mix of influences that eventually formed RBBS. The crossroads of the Rolling Stones, Al Green, the Band, and Motown was a perfect cocktail led by the soulful, timeless voice of Robert.

The Nehras recorded and produced a collection of songs, intending to eventually get the group signed. As the word spread, Peter Robinson of RCA Records took a stand to get behind music that the mainstream did not immediately grasp. Those who helped contribute and pay homage to the undeniable beauty of the project were crusader; they spread the word so everyone could experience the spell cast over the listener by a timeless classic.

Detroit-based rocker Kid Rock and Robert Bradley are long-time friends, but also share a mutual respect for one another’s music. Robert Bradley was featured on the Kid Rock track "I Got One For Ya" from his Devil Without a Cause LP, and Kid Rock guested on “Higher” and “Tramp 2” for RBBS’s Time To Discover. The Nehra's also contributed to production and song writing on Devil Without a Cause, recorded at White Room. The community was brewing.

The first two releases were the true Blackwater Surprise with a unprecedented stamp of timelessness.

Since separating from the Nehra Bros/RCA and Vanguard, Robert Bradley has paired his gospel-honed vocals and bluesman's undressed piano style with musicianship by guitarist Matthew J. Ruffino, who is the longest standing member of the Blackwater Surprise. Newer members include guitarist Zachary Throne, bassist Larry "Bones" Dennison, drummer Oscar Seaton, percussionist Craig Krampf and producer Bruce Robb on B3 and Wurlitzer. Five years after the last studio record, Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise delivered “Out of the Wilderness” for 2008. The long-awaited album was the fifth major release from the blind artist who illuminates his listeners with his lyrical and musical vision. Recording from an independent label, Robert’s music has become an enlightening enigma, transcending the borders of rock, blues and R&B.

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