Brendan was schooled in Port Elizabeth where he began studying music. By the age of 13 he was performing at restaurants with his fathers band “The Sapphires” and some others.

At 17 he wrote and recorded two songs for Radio Algoa that were used at “signature” tunes. Later that year he won the prize for “best all round talent” at the Eastern Capes ‘On The Go Show’.

In 1992 he relocated to Pretoria and joined the South African Air force band where he stayed for 8 years while playing with many other artists.

In 1995 he took some time off from the SANDF and attended Berklee College of music in Boston U.S.A where he completed the Berklee performance program and was awarded a scholarship to return.   He began working with a local jazz band called Light Years, which includes of some of the country’s top session musicians: Denny Lalouette, Neill Ettridge, Avzal Ismail and Rob Watson

In 1998 he was invited to play at the Commonwealth games in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia with the Vusi Khumalo band.

In 2000 he was asked to join Johnny Clegg’s band as their saxophonist, backing vocalist and later, keyboardist. He has been with Johnny Clegg ever since and has enjoyed extensive travels to all corners of the globe, giving him the opportunity to play at very prestigious events, sharing the stage with very well-respected artists and playing to very large audiences, the largest of which was the Montreux Jazz festival for a live audience of 125 000 people.

Some other highlights have been playing at the 46664 HIV/AIDS awareness concerts in Tromso (Norway) and George (South Africa), Mandela’s 80th birthday, international sport events and many more.
In 2003 he played the sax theme for the popular television series Isidingo that is still running.

Some of the many diverse artists that he has worked with in either live or studio environments include: Johnny Clegg (SA), Ladysmith Black Mambaso (SA), Peter Gabriel (UK), Concord Nkabinde (SA), Dan Siegal (USA), Robbie Jansen (SA), Soweto string quartet (SA), Vikki Sampson (SA), Theuns Jordaan (SA), Vusi Maglasela (SA), The National Symphony Orchestra (SA), Claire Johnston of Mango Groove (SA), Juanita Duplessis (SA), Robin Walsh (SA), Lionel Bastos (SA), Kate Normington (SA/UK), Laurika Rauch (SA)Mathys Roets (SA), Vusi Khumalo (SA), Anna Davel (SA), V. (SA), TK (SA), Sipho Mchunu(SA), Jennifer Jones (SA).