Former Longmeadow residents father and daughter musicians reunite for two shows

Dec. 4, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

Hailey Brinnel and David Brinnel in 2011.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

SPRINGFIELD – David Brinnel has been playing piano professionally for 40 years, but the shows he played with his trombonist/vocalist daughter, Hailey Brinnel, from 2007 to 2013 were his favorite.

“The years we spent playing together were some of the best times of my life,” David told Reminder Publishing. “There’s something magic that happens when family members sing,” he said. He cited the Everly Brothers, the Andrews Sisters and the Jackson Five as examples.

“The voices sound similar and it comes together in a way that it can’t when two strangers meet,” the former Longmeadow resident said.

David said he hopes to recapture some of that magic when he and his daughter play two shows this holiday season. The first one is at Springfield’s Shakago Martini & Piano Bar, 23 Hampden St., on Dec. 21 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The next night the duo will be performing at The Red Lion Inn, 30 Main St., Stockbridge from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Admission to both performances is free.

The two will be playing some holiday music, standards from the American Songbook and pop music. They will cover songs from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, the Manhattan Transfer, Billy Joel, the Beatles and Elton John.

David began making music together with his daughter when she was “quite young,” he said.

“We used to make music in the house,”  David recalled. “For years, we would drive around listening to Hank Williams and I would sing below him and she would sing above him and we’d make these three–part harmonies.”

When Hailey was 12 years old, David said he realized she was ready to play publicly. He began booking the two of them in area restaurants. He said the two played shows on weekends for six years until Hailey moved to Philadelphia to pursue a music degree at Temple University. She still lives in Philidelphia, where she is a music teacher, an adjunct college professor and an active musician.

David said he’s looking forward to getting the act back together during the holidays.

“It’s going to be a great coming together of friends and family, and the buffet (at the Shakago) is free,” David said.

“I was very fortunate to gig with my daughter for all those years,” David said in a press release. “I can't wait to do it again this holiday season.”

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