Justin Lee Brannan

Justin Lee Brannan (born October 14, 1978) is an Italian-American artist, small business owner, community activist and organizer from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York. He is the founding member of New York City hardcore bands Indecision and Most Precious Blood.[1]

Personal life

Brannan is an outspoken vegetarian and animal welfare advocate. A Third Degree Master Freemason, Brannan is currently President of the Bay Ridge Democrats, an active Democratic political club based in southwest Brooklyn.[2][3] In 2012 he was named one of the "New York City Rising Stars: 40 Under 40" by City & State newspaper for his work as Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for City Councilman Vincent Gentile.[4]

Brannan is married to artist & educator Leigh Jewel Holliday.[5] The couple were married in the lobby of Bear Stearns where they met as employees.[5]

Brannan studied journalism and mass media at Fordham University and The College of Staten Island. He has worked for Bear Stearns,[6] Bank of New York, and Bankers Trust. He later worked as a commercial announcer for WNEW-FM,[7] where he was the de facto shop steward for the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. While at WNEW, Brannan represented and defended the interests of his fellow employees and advocated to get all union employees retroactively paid for decades of overtime work on weekends and overnights.

Career

Music career

Both bands were known for their outspoken commitment to social justice and vegetarianism. Though the sound was raw, their messages focused on social justice, human rights, environmentalism, relationships, individuality and espousing straight-edge views against drugs, alcohol and promiscuous sex.

Indecision is widely known for their song "Hallowed be Thy Name". The song features a lyric ("For Those I Love I Will Sacrifice") that fans across the world have turned into a tattoo.[8] Most famously, an image of the tattoo was seen on the ribs of a 19-year-old US Army infantryman named Kyle Hockenberry being treated in a medevac helicopter following an explosion that cost him both of his legs and one arm.[9] The photo was taken for a military newspaper and won photographer Laura Rauch an award from the Society of Professional Journalists.[1][6][7][9][10][11] Justin also works closely with the 9/11 Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation commemorating the heroes of 9/11 and "Building for America’s Bravest", a program that constructs Smart Homes for military returning home with devastating injuries.

Brannan also founded the deathgrind band Caninus, known for using two dogs as vocalists.

Finance and political career

Brannan was a touring punk rock musician before he landed at Bear Stearns,[12] working his way up as a clerk in their wealth management division, [13] and working as a financier[14] in the venture capital space raising money for start-up alternative energy companies based in Silicon Valley. He later worked as a fundraising consultant for a number of non-profit humanitarian organizations in New York City.

He currently serves as the Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs for Council member Vincent J. Gentile, representing the 43rd District which includes Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and portions of Bensonhurst. In this role, Brannan was profiled by The New York Times.[5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 Paybarah, Azi (2011-09-29). "A story behind a soldier's tattoo". Capital New York. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  2. ↑ Chris Bragg (September 1, 2011). "Democrats Not Coming Up Golden In Finding Challenger to Brooklyn Senator". City Hall. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  3. ↑ Wall, Patrick (2011-12-20). "Councilman's Aide in a Santa Suit, Wearing a Punk-Rock Past". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  4. ↑ "» RISING STARS: 40 UNDER 40 | City & State". Cityandstateny.com. 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  5. 1 2 3 Yee, Vivian (2012-10-22). "Wedded Bliss Trump's Financial Collapse". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-02-24.
  6. 1 2 3 Wall, Patrick (2011-12-21). "From Growls of Punk Rock to the Smooth Talk of Politics - NYTimes.com". New York City: New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  7. 1 2 Romano, Denise (2012-05-29). "Local activist penned now-famous lyrics - Home Reporter News: General". Home Reporter News. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Mark (2011-09-28). "How a soldier's tattoo came true | TIME.com". Battleland.blogs.time.com. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  9. 1 2 Calder, Rich (2012-06-18). "Wounded GI's prophetic tattoo traced to NYer's lyrics | New York Post". Nypost.com. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  10. ↑ Joe Gromelski. "Stars and Stripes reporter Laura Rauch wins SPJ award for photo - News". Stripes. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  11. ↑ "Justin Brannan's Lyrics Helped An Afghan War Vet Survive | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  12. ↑ Angela McKenzie (December 2009). "Justin Brannan of B'nai Zion on Initiative Radio with Angela McKenzie". The AMcK Initiative. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  13. ↑ Scott, Amy (2009-03-13). "Bear Stearns employees find their way". Marketplace.org. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  14. ↑ Bloomberg Dec 25, 2009, 03.34am IST (2009-12-25). "Bear Stearns staff look back, party - Economic Times". Articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
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