Electric Reverend Ordains Divine Sound on Sturgis Rally Crowds
Jimmie Bratcher, the Electric Reverend, descends upon the Sturgis Buffalo Chip with his unearthly melodies and blistering blues guitar licks during the 32nd annual Motorcycle and Music Festival. While some may find it conflicting to hear a minister playing “the devil’s music,” the only contradiction found in Bratcher is that he is a happy blues man. According to Bratcher, there are only two kinds of music – good and bad – and when he unleashes his heavenly sound on the Sturgis campground crowd, they’ll see that he is making the good kind!
The Reverend’s music career started when someone replied to his father’s classified ad, which offered to trade his 1958 Desoto for an electric guitar and amplifier for his son. Although the young artist was passionate about playing, Jimmie felt called to ministry. But after a few years, he began singing and writing songs again—working them into his sermons and community outreach services. And after the overwhelmingly positive response, he began singing and preaching in churches and concert venues all over the country.
Jimmie released his first album, Honey in the Rock, in 2001. Since then he has released six albums of songs so highly emotive, it’s as if he is channeling the almighty himself. Bratcher’s most recent album, Secretly Famous, dives deep into the Reverend’s blues-rock roots and called upon producer extraordinaire Jim Gaines—known for his work with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana and Steve Miller, among others.
“Simply put, Jimmie is blues phenom,” says Daymon Woodruff of the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. “One of the most outstanding blues performers around, Jimmie channels music through fans like they were hit with the epiphany they got soul. Not to mention, he’s one of the coolest, most down to earth cats around.”
Jimmie provides a powerful combination of spirit and blues with his Sturgis Rally performances at the CrossRoads. Prior to his performance, crowds at the Sturgis campground may step up to receive a blessing from the Electric Reverend for their bikes and themselves! Check out the Chip’s daily event schedule to find out when to experience this Authentic Sturgis Experience™.
