‘Braintree’ Recordings Sell More Than 10,000 Copies
By Martha Slater

Since their self-titled CD "Braintree," debuted in 1997, the local musical duo of Alan Stewart and Todd Keenhold has sold a total of over 10,000 copies of their four CDs.

Their fifth and newest CD, "Repeat the Sounding Joy: Braintree Live!" is out just in time for the holiday season. Featuring instrumental piano and acoustic guitar music in their signature duo style, it was recorded last year during live performances throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.

"When they played, people would often ask if that music was on a CD, so we decided to record them live," notes Keenhold’s wife, Beth, who has her hand in recording and promoting the duo’s work. This one, like the other Braintree CDs, is available in local stores, including Cover to Cover Books and Ben Franklin, and is also sold at craft shows, through classified ads, and online at their website www.musicbybraintree.com.

Stewart, who handles keyboards, string/horn arrangements, and percussion, is a Randolph resident. He retired last year from a career as a science teacher at RUHS and still coaches girls basketball and softball there. Keenhold, who lives in Braintree, sings and plays guitar and percussion. He is a physical education teacher at Randolph Elementary School.

Both men share a love of music and began performing together a number of years ago, after they both helped RUHS students with their senior projects involving music. They have been writing, recording and performing under the name of Braintree for the past 13 years.

Along the way, they’ve collected many loyal fans of their music, including legendary Nashville fiddler Vassar Clements, who noted, "Braintree has an identity of its own, it’s different, and to me that’s what counts."

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