Buffalo's Got Talent

Brian is a native of Buffalo, NY and has been involved with BGT since its inception and keeps the show running smoothly.  When Brian is not working with BGT you can usually find him on stage right here in the local theatre scene.  He has worked for many theatres in Western New York including Musicalfare, Kavinoky, Subversive and Ujima; securing prime roles in tremendous shows throughout his career: Hairspray(Seaweed), Sister Act (TJ), Passing Strange(Youth), Ragtime, Smokie Joe's Cafe, The Color Purple (Mister), Free Fred Brown(Fred Brown), and The Trial of Trayvon Martin(Trayvon Martin) just to name a few.

Brian graduated with a B.A. in Music Business from SUNY Fredonia.  During his time there he would take on the task of producing the Bemus Bay Pops singing competition: The Choice; where he also acted as the stage manager and music director.  While in college he was also the music director of two a capella groups (Premium Blend and The Guerillas) Brian attended high school at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts where he took part in many choirs, bands and musicals throughout his high school career including national recording artist God's Purchase gospel choir which he is still a member of and one of their recording soloists.

Brian continues to stay involved with the local arts community, supporting those who have a desire for all things music.

George L. Brown is the founder and producer of Buffalo's Got Talent.  He is fresh off the first national tour of the Tony-award winning Broadway revival of Once on this Island.  George has been involved in the arts since he can remember.  He grew up singing in church all his life and became a professional actor at the age of 18.  

Some of his favorite roles have been in musicals such as Rent (Tom Collins), Elf: The Musical (national tour; Mr. Greenway), Ragtime (Booker T. Washington), Pageant: The Musical (Miss Deep South), and Gospel at Colonus (Preacher).

George graduated from Buffalo State College with a B.F.A in Journalism after attending City Honors school in Buffalo, NY.  He is the founder and director of the national recording artist, God's Purchase gospel choir and continues to give back to the community that gave him so much.

Elise Russell is a native of Buffalo, New York. She is a Licensed Kindermusik teacher, seamstress, musician, singer, and songwriter who’s musical genes run deep. Her grandfather C.Q. Price is a Historical Buffalo Colored Musicians Club legend.  Elise was recently installed as the Interim Chapter Representative for the Western New York Chapter of The Gospel Music Workshop of America. She is also a member of the All Female Band Kingdom Come, based in Houston, TX. Kingdom Come  performs original music at churches, women’s conferences and conventions. Her daughter, two year old Talia Nicole also travels with her and loves being around music. Elise has performed and shared the stage with some of Gospel and Country Music’s finest! 

Her goal is to continue to inspire young children to get involved with the arts. 

DaMarka D. Wheeler, native of Buffalo, NY; began singing at the age of 4.  She has been singing in church all her life.  She is the God-daughter of the late, great Dr. Maurice Culpepper.

DaMarka is the mother of an amazing kid, DeMarkus Manner.  She attends the Antioch Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop James H. Bowman Sr. and Lady Kathy Bowman for the past seventeen years.  She is the head of the praise and worship team and one of the lead singers in the Antioch Sanctuary choir.  DaMarka continues to sing across the country including opening up for many gospel greats, including Pastor Kim Burrell, The Clark Sisters, James Fortune, and Kierra Sheard..  She sang background for Bishop Paul Morton and sang in a tribute to the incomparable Richard Smallwood.

In 2014, DaMarka was a top ten contestant on BET's gospel singing competition show, 'Sunday Best'.  She made it to the top seven, which has opened up many doors.

On May 6th, 2017, DaMarka released her very first single 'Oh, Taste and See' which she wrote and was produced by Jonathan Boyd.  She's currently working on completing her album so that she can share, through song, how God has brought her through FIFTEEN operations.  Her heart, love and passion is photography.  Her family is #1 and God is her everything!

BIO

Education

*Rosary Hill College (Damaen College)

BS in Music Education 1974

*Buffalo State College 

MS in Student Personnel Administration 1984

Work History

*1974-1975- Music Education Niagara Falls Public Schools

*1975-2009- Music Education Buffalo Public Schools

*Minister of Music St. Mary Of Sorrows Parish 1984-2007

*Minister of Music at many other parishes in city 2007- present

*Musical Director/Pianist for Music Theater throughout the city 1978-present

**African Cultural Center

**Lancaster Opera House

**Tom Dudziak and John Cimasi Productions

**Theater In The Midst

**Red Carpet Theater Productions

**Niagara Community Theater

***Music Director Les Miserables BAVPA (won Kenny Award) 2019

***Music Director 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee Medaille College 2020

**Various High School productions

*Co-Founder of Buffalo Select Chorus from 2006-2011 (6 CD’s Produced with high school students from throughout the City, and various guest artists)

*Founder of Artist in Residency Program for Buffalo Public Schools 2009-2016

* Music Manager for Joseph Wooten (keyboardist for The Steve Miller Band)

2009-2014

*Adjunct Music Professor Villa Maria College 2012-Present 

Affiliations:

*Board of Directors The Historic Colored Musician’s Club 2009- present

*Board of Directors Ujima Theater Company 2016-present

*Buffalo Music Hall Of Fame 2009-present

*Volunteer for Miss Buffalo Scholarship Competition 2014-2019

Volunteer for Beaufleur Arts and Music Festival 

Awards: 

2009 Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and many others.  

Mother to Venezia and Zuri Appleby