|
Bryan Loren Hudson was born on May 5, 1966, in Long Island, New York. and grew up in an environment that exposed him early to a variety of musical influences after his family relocated to South Philadelphia during his childhood.
It was in this culturally rich setting that he first developed his deep interest in music at the age of five, inspired by the vibrant local soul and R&B scene in Philadelphia.
Musical education and training for Bryan began practically in childhood. He learned to play drums and other instruments by ear and through active participation in local music settings. By age twelve he was composing original music, and by fifteen he had become a professional session musician, gaining real-world experience in recording studios. His early mentorship came through working with established producers and musicians in Philadelphia, including the noted R&B producer Nick Martinelli, where Bryan honed his skills in composition, arrangement, and multi-instrument performance.
Bryan’s breakthrough into the music industry came when, after establishing himself as a talented session artist in the early 1980s, he was offered his first recording contract at the age of seventeen. This opportunity arose out of his extensive studio work and the recognition of his ability to write, perform, and produce music. He first recorded as a member of established acts, performing synthesizers with Fat Larry’s Band on their early 1982 and 1983 albums. His growing reputation as a versatile musician led directly to offers for solo work under the stage name Bryan Loren.
In his early career in the music industry, Bryan was active as a session musician at Alpha International Studios beginning in 1981. Under the name Bryan Hudson in those early days, he worked with ensembles such as Nona Hendryx, Tavares, and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. His reputation as a multi-instrumentalist and composer grew steadily, and his ability to play multiple instruments made him a sought-after contributor in the studio. These experiences laid the foundation for his solo career and for collaborations with high-profile artists.
Bryan’s most successful period in the music industry spanned the mid-1980s through the early 1990s. In 1984 he released his self-titled debut album "Bryan Loren" on Philly World Records, performing and recording the entire album’s instrumentation himself. The album’s singles “Lollipop Luv” and “Do You Really Love Me” achieved chart success on the R&B charts, with “Lollipop Luv” reaching number 23 and “Do You Really Love Me” sustaining a lengthy presence on the charts.
Bryan followed this with a second solo album, "Music from the New World", released in 1992 on Arista Records. His work extended beyond his own recordings, as he became known for writing and producing songs for other artists and projects, most notably composing and producing the globally recognized track “Do the Bartman” for "The Simpsons Sing the Blues" soundtrack in 1990, which became a hit in multiple countries.
He also worked closely with superstar artists including Michael Jackson on sessions around "Dangerous", planting seeds for collaborative compositions, and also provided songwriting and production for Whitney Houston, Sting, Eric Benét, Barry White, and others.
Throughout his career Bryan wrote and co-wrote a number of songs. His solo compositions included the singles “Lollipop Luv” and “Do You Really Love Me,” and he was credited as the composer and producer of “Do the Bartman,” a widely known pop-culture song associated with "The Simpsons". In addition to his own releases, he wrote and produced songs for other artists, including tracks for Vesta Williams and Shanice Wilson, and contributed to compositions connected with several other performers’ albums.
Bryan’s honours and awards included recognition early in his career for his originality and impact in sound. In 1990 he received the Sony Innovator’s Award in Sound from Ebony Magazine, an accolade that acknowledged both his innovative approach to music and his potential for future achievement. This award placed him among a select group of artists recognized for creative excellence in the recording arts.
Critically, Bryan’s talent was marked by his extraordinary versatility. He was a gifted multi-instrumentalist who could compose, perform, and produce across genres, blending elements of R&B, funk, soul, and pop. His musicianship was often praised for its sophistication, and contemporaries noted his creative imagination and facility with melody and rhythm. While he did not always achieve the broad commercial fame of some of his collaborators, his peers and those in the industry regarded his technical skills and creative contributions with high esteem, recognizing in him a thinker and craftsman whose work demonstrated both depth and breadth.
Bryan Loren - affectionately known as "The Wiz", stood as a respected figure whose behind-the-scenes contributions enriched the work of more widely celebrated artists and whose own recordings contributed to the texture of 1980s and early 1990s R&B. His ability to bridge the roles of performer, songwriter, and producer set him apart as a consummate musician whose influence extended beyond chart positions to touch the creative processes of his collaborators. His career spanned more than four decades, leaving behind a body of work that reflected both his artistry as a solo artist and his impact on the broader music landscape.
Bryan Loren died on the 28th of January 2026 in Los Angeles, California, USA, at rhe age of 59, from undisclosed causes.
© Jim Liddane
Copyright Songwriter Magazine, International Songwriters Association & Jim Liddane: All Rights Reserved
This is just one of the many profiles of leading songwriters, singers, musicians and music industry personnel, published by the International Songwriters Association and "Songwriter Magazine". Please click HERE for a full list.
The Main Menu
ISA • International Songwriters Association (1967)
internationalsongwriters@gmail.com
The Small Print
This International Songwriters Association 1967 site is a non-profit non-commercial re-creation of portions of the full site originally published by the International Songwriters Association Limited, and will introduce you to the world of songwriting. It will explain music business terms and help you understand the business concepts that you should be familiar with, thus enabling you to ask more pertinent questions when you meet with your accountant/CPA or solicitor/lawyer.
However, although this website includes general information about legal issues and legal developments as well as accounting issues and accounting developments, it is not meant to be a replacement for professional advice. Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal/accounting developments.
Every effort has been made to make this site as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty or fitness is implied. The information provided is on an "as is" basis and the author(s) and the publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained on this site. No steps should be taken without first seeking competent legal and/or accounting advice
Some pictures on this site are library images supplied by (amongst others) the ISA International Songwriters Association (1967), International Songwriters Association Limited, Dreamstime Library Inc, BMI (Broadcast Music Inc), ASCAP (American Society Of Songwriters, Authors and Publishers), PRS (Performing Rights Society), PPS (Professional Photographic Services), RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) TV3, and various Public Relations organisations. Other pictures have been supplied by the songwriters, performers, or music business executives interviewed or mentioned throughout this website, while certain pictures are commercial stock footage of businesses and office environments generally, rather than specific images of the ISA, its personnel, facilities or members.
In any event, all images are and remain the property of the individual owners unless indicated to the contrary.
Home •
Interviews •
Writing A Song
|
