Cam "Buzz" Brainard (born Cameron Duane Brainard; May 21, 1962) is an American voice actor, narrator and radio personality. He is best known for hosting "The Music Row Happy Hour" on SiriusXM's The Highway, and for having been the long-time announcer for Disney Channel.
Cam "Buzz" Brainard | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cameron Duane Brainard May 21, 1962 Clio, Michigan, U.S. |
| Education | Central Michigan University |
| Occupation(s) | Voice-over artist, broadcaster, host |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Television | Disney Channel This Week in Baseball Travel Channel Laff Maximum Exposure |
| Spouse | Sandy Brainard |
| Children | 1 |
Career
editVoice-over talent
editAs a voice talent, Brainard is known as the main announcer for the Disney Channel from 2000 to 2017. He first gained notoriety as the "smart aleck" narrator with a cult-following on the syndicated television show Maximum Exposure, also known as "Max X" which ran for two seasons from 2000 to 2002. As a sports announcer, Brainard hosted "This Week In Baseball" on FOX (taking over for the late Mel Allen) from 2000 until the show ended its run after more than 30 years in 2011. He also narrated Breed All About It for Animal Planet and was the promo voice for the TV series Friends in syndication.[1]
Currently, Brainard is the voice of television's "World Access"[2] on the Travel Channel, as well as many television and radio commercials. Audiences also hear his voice on more than 500 radio stations in the U.S. and Canada and growing. His formats range from AC to Hot AC, Christian Radio to Country and from Rock to Adult Hits.
Since 2017, he has been the announcer for rhythm game StepManiaX.
He is also currently the announcer for the Laff TV network and Romedy Now which airs in India.
SiriusXM The Highway
editBrainard has one of the largest daily audiences of any country music radio personality in North America, as the weekday afternoon host on "The Highway," SiriusXM radio's new country channel 56 based in Nashville. As of Winter 2014, Sirius XM had 27 million subscribers.[3] Brainard has been a CMA Award (Country Music Association) and ACM nominee for National Broadcast Personality of the Year.[4]
With a weekly live audience, Buzz Brainard hosts the "Music Row Happy Hour" on SiriusXM The Highway most Friday afternoons from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe in downtown Nashville. He is credited with discovering a number of country music hitmakers.[5] As host of the weekly SiriusXM music discovery program "On The Horizon," Brainard showcases unsigned and up-and-coming country artists.[6]
Los Angeles radio audiences were the first to hear "Buzz Brainard" as co-host of the Morning show on KZLA-FM. Later, he hosted the syndicated "Music City Saturday Night" show[7] and "GAC Nights Radio"[8] live from Nashville.
Personal life
editBrainard was raised in Clio, Michigan. After graduating from Clio High School, he attended Central Michigan University. He worked as an actor and voice over artist in New York City then Los Angeles. Brainard previously married with Sandy Brainard and has a son, Hank. He now lives in Nashville.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Parting Glances | Ricky | |
| 1994 | Clear and Present Danger | Coast Guardsman #1 | |
| 1995 | The Net | Computer Technician | |
| 1997 | Face/Off | Dispatcher |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Homefront | Peach | Episode: "Getting to First Base" |
| 1994 | A Place for Annie | Medical Student | TV movie |
| 1994 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Rotor | 13 episodes |
| 1995 | One West Waikiki | Charles Meadows | Episode: "Unhappily Ever After" |
| 1997 | Runaway Car | Ray / Radio Guy | TV movie |
| 1997 | NightMan | Dr. Stone | TV movie; credited as Cam 'Buzz' Brainard |
| 1997–1998 | Night Man | Dr. Stone | 2 episodes; credited as Cam 'Buzz' Brainard |
| 1997–2001 | Breed All About It | Narrator | |
| 2000–2002 | Maximum Exposure | Syndication | Credited as "Smart-Aleck Announcer Dude" |
| 2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | TV Emcee | Episode: "Time Flies" |
| 2006 | What's the Word? | Announcer |
Video Game
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | StepManiaX | Announcer |
References
edit- ^ Roose, Bill (April 13, 2013). "Voice actor, narrator is biggest Wing's fan in Nashville". The Wheel Deal. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "Upfront 2014: Travel Channel Greenlights 10 Original Series". 2 April 2014.
- ^ Calia, Michael (January 7, 2015). "SiriusXM Tops 2014 Targets, but 2015 Guidance Comes Up Short". WSJ. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
- ^ "CMA Broadcast Awards | the 55th Annual CMA Awards".
- ^ "Satellite host finds music's next big artist". 3 August 2016.
- ^ "How Satellite Radio is Breaking Country's Next Big Stars". Rolling Stone. 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Superadio Launches 'Music City Saturday Night'".
- ^ "Great American Country Television Network and ABC Radio Networks partner on 'GAC Nights: Live From Nashville' - Nashville Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2015-01-18.