and was the minister of music for the family's church. Wardell may have played a part in the two brothers finally working together. He says the collaboration should have taken place years ago. Mylin is family-oriented and has shared with his family many ups and the occasional downs. His father, Wardell, remembers a rough time that made Mylin's relationship with his parents even stronger. "In 1997 my wife and I were involved in a car accident and he took care of us regardless of his responsibilities, it endeared us to him, it was a challenging ordeal and he took it in stride, we've always loved Mylin, but this brought us closer." Mylin's mother, Rosalind, plays the piano and was the director of the church choir. Myron and Rosalind are the only two family members that read music. Mylin has already begun to start his legacy; he's given his 13-year-old god-brother, Demetrius, pointers on the drums and now Demetrius drums at his church. Mylin says his family's musical roots are in gospel music. His strongest influence is God who he says has given him his love for music. Mylin says he lets the music do its job and influence him.
Mylin taught himself how to play the drums, which he played on his first album, Cherish Life. Left, Mylin opened for Nelly and the St. Lunatics in March 2002 in the Collisseum in Wichita.
Jared Soares/Kansan
Mylin is a self-taught musician and learns by ear. He has taught himself to play the drums, the piano and sing. When you hear Mylin play the piano you may assume you'll find a professional classical pianist. Instead you'll find an R & B master who has kept his beautiful music from the rest of the world for far too long. His soft, laid back easy-listening melodies in Journey Home are different from the new and fresh sound that comes from Cherish Life. Although his two CD's Cherish Life and Journey Home include an R & B sound combined with raw talent that everyone can appreciate. When Mylin looks back to the production of Journey Home, he says, "It's really good to be able to record an album with a friend or music colleague, but it hits you in a different way, more personal way, to be able to make an album with your family, it's still mind blowing to see how this process has evolved and continues to evolve." The two brothers both did the vocals on the album, Mylin produced one song and Myron produced and played the trumpet. "The chemistry we have is very complementary," Mylin says. Mylin and Myron's influences for Journey Home included jazz, soul and gospel music, spawning a whole new form of music.
should be to us, that we should not take it for granted. Cherish Life is an ensemble of rhythmic and mixed music, which includes a song with a salsa-like beat and slow, soft dance music. Mr. Bilistic says Mylin's heart sets him apart from other artists. With his focus and dedication he just may follow in the footsteps of some of his influences, who include Stevie Wonder, Jodeci, Daryl Coley, Richard Smallwood, Miles Davis and Lee Morgan.
Mr. Bilistic, a friend and rapper from Wichita, produced and engineered Cherish Life, Mylin's first solo album. Mylin says Cherish Life is about letting people know how important life is and
He celebrates his one-year anniversary with his girlfriend, Rachel Balzer, today. She says that Mylin sometimes goes overboard when trying to cover his shyness. To those that know him, this may come as a surprise; Mylin is usually seen as an outgoing person with a great sense of humor. Balzer says that Mylin and Myron creating Journey Home was a great idea, because of their emerging careers they don't get to see each other much. She says, when she took the pictures for the CD she wanted to get across the brothers' love of music and the way it has impacted both of their lives. Balzer says they got along before, but she thinks producing this CD made them closer. Mylin says Balzer, who helped take the photos for the cover of Journey Home, has been a motivating factor in his life. He says she has made his experience as a musician even better.
Aside from music, it's no wonder the ladies took notice from early on. It must be that soft, quiet side they found intriguing. He sang as a soprano in the church choir with the girls prior to puberty. He was invited to junior and senior proms when he was 13 years old. His girlfriend says he gives her love letters and flowers and takes her out just about every month, with the occasional random gift for no particular occasion. Listen up boys! You could learn a thing or two from Mylin!
Talent however cannot stand and succeed alone. Mylin has every thing it takes to back up his talent. Marlin says he is a "balanced" individual who is sincere in
everything he says, does and produces. But he does have a shy side. Despite, this side of him, which he often tries to hide, he is an outgoing person. In addition to these traits, his teachers and former coworkers can confirm his strong work ethic. Mylin is creative not only in music, but also in his life and this comes through his singing and his relationships with others. Mylin has grown into an assertive, yet respectful young man, Marlin says. Scott Ward, one of Mylin's teachers at the University, says, "Mylin has reminded me how important the journey is, and it's worth every effort to chase dreams. I need to thank him for that."
Mylin is a hard worker. Last summer he worked for the University of Kansas' Landscaping and Maintenance Department. He mostly worked on the landscaping side. However, he helped the maintenance department conquer one of its biggest feats of the summer, reloading furniture into Ellsworth Hall
after the renovation was completed. Stan Brown, the supervisor for the special services department says the group unloaded 20 trucks worth of furniture. And where was Mylin on his breaks during this project? You guessed it: at the piano making music.
For now, Mylin is focusing on school and is playing the drums in Cabaret which plays tonight at 7:30, tomorrow night at 7:30, Saturday at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The performance will be held at the Stage Too! Theatre, at the Crafton-Preyer Theatre in Murphy Hall. His two CDs can be found at Hastings Book Music and Video, 1900 W. 23rd St. Journey Home can also be found online at www.mp3.com/mylinbrimm. As for Bros. Brimm, Myron says that a new CD and additional performances are already in the works.
— Lauren Karp, Jayplay writer, can be reached atlkarp@kansan.com.
16 jayplay
thursday, november 20. 2003