Brad was born and raised in Puyallup, Washington and got hooked on the banjo after hearing an Eddie Peabody record at about age five. It was an agonizing three-years before his dad traded an old rifle for his first banjo, a plectrum, and began taking lessons from Bob Kiesling in Tacoma. His first recital was in a few months, and his first gig, a couple of years later, sitting on the back of an antique truck at a town festival. At school, Brad played in every band and ensemble he could find - concert band, jazz band, marching band, orchestra, brass quartet - playing trombone, euphonium, trumpet and tuba. He started playing professionally while attending the University of Washington, landing a pizza parlor gig after playing Rhapsody in Blue on his banjo.

In the 1970's, Brad played in a number of ensembles around Seattle, some of which he led, and some led by others, including, Swingland Express, Uptown Lowdown Jazz Band, Boll Weevil Blue Blowers, and The Salmon City Seven. The music styles ranged from traditional jazz to swing, and Brad began exploring new possibilities with the plectrum banjo. Playing with jazz musicians six and seven nights a week, Brad developed his own style of improvisation, capitalizing on the considerable dynamic range and textural palette available on the banjo. Studying music composition with Ken Benshoof at the University of Washington, led to breaking new ground, exploring the use of atonal music with the banjo and producing "Concerto for Banjo and Strings". This major work for banjo was premiered with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra in Seattle, and is featured on his CD, Nouveau Banjo, which also includes "Jazz Suite for Banjo and Piano".